Inside Comments: Steve Turcotte

Marysville’s Cedarcrest nearing 100 years old

Through all these years of writing about golf, I have been fortunate enough to play many of the courses in the state of Washington – and the Pacific Northwest for that matter. I try and remember a little about every course I tee it up at, from its clubhouse to its layout to any kind of beer specials they might have.

It had been years since I played Cedarcrest Golf Course in Marysville, Wash. In fact, on a recent trip to Cedarcrest I had to get the GPS just to make sure I was getting off the right exit off Interstate-5. A couple of turns here and there and I found myself in the parking lot and suddenly remembering.

I remembered this was a course that I had truly enjoyed the first time I played it those many long years ago. I remember the uphills. The downhills. And I remember that the course might not be long on the scorecard, it still played long with the towering trees and rugged greens. As I pulled the club out of the trunk and headed for the pro shop I saw the first and 10th tees.

And I remember, this was a place, I wish I would have come back more. Cedarcrest is a place that might not be long, but it is challenging and presents some of the best conditions.

As I stood on the first tee that day, I remembered this course. I remember hitting tee shots in the woods and having to scramble. I remembered having some long putts across rolling greens. I remember the cool-looking pond with the fountain on the front side.

And I remembered when you headed to the back nine, it was another treat like you were playing in a valley away from the front nine.

If you have played Cedarcrest you know what I am talking about. Premier Golf runs the facility and has done a great job with improvements through the years and keeping the course in top shape.

This is a course with its history going all the way back to 1927 – meaning it is nearly 100 years old. John Steidel redesigned the course back in 1996 and the city of Marysville shut down the course for 16 months to give it a new look. The redesign added drainage improvements, a new irrigation system, a remodel of several holes,16 new greens and a stretching the course to 6,000 yards. More recently, the addition of 52 sand bunkers made the course bare its teeth even more. Like I said, the course might measure 6,000 yards, not long by today’s standard, but with all of the trouble around, it plays longer. Just ask my buddy who was in the trees all day and thought he was a straight shooter.

My favorite hole is the par-4 on the front side with a narrow tee shot and a pond fronting the green. And your tee shot must carry some water too. Think I wrote down a 6 and moved on.

I will be back. There was too much to like to not jump in the car and make the drive north up I-5. Besides, I need some water redemption.

Steve Turcotte can be reached at sdturcotte@comcast.net.