Eastern Washington: Fall is the right time to play

If you are driving from west of the Cascades in the fall, heading toward Central and Eastern Washington, you will most likely travel over Snoqualmie Pass where the changing colors will be in full display. Perhaps you might even get a glimpse of some snow on the pass. The seasonal changes are awesome in October.

• Lake Chelan: Ever since it was built in 1970, Lake Chelan Golf Course has always been a popular spot for golfers visiting the area.  Located on the lake’s north side, Lake Chelan is a solid par-72 golf course that sits on a bluff with unparalleled views of the lake that will stay in your memory. The course has three sets of tees and plays to 6,445 yards from the blue tees with a slope of 124. The reviews by visitors to Lake Chelan all talk about the fantastic views and the great condition of the course.  If you are planning a trip to the Wenatchee/Chelan area you will want to put Lake Chelan Golf Course on your itinerary.

• Gamble Sands: There is plenty to like at Gamble Sands, the award winning course in Brewster, Wash. From the championship course to the 37-room Inn at Gamble Sands to the Cascade Putting Course, there is plenty to do. A new course will open in 2025. The Sands course sits above the Columbia River and the David McLay-Kidd layout is ranked among the best in the country and the Pacific Northwest.

The 14-hole golf course called Quick Sands plays differently every day with different routing with yardages on all 14 holes. The Cascade Putting course sits next to the villas and is a treat.

 • Apple Tree:  Apple Tree in Yakima is one of the Northwest’s premier golf experiences and given a 4-Star rating by Golf Digest.

The signature par-3 17th hole with its apple-shaped island green is one of the state’s most recognizable holes. The hole is a masterpiece of golf architecture that measures over 10,000 square feet with nine different tee boxes to choose from.

The 17th hole is only one of many great holes at Apple Tree Resort. The course winds through 100-year old apple orchards with some stunning water hazards and challenging elevation changes. The course and greens are always in perfect condition.

• Columbia Point: Located in Richland, Columbia Point Golf Course is a daily fee facility adjacent to the Columbia River. The course is owned by the City of Richland and measures 6,571 yards from the back tees. It celebrated its 20th year in 2017.  

Nothing too complicated greets the average golfer but the course does have water hazards and numerous bunkers that will need to be avoided. 

• Canyon Lakes: Canyon Lakes has won a variety of awards, including voted as Best Golf Course by the People‘s Choice Awards (six years in a row) making it the most popular course in the Tri-Cities area.  Rated 4 1/2 Stars by Golf Digest, making it the highest rated course in the Tri-Cities and shares the highest ranking in Washington State.  In addition to the lofty rating, Northwest Travel Magazine selected Canyon Lakes as one of  “18 of the Best in the Pacific Northwest.”

Canyon Lakes is famous for large, fast, undulating greens with the 12th hole touted as the largest green in the Pacific Northwest at 12,000 square feet. The ninth hole was also awarded as one of the Northwest’s Dream 18 holes. With five sets of tees measuring from 5,500 to 7,027 yards, Canyon Lakes will test the mettle of all types of golfers.

• Highlander Golf Club: At 800 feet above the Columbia River is a breathtaking piece of property that boasts a masterpiece designed by John Steidel and built by Jim Haley (Haley created and shaped Bandon Dunes). This one is called Highlander and it lives up to the name with magnificent panoramic views. The most talked about hole is the par-3 ninth, a 185-yard bear that requires a tee shot across a canyon. 

 • Links at Moses Pointe: Located just four miles north of interstate 90 in Moses Lake, Wash., has been a favorite destination for golfers since opening in 1999 Having played host to the 2005 and 2008 Washington State Amateur Championship as well as the 2011 Pacific Northwest Public Links, Moses Pointe will test the games best players.  With great golf, 300 plus days of sunshine, and a growing residential golf community, Moses Pointe is sure to become your next home away from home, or who knows, maybe your next home?

• Sun Lakes Resort: Sun Lakes Resort in Coulee City, Wash. is a busy place with plenty to recreation plus access to Vic Meyers Golf Course. There is plenty to like at Sun Lakes Resort with its myriad of outdoor activities plus with the terrific weather – especially in fall, it’s a busy place so get your reservations in early for the cabins and RV spaces.

• Wine Valley Golf Club: Walla Walla is becoming a wine and golf shot spot.  The once-sleepy hamlet in the southeastern corner of the state has become one of the premier wine destinations in the United States. But if you were looking to pair fine public-access golf with wine touring and tasting, the pickings were slim.  The uncorking of Wine Valley Golf Club a few years ago changed all that – for the area and for the Pacific Northwest. Ranked as one of the top courses in Washington by Golfweek, Wine Valley has been added to the must-play list for golf enthusiasts. It is also 84th on the list of top Modern Courses.

Wine Valley Golf Club, designed by Oregon native Dan Hixson, blends immense scale, inspiring scenery and strategic challenges into a championship golf experience. The course has hosted the Northwest Open and the PNGA Men’s Amateur.

• Suntides Golf Course:  Probably one of the best kept secrets in Eastern Washington is Sun Tides Golf Course. This 18-hole par-70 course is nestled in a small valley just outside of Yakima near the Naches River and Highway 12. While not long at 5,914 yards, it offers plenty of hazards, lots of trees and well-placed bunkers, giving it some teeth.  They also have a popular RV park next to the course.