Tacoma’s Highlands Golf Course celebrates its 90th anniversary

There’s a “brand-new” golf course beckoning you in Tacoma and you’ll never believe that it’s 90 years old. You might also find it hard to believe but we’re talking about the seventh best public course in the entire state (regardless of size), ranked by Golf Advisors in their annual course evaluations. 

And, yes, Highlands truly is 90 years old. More than a million and a half rounds have been played at that “gem” of a par 3 course near the Tacoma Narrows bridge in its “almost century” of golf. The anniversary celebration may be all year long beginning on June 20th and Highland’s new owner Jack Connelly feels that short courses will play a key role in the future of the golf business.

“Many of today’s golfers don’t have five or six hours to spend on a golf course on a regular basis” he says, “and there’s a bonus, like working on one’s all-important short game and more opportunities for the thrill of an “Ace.”

The new owner has completely remodeled and rejuvenated every imaginable aspect of the par three layout and local golfers have responded by playing 12,500 more rounds there than the year before. There’s not much better proof than that. Many think its greens have become the best in the state. 

A new irrigation system will be completed soon. The scenic beauty of course surroundings are examples of the “new” Highlands and they speak for themselves. Even the carved wooden statue of Angus McDuff, at hole #9, adds to the competitive atmosphere of the game. 

There’s also a new on-site café, (McDuff’s), in the newly remodeled clubhouse. It has a new extended patio with an outdoor fireplace and a new fire pit. So, what’s the same at Highlands?  Its motto says it best – “Half the Time – Twice the Fun”. You can say goodbye to five and six hour rounds elsewhere. Best of all, you can take a shot at golf’s biggest thrill on every hole – a hole-in-one!  Yes 9 opportunities for an ace await you on every 9-hole round. Think about that! Looking for a place that offers more “fun” for every kind of player? Highlands offers it and then some. Family golf, for instance. Tuning-up that short game in readiness for championship play, for example. So give Highlands pro Don Mojean a call and reserve your spot!  You’ll find that it’s no wonder Golf Advisors has evaluated the Highlands among the top public seven in the state along with its nearby neighbor Chamber’s Bay (they are number two, just behind White Horse in Kingston).  Pretty good company, huh?