Category: Course Features

Not every course in Southern California was designed as a place of worship to professional golf. Many courses, like Castle Creek Country Club in Escondido, offer public golf that both fun and well-priced for players of all abilities.

At Castle Creek, it’s all about fun when it comes to golf. The greens fees are a steal at $50 or less, the food and beverage is inexpensive, and everyone working there is friendly and accommodating. It’s the kind of place you want to play and then hang around on the patio for a drink or two afterwards.

Opened in 1948 as a Jack Daray design before a later rework by Perry Dye, Castle Creek features a relatively easy front nine that sets the stage for a much more difficult finishing nine. Starters constantly hear players say that they shot their best nine ever when making the turn, only to have their hopes of a career round crushed on the back.

What gets them? It starts with three holes (a par four and two par fives) that are narrow and difficult. They’re excellent golf holes, just difficult ones that require strategy off the tee. After that, water comes into play.

A creek runs across holes 13, 14, 16, and 17, languidly waiting to snatch balls that are off-line. The toughest of those – the 418-yard par four 14th – sports the creek running in front of the tee box and then down the entire left side of the hole before cutting back in front of the green.

It’s all about holding on for dear life on the way into Castle Creeks clubhouse.

Prospector Golf Course

The first of two public golf courses at the Suncadia Resort, Prospector is a phenomenal Arnold Palmer designed golf course. Spread out over 7,100 yards from the tips, the course offers non-stop views of the valley and surrounding forests.

A true mountain golf course, Prospector features rolling fairways and fast greens. Many of the holes are well-bunkered – both along the fairways and around the greens. Many holes have water that present a series of risk-reward opportunities for players looking to score low.

The fifth hole is an excellent example of that risk-reward mentality. The short par four measures between 300 and 340 and offers players two paths: straight-away at a green guarded by water or around that water with a couple of shorter shots. This hole is a great chance at birdie if you plan ahead.

Prospector offers a practice range, private instruction, junior golf, group instruction, and golf clinics for all ages and skills. Golfers may select a program or collaborate with PGA Teaching Professionals to customize a lesson program.

The Prospector Golf Shop, located next to The Inn, features clothing, equipment, and accessories for the whole family. The Lunch Bucket at the Turn, located on the Prospector’s 9th hole, serves sandwiches, snacks and beverages. The cheeseburgers at the turn are excellent.

Rope Rider Golf Course

On the other side of the resort, the Rope Rider course couldn’t be more different from its older sibling. The Jacobsen-Hardy designed course is great for families and beginners, but offers plenty of challenges for more accomplished players.

Built along the site of the historic Roslyn Mines and was named to honor the miners who balanced themselves on the roped coal cars as they moved up and down the steep mine shafts. One mine entrance is still available for viewing near the course parking lot.

Rope Rider measures more than 7,300 yards from the tips but features youth tees on every hole and offers shorter three- and six-hole loops for quick outings with the kids.

The finishing stretch of holes are a real treat, concluding with the medium-length par four 18th. The slight dogleg left works uphill and away from the 120’ high coal tailing on the right side of the fairway. Players will find a green sloped from to back in the shadow of the clubhouse to end the day.

The Resort

With more than 6,000 acres of forested mountain landscape, Suncadia’s wealth of year round activities make for a perfect Pacific Northwest escape. A picturesque Washington State resort, with 40+ miles of hiking and biking trails, three championship golf courses, local wining & dining, and world class spa treatments.

Nestled on the sun soaked slopes of the Central Washington Cascade Mountains, Suncadia is a special place. Designed as a premium resort, Suncadia is just 80 miles east of Seattle and offers an excellent selection of lodging and activity options that will fit all families.

It all starts with the lodging, and Suncadia has several different options: The Inn, The Lodge, and condominium and home rentals. 

The Lodge is the biggest building on the property, featuring a stunning view of the Cle Elum River Valley and Tumble Creek, as well as Mount Baldy and the rest of the Cascade Mountains. It’s a true full-service luxury hotel that’s great for families and business travelers. The guest rooms in the lodge welcome guests with premium bedding, high definition televisions, and even small kitchenettes for those who just want to make a quick snack. Nothing about the rooms feels cramped, making a stay comfortable and luxurious.

The Inn is an intimate lodge with 14 rooms with golf course views. And, finally, the condos and vacation homes are spread throughout the property with an excellent selection of bedrooms and amenities.

It’s easy to look at Suncadia as a golf resort, but the fact is that it’s much more than that. Depending on the season, guests should expect to use their hiking boots, bikes, golf clubs, snowshoes, or skis. Don’t worry, if you forgot equipment or just want to try out something new, Suncadia’s rental services can get you set up.

The point is, Suncadia acts as the perfect base camp from which to start any activity.

In addition to the two public golf courses features on the left, Suncadia members also have access to Tumble Creek, an exclusive private club just down the road.

Established in 1964, Mountain View Golf Club offers an 18-hole golf experience filled with characteristic holes and breathtaking views of beautiful Mt. Hood.

Despite its rural location, Mountain View is a course that just about everyone in the Portland, Oregon area has played. Thanks to excellent rates and the club’s willingness to host outside fundraiser events, it’s a place golfers are willing to drive to regularly.

The challenge really starts from the very first hole, with a tight tee shot guarded on the right by trees and OB stakes. From there, the course continues to give you tight looks off the tee until you get to the turn and things open up a bit. Course conditions, especially the greens, are excellent.

Mountain View’s signature hole is the par-three 12th. Voted the second most interesting hole in Oregon by the public in the Oregon Golf Association’s “Most Interesting Hole Series” in 2017, it’s a 184-yard shot from the blue tees (pictured right). Regulars tell you that whatever club you hit on the 140-yard 10th hole is the same club you’ll hit on the 12th hole. It drops nearly 200-feet from tee to green

In addition to great golf, Mountain View also offers a covered driving range, a chipping area, and generous putting green. The local professionals are available for lessons and can get you the latest gear from their large pro shop. The clubhouse also features a turn-stand, a breakfast/lunch cafe, and a full restaurant.

Offering an unparalleled level of play and challenge for golfers of every ability.

If you’re going to visit Pebble Beach, chances are you’ll fly into the San Francisco area and then drive out to Monterey. If you fly in early enough, it’s probably a good idea to get a warm-up round in before challenging golf on the coast.

TPC Harding Park, a municipal championship course, is the perfect spot to stop.

The Harding Park Course was substantially renovated in 2005 to better suit it for PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions events. The restoration of Harding Park focused on maintaining the course’s integrity and unique characteristics while enhancing the original layout designed by world-renowned golf architects Willie Watson and Sam Whiting in 1925.

Set against the cypress tree-lined Lake Merced, the improved Harding Park Course layout features soft bunkers and graceful undulating fairways. An additional 400 yards was also added to the course to make it a championship-caliber golf facility ready for PGA TOUR action.

Since that renovation, the course has hosted two World Golf Championship events, the 2009 President’s Cup, and three PGA Champions Tour events.

Located just an hour north of downtown Seattle, Avalon Golf Links has rebounded from the early part of the century and is flourishing. Avalon was the host site of the 1994 and 2001 US Open Qualifier, host site of the 2007 Pacific Northwest PGA Senior Championship and 2009 Pacific Northwest PGA Championship.

Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Oregon is a public golf course that plays host to thousands of rounds per year. Owned by regional agency METRO, Glendoveer has grown from a suburban club built in 1926 to a center of community and neighborhood activity. With two golf courses, a tennis facility, and dedicated walking and running trail, the facility has something for just about everyone.

The East Course is the more difficult of the two courses at Glendoveer. The round starts with a short par four with water on the right side, and a bunker on the left. A tee shot that lands between those two hazards will usually leave about 135 yards into a small, fast green tucked behind a greenside bunker. Pretty typical of the challenge golfers face throughout the round. 

The course has a great layout with several challenging holes throughout the round and, if you’re feeling your oats, a drivable par 4. Accuracy off the tee is a very important part of scoring on this course as it plays long and uphill with several blind tee shots. Course conditions are well maintained, including smooth and fast greens. 

The West Course, added in 1928, is considered easier with wider fairways and fewer bunkers. Both courses, however, are walkable and fun to play.

The practice facility has several practice greens and a double-decker driving range with plenty of space to work on your game, loosen up your swing or practice your long shots before you head out on the course. The entire facility, both golf and practice, are perfect for junior players looking for an affordable place to work on their games. For those under 18 years of age, the course participates in the Youth on Course program, offering $5.00 greens fees for registered players.

The staff includes a few instructors, so if you find yourself struggling or need some suggestions on how to improve your game, you can purchase lessons for a very reasonable price. 

Glendoveer also offers tennis options if you want to change up your daily workout with private lessons, city league teams, or memberships. 

The facility has also played host to some of Portland’s most popular restaurants. Currently, Von Ebberts Brewing calls Glendoveer home, offering excellent food options and micro-brews to players making the turn or looking to settle their bets after a round.

For more information about Glendoveer or to book a tee time, visit www.playglendoveer.com.

Desert Willow Golf Resort, nestled in the heart of Palm Desert, offers 36 holes of championship desert golf on layouts designed by Mike Hurdzan, Dana Fry and PGA Tour professional John Cook. The Firecliff and Mountain View courses have been rated 4 out of 5 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play, with each providing five sets of tees that make a challenging test for experienced players, while also providing a fun and rewarding round for amateurs.

The Desert Willow layouts provide all the excitement and vistas of desert golf, without the long forced carries that are sometimes prevalent on these types of layouts. There are some natural desert areas to carry, but the tee shots are reasonable in length.

On property is a beautiful clubhouse that features a wonderful pro shop, locker room facilities, restaurant & lounge that provides an extensive lunch menu, and an outdoor patio that affords spectacular golf course views. There is a full service practice facility with targeted grass range, putting greens and short game area. Pro Link GPS is standard on all carts, as are ball & club washers and ice chests.

At Firecliff, golfers will notice immediately the intricately designed sand bunkers that are strategically located along the well manicured fairways, and near the mildly undulating green complexes. In total there are 100 bunkers – though their intricate designs makes it feel like more. The desert waste areas that help define the fairways are cleaned out so that recoveries are sometimes possible.

The finely sculpted tee boxes are adorned with wildflowers and landscaped shrubbery, and are layered with desert in between – reminding one that this is truly a desert layout. The setting is pristine and spectacular, with mountain views and natural areas highlighting an experience that all levels of players will appreciate. Water hazards on seven of the holes also add to the aesthetic experience and challenge.

Though just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle, Trophy Lake Golf and Casting Club feels like you’re a million miles away from civilization. Set on the Kitsap Peninsula, the area is surrounded by water on three sides and offers some of the best views of forests and mountains available to golfers.

Trophy Lake is unique in offering not only golf, but also fishing. The ponds and lakes are full of rainbow trout, bass, and more. Throughout a round, you’ll encounter serious anglers trying to land a trophy fish.

It is the golf, however, that will leave a more lasting impression, or mark, if you prefer. Trophy Lake boasts a front nine difficult enough to challenge the best players. The yardage from the championship tees is listed as a paltry 3,376 on the scorecard, but plays much longer. The back nine, while playing to a longer yardage of 3380, seems a breeze compared with the brutal front nine.

With so many excellent holes and views to choose from, it’s hard to pick a true signature hole for Trophy Lake. Employees in the pro shop said the course really has 18 signature holes. However, the par-4 fourth and par-5 eighteenth stuck out when all was said and done.

The fourth hole stretches to 441-yards, all of it playing uphill and into the wind. It’s easy to miss this green because of the long approach shot, making this a scramble hole for sure.

The 18th hole is just a great finishing hole, Measuring 532 yards, the par-5 offers a chance for big hitters to go for it in two, but with a shallow green and a creek in front, the best chance for birdie is a lay-up.

In all, Trophy Lake is a reasonable priced round of golf that will challenge everyone in your foursome. It has the amenities you’d expect and is a nice course to walk.