Best Golf Courses in Washington State: A Pacific Northwest Guide

If you live in Washington state or you're planning a golf trip to the Pacific Northwest, you're sitting on some of the best public courses in the country. Mountain views, old-growth tree lines, and layouts that actually challenge your game — PNW golf is something special. Here are the Washington courses every golfer needs to play.

Chambers Bay — University Place

You can't talk about Washington golf without starting here. Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and plays like nothing else in the region — a links-style course built on a reclaimed gravel pit overlooking Puget Sound. Fescue fairways, massive elevation changes, and wind off the water that makes club selection a genuine puzzle. It's challenging, beautiful, and a bucket-list course for a reason.

Gold Mountain Olympic Course — Bremerton

Gold Mountain's Olympic Course is consistently ranked among the best public courses in the state, and the green fees won't wreck your wallet. Carved through towering evergreens on the Kitsap Peninsula, the layout rewards shot-shaping and course management over raw distance. The back nine has some of the most memorable holes in the region, and if you're making a day trip from Seattle, the ferry ride over just adds to the experience.

High Cedars Golf Club — Orting

High Cedars is a hidden gem tucked into the foothills south of Puyallup with Mount Rainier watching over every hole. The course winds through mature cedar and fir trees, mixing risk-reward par fives with tight, tree-lined par fours that demand accuracy. The vibe is welcoming and unpretentious — the kind of place where you feel at home whether it's your first visit or your fiftieth.

High Cedars is also where Swingers Club is hosting our launch party this spring. If you're in the area, it's the perfect chance to play one of Washington's best-kept secrets and see what we've been building. Keep an eye on our socials for details.

The Home Course — DuPont

Built as the home of Washington state high school golf championships, The Home Course delivers a championship experience at a public price. The layout is open and strategic, with well-placed bunkers and greens that reward approach shots hit to the right tier. Located just off I-5 south of Tacoma, it's one of the most accessible great courses in the state.

Salish Cliffs Golf Club — Shelton

Salish Cliffs is carved through old-growth forest near Shelton, and it feels like playing golf in a national park. Every hole is framed by massive trees, the routing takes full advantage of the natural terrain, and the facilities are top-notch. It's one of those rounds where the scenery competes with the golf for your attention.

Washington National Golf Club — Auburn

Just thirty minutes south of Seattle, Washington National offers a true test without requiring a full-day commitment. Dramatic elevation changes, well-defined fairways, and greens that demand precision make it a solid option for golfers who want a challenging round close to the city.

Why PNW Golf Hits Different

There's something about playing golf surrounded by evergreens with a volcano in the background that you just don't get anywhere else. Washington courses have character — the air is clean, the courses are beautiful, and the golf community up here genuinely loves the game. Whether you're a lifelong local or visiting for the first time, these courses are why Pacific Northwest golf belongs in the national conversation.