Top Washington Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top Washington Public Golf Courses (According to Wikipedia & Course Profiles)

Washington’s diverse geography — from the Cascade Mountains to Puget Sound — offers a wide spectrum of public golf experiences. From championship-tested layouts to scenic alpine settings, Washington blends challenging design with Pacific Northwest beauty.

1. Chambers Bay – Robert Trent Jones II
   📍 University Place, WA (Tacoma area)
   🌊 Links-style course on former sand and gravel quarry
   🏆 Host of 2015 U.S. Open, 2010 U.S. Amateur
   💲 Municipal course, public access
   🗒️ Wikipedia | Course site

2. Wine Valley Golf Club – Dan Hixson
   📍 Walla Walla, WA
   🍇 Set in rolling hills of wine country
   🏌️‍♂️ Wide fairways and bold green complexes
   💲 Public daily fee
   🗒️ Course site

3. Gamble Sands – David McLay Kidd
   📍 Brewster, WA
   ⛰️ Inland links design on high Columbia Plateau
   ☀️ Vast fairways, panoramic views, firm playing surfaces
   💲 Public resort access
   🗒️ Course site

4. Salish Cliffs Golf Club – Gene Bates
   📍 Shelton, WA
   🌲 Routed through fir forests on Squaxin Island Tribal land
   🎰 Located next to Little Creek Casino Resort
   💲 Public access
   🗒️ Course site

5. Gold Mountain – Olympic Course – John Harbottle III
   📍 Bremerton, WA
   🌲 Towering pines and a championship layout
   🏆 Hosted U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship
   💲 Municipal facility, public access
   🗒️ Course site

6. Palouse Ridge Golf Club – John Harbottle III
   📍 Pullman, WA (Washington State University)
   🌾 Rolling wheatland terrain, collegiate setting
   🏌️‍♂️ Excellent walkability, strategic bunkering
   💲 Public access
   🗒️ Course site

7. Apple Tree Golf Course – John Steidel
   📍 Yakima, WA
   🍎 Famous apple-shaped island green
   🌞 Inland course with mountain backdrops
   💲 Daily fee
   🗒️ Course site

8. Raspberry Ridge Golf Course – Unknown Architect
   📍 Everson, WA
   🌳 Well-maintained parkland-style course
   🏌️‍♂️ Local favorite with scenic views
   💲 Public access
   🗒️ Course site

9. The Home Course – Mike Asmundson
   📍 DuPont, WA
   🏆 Co-hosted U.S. Amateur and other USGA events
   🌄 Broad fairways with mountain and sound views
   💲 Public access, USGA partner course
   🗒️ Course site

10. Prospector Course at Suncadia – Arnold Palmer
    📍 Cle Elum, WA
    🌲 Mountain setting with generous fairways
    🏌️‍♂️ One of two resort courses at Suncadia
    💲 Public resort access
    🗒️ Course site

🧠 Why These Courses?

• ⛳ Chambers Bay offers major championship pedigree with public tee times

• 🏔️ Mountain and inland links variety from Olympic Peninsula to eastern highlands

• 🎯 Designed by leading architects like Jones, Kidd, Harbottle, and Palmer

• 💲 Wide range of public-friendly options from resort to municipal