Northwest Links

Spring golf in the Pacific Northwest means longer days, dry stretches, and courses finally firing on all cylinders — but it also means aerification season. If you've shown up to your home course only to find the greens freshly punched and putting like a dirt road, you know the frustration. We've put together the full 2026 Greater Portland area spring aerification schedule so you can plan around it, find courses that are already healed up, or at least know what you're walking

Spring in the Pacific Northwest means longer days, the return of evening rounds, and courses starting to come back to life. It also means aerification season. Right when the weather turns and you’re ready to get back out there consistently, you might roll up to the course and see freshly punched greens. Not ideal… but necessary. Golf Course Aerification Why Courses Aerify Each Spring Aerification (or aeration) is when courses punch small holes into the greens and remove plugs

The Idaho Club doesn't care about your handicap. Perched along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille in northern Idaho with the Selkirk Mountains as your backdrop, this Jack Nicklaus Signature design is as visually stunning as it is brutally unforgiving. OB on nearly every hole, tight landing areas, and zero margin for lazy thinking — you will leave feeling like the course won. But that's exactly why it belongs on every serious Pacific Northwest golfer's bucket list.

If you missed Part 1, we ranked the top five public golf courses in Washington — from Chambers Bay to Salish Cliffs. Now we’re finishing the list with spots six through ten. These are still elite tracks that could easily be top-five anywhere else. The Home Course (DuPont): The Home Course is everything a public course should be — fair, fun, and consistently well-kept. It’s known as the “Home of Golf in the Northwest,” and it lives up to the name. The layout is wide and invit

British Columbia is home to some of the most memorable public golf in North America. From minimalist desert layouts to dramatic alpine courses, these five destinations stand out for their scenery, design philosophy, and sense of place. This ranking breaks down the best public golf experiences in BC — and why each one belongs at the top.

Widely regarded as the top public-access course in British Columbia, the Mountain Course at Bear Mountain delivers a bold, championship-caliber golf experience just a short trip north of the U.S. border. With dramatic elevation changes, immaculate conditioning, and a design that rewards commitment from tee to green, Bear Mountain stands as one of the Pacific Northwest’s most compelling public rounds.

The Pacific Northwest continues to quietly produce some of the strongest college golf programs on the West Coast. From national contenders to rising regional programs, these schools play an important role in shaping the PNW golf scene. Here's our ranking of the top 8 programs in the Pacific Northwest. 7. Boise State University Boise State has steadily built momentum as a Division I program. The Broncos regularly compete in regional and national collegiate invitationals and ha

Pumpkin Ridge – Ghost Creek is one of Oregon’s most consistent and thoughtfully designed public golf courses. Located just outside Portland, this classic Pacific Northwest parkland layout rewards accuracy, smart positioning, and strategic approach play rather than brute power. While it may not deliver the coastal drama of Bandon or the high-desert spectacle of Central Oregon, Ghost Creek excels in the areas that matter: strong routing, subtle green complexes, and excellent y

5 of our least favorite golf holes in Washington State

Oregon’s golf history dates back well over a century, with the game spreading from coastal links and river valleys into towns across the state. Below is a researched list of the 10 oldest golf courses in Oregon that are still operating today , ranked by the year their first course opened , starting with #10 and working down to the oldest. 10. Coos Golf Club   (formerly Coos Country Club) Coos Golf Club Location:  Coos Bay, OR First Course Opened:   1923 Founded in 1923 , Coos

Closing Out the Best Public Golf Holes in the State If the Front 9 of our Washington Dream 18 was about setting the tone, the Back 9 is about finishing strong . This stretch leans into everything that makes golf in Washington special, dramatic elevation, water-lined fairways, bold par 3s, strategic par 4s, and unforgettable closing holes. The Back 9 plays to a par 34 and 3,112 yards from the tips , featuring holes from every corner of the state. HOLE 10 — Par 4 (408 Yards) Su

Course Overview Location:  Coeur d’Alene, Idaho — located directly on the shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene, about 40 minutes east of Spokane. Course Type:  Public / resort-access Par & Yardage:  Par 71. Yardage ranges from approximately ~7,132 yards from the championship tees down to ~5,300 yards from the forward tees. Designer & Opened:  Designed by Scott Miller, opened in 1991 Notable Features: The world-famous floating island green on Hole #14, accessed by boat. Driving range

Washington golf is endlessly diverse — links, mountain, desert, forest, canyon, and everything in between. So we set out to build something special: a Dream 18 made entirely from real, signature holes at public courses across the state. Below is the Front 9 , a par-37 layout stretching 3,684 yards  from the tips. HOLE 1 — Par 4 (484 Yards) Palouse Ridge — Hole 3 Starting the Dream 18 with Hole 3 at Palouse Ridge feels perfect. Hole 3 is a long, sweeping par 4 carved through t

Washington state has quietly produced some of the most accomplished and influential golfers in the game’s history. From public-course legends to major champions and dominant amateurs, the Evergreen State punches well above its weight. Here’s our take on the 10 best golfers ever from Washington , ranked from 10 to 1, with an emphasis on professional success, major championships, and sustained impact at the highest levels of the game. 10. Kermit Zarley (Seattle) Kermit Zarley A

Seattle golf isn’t cheap, especially in the summer. We’ve picked some of our favorite tracks for the value, the ones that consistently deliver strong layouts, good conditions, and fair pricing during peak season. Here are five that stand out. Willows Run — Redmond Willows Run Golf Course - Eagle's Talon Willows Run offers two full 18s, a par-3 course, and one of the best practice facilities in the region—making it one of the most accessible golf hubs on the Eastside. It can g

Washington’s golf history runs deeper than most people realize. By the time Pebble Beach opened in 1919, Washington already had multiple courses with active clubs, dedicated members, and busy fairways. Below is a list of the 10 oldest golf courses in Washington that are still operating today. 10. Jefferson Park Golf Course (Bill Wright Golf Complex) Jefferson Golf Course in 1966 Location:  Seattle, WA First Course Opened:  1915 Jefferson Park opened in 1915 as Seattle’s first

If you’re a Seattle golfer, you already know the drill: the rain comes, the daylight disappears, and suddenly the range turns from “nice-to-have” to “non-negotiable.” Winter is where handicaps are built (or rebuilt), and having the right practice spot is the difference between starting spring hot… or wondering why your 7-iron suddenly goes 15 yards shorter. Here’s our full breakdown of the best winter grind driving ranges within ~40 minutes of Seattle , plus a few honorable m

When the rain settles in and daylight disappears before 5 p.m., finding a place to keep your swing in shape is key. Luckily, Seattle golfers have a ton of great indoor options — from serious practice facilities to social simulator hangouts. This isn’t a ranking, just a list of spots worth checking out within about 30 minutes of Seattle. Evergreen Golf Club – Redmond & Tacoma Evergreen Golf Club Tacoma Location You can’t beat Evergreen. With TrackMan simulators, full short-gam

Furry Creek Hole 1 Tee Box Course Overview Location:  Furry Creek, British Columbia Canada (About 45 minutes north of Vancouver via the scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway, and roughly an hour from Whistler) Course Type:  Public Par & Yardage:  Par 72. Yardage ranges: ~6,017 yards from gold tees, ~5,876 from blue tees, ~5,442 yards from white tees, ~4,749 yards from red/forward tees.   Designer & Opened:  Designed by Robert Muir Graves, opened in 1993 Notable Features:   Dramatic eleva

Washington is loaded with incredible public golf — from coastal links and mountain layouts to desert-style courses that feel straight out of Arizona. Whether you’re a competitive player chasing championship conditions or just someone who loves a scenic walk, the state’s public golf scene punches way above its weight. Here’s how we’d rank the top public courses in Washington, starting with the very best. Chambers Bay (University Place): Chambers Bay is Washington’s crown jewel