Ranking the Best Golf Regions in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest doesn't get enough credit as a golf destination. People know Bandon. But beyond that, most golfers outside the region couldn't tell you what else is out there — and that's a shame, because this corner of the country has some of the most varied, scenic, and underrated golf on the continent.

We broke the PNW down into seven distinct regions and ranked them from top to bottom. Here's how it shakes out.

#7 — Portland / Northwest Oregon

Portland's headliner is Pumpkin Ridge, where Tiger Woods won his third consecutive U.S. Amateur title in 1996. It's a classic layout with real history behind it. The Oregon Golf Club and a few other solid tracks fill out the region, but Portland lacks the depth and destination pull of the regions above it. Great place to play golf. Not a place you're booking a flight specifically to play golf.

#6 — Northern Idaho

Don't sleep on Northern Idaho. Coeur d'Alene Resort is the marquee name — that floating green on 14 is one of the most memorable holes you'll ever play — but the region goes deeper than most people realize. The Idaho Club, Circling Raven, and a handful of strong private clubs round out a portfolio of really quality golf in a surprisingly condensed area. It sits at the bottom of this list only because of volume. The quality is there.

#5 — Central / Eastern Washington

This is the region to watch. Gamble Sands put Central Washington on the map when it won Golf Digest's Best New Course in 2013 — and then its sister course Scarecrow went and won the same award in 2025. That's not a coincidence, that's a destination. Wine Valley out in Walla Walla adds another nationally recognized design, Palouse is a legitimate gem, and River Ranch is on the way. This region is rising fast and it's not done yet.

#4 — Central Oregon

The Bend area is flat-out awesome for golf. Sunriver and Crosswater, Tetherow, Black Butte Ranch, Pronghorn with its Nicklaus and Fazio layouts — just to name a few. You could build a full week out here and not play a bad round. It's the best region on this list for sheer volume of quality golf, and the high desert scenery doesn't hurt. If you want to maximize rounds per trip, this is your spot.

#3 — Puget Sound

Chambers Bay hosted the U.S. Open. That's the conversation starter, and it's a real one — a links-style beast stretching over 7,700 yards with views of the Sound. But the region doesn't live and die with Chambers Bay. Salish Cliffs, The Home Course in DuPont, Gold Mountain's Olympic Course in Bremerton — the supporting cast is deep and consistently excellent. Accessible from Seattle, great value across the board. A legitimate top-tier golf destination.

#2 — Southwest British Columbia

Vancouver Island and the Sea-to-Sky corridor combine to form one of the most scenic golf destinations anywhere in the world. Bear Mountain in Victoria brings 36 holes of Nicklaus design. Whistler — Canada's number one golf destination — offers courses by Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Robert Trent Jones Jr., set against the backdrop of the Coast Mountains. Furry Creek and Big Sky add even more to the conversation. American golfers consistently overlook this region, and that's their loss. Cross the border. It's worth it.

#1 — Oregon Coast / Bandon Dunes

It's not close. Bandon Dunes alone would make the Oregon Coast the top golf region in the Pacific Northwest — five courses all ranked in America's 100 Greatest, sitting on a clifftop above the Pacific. Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch, Bandon Trails — take your pick, they're all elite. Gearhart deserves a mention too for the history buffs; it's one of the oldest courses on the West Coast. But yeah, it's Bandon. Best golf destination in the United States. Hard to beat!