Maybe someday a real Ryder Cup will visit the Pacific Northwest.
Would the Euros have an advantange on the linksy Chambers Bay near Seattle? Probably not, considering the screaming U.S. fans who would be thrilled to be attending the first Ryder Cup in the region since Portland, Oregon, hosted in 1947.
For now, the only Ryder Cup in town will be a buddies trip being organized by a GolfPass member who wants to know where his group should play the 30th edition of their own friendly yet fierce "Ryder Cup" competition.
@WorldGolfer
— JBH (@jbh_1970) March 7, 2021
Need advice for 30th Golf Trip.
Seattle/Tacoma area
7 rounds 4 Days (in order)
Day 1 -
Home Course 18 (arrival)
Day 2-
Mccormick 18/Gold Mountain 18
Day 3
Salish 18
Day 4
Need 36 (Suncadia option but prefer closer, advice?)
Day 5 (Departure)
Chambers Bay
TIA
It's clear to see he's already done extensive research. All of those choices and the logistics make a lot of sense. Suncadia Resort is a great 54-hole destination, but it would be a good two-hour hike over the Cascade Mountains to reach. He could also consider replacing McCormick Woods with the Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Club, although the difference is minimal. I would recommend one of two options for the 36-hole day he's seeking that could make the trip just about perfect. The weather, and how his teammates play, are out of my hands.
Option 1: Stay on the Kitsap Peninsula
This choice would likely require moving Salish Cliffs - and a stay at its Little Creek Casino Resort - to day 4 and playing back-to-back 36 hole days on the Kitsap Peninsula. Not ideal.
But the upside would be a 36-hole stay-and-play at The Resort at Port Ludlow and White Horse Golf Club in nearby Kingston. Truth be told, I haven't played either, but they've long been on my Washington state bucket list. They both get strong marks from GolfPass reviews, averaging an impressive 4.6 star rating.
Port Ludlow, a Robert Muir Graves design from the mid-1970s, has ranked among the top 10 courses in the state in Golfers' Choice every year since 2016. White Horse, known as one of the toughest courses in the Pacific Northwest, would potential set up a "War by the Shore" mentality. It ranked 40th nationally in the 2021 Golfers' Choice. Both showcase the rugged beauty of the peninsula. The Resort at Port Ludlow's 37-room boutique inn on the shores of the Puget Sound would offer a relaxing stay.
He could also theoretically try two other scenarios with this itinerary. One: push the Port Ludlow/Whitehorse 36-hole day to day 2 and play the Ryder Cup matches on day 3 at McCormick Woods/Trophy Lake and the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain. The drivable par-4 18th hole at Gold Mountain, where Jordan Spieth won a U.S. Junior Amateur, would be the perfect way to end an epic tournament.
Two: break up the 36-hole days, drive to Salish Cliffs for the day 3 round and come back to the Kitsap Peninsula for the 36-hole McCormick/Trophy Lake-Gold Mountain competition on day 4. It would probably add a couple hours of driving but be a solid compromise for a day of rest.
Option 2: Head to the Seattle suburbs
The path of least resistance on day 4 would be to head toward Seattle to play a couple of its best daily fee courses. Playing all 36 holes at the Golf Club at Newcastle would be convenient. The Coal Creek Course (12th in the state in 2021 Golfers' Choice) provides stunning views high above Seattle's skyline. Both are demanding designs with mounds, water and elevation changes. I'd bet money very few players beat their handicap.
Want something else besides Newcastle for a second round? Add in Washington National, home of The Huskies that is conveniently only 30 miles south and closer to Chambers Bay for departure day. Unfortunately, I've never played the John Fought design, but it is part of the impressive local portfolio of courses managed by Oki Golf (as is Trophy Lake and Newcastle). Maybe a call to their sales department would lead to a deal on golf or grub by bringing the group to at least three Oki courses. It never hurts to ask.
Discounts for your crew? That's a golf trip everybody will love, win or lose.
Have any tips to share about favorite courses around Seattle? Let us know in the comments below.
The Kitsap Peninsula area is one of your best options for quality, value, and logistics, as well as the beauty. Day 1 Home Course. Close enough to Sea Tac, and check their website for one of the best stay and plays in golf, while staying in the beautiful town of Dupont. There's a nice Irish pub in town. McCormick Woods in the morning and Whitehorse in the the afternoon with a stay and play at the Clearwater casino for day 2.Day 3 I'd do Trophy Lakes in the morning, check in at the Hampton Inn in Bremerton on the water, and then walk on the ferry for the hour long ride to Seattle which docks just minutes from T Mobile Park, and take in a Mariners game.The ride over and back is spectacular. Day 4 could be 36 at Gold Mountian with Cascade in the morning and Olympic in the afternoon, and then only 15 minutes back to the Hampton Inn. The Boat Shed, on the water under the Manette bridge in east Bremerton may have the best clam linguine anywhere. Day 5 Chambers Bay. All the courses that have been recommended, and your choices are all great but to keep the boys together with the minimal driving, this would probably work pretty well. The value and quality of these courses rivals anything that Ive been able to find anywhere. If you have your mind set on Salish, the course and casino are great,but Whitehorse is quite similar with both courses carved out of the forest, and lots of elevation change. Either one could be a road trip favorite, but Whitehorse is less of a drive.
Why not play 36 at gold mountain, 18 on the Olympic and 18 on Cascade? Another day do McCormick Woods/Trophy Lake, they are close together to minimize drive time.