Best DG courses in Seattle area??

[snap7times]

I'm curious to hear what other DG'ers have to say...
I would like to know the top 3-4 courses within 30-40 miles of seatac airport and why?
Might have a few of my friends fly in and want to hit a few courses but want to make the best of the trip there...
Challenge and uniqueness are desired for first time players at the course.

[AchimbaProphet]

SeaTac - closest, hardest
Lakewood - close to SeaTac, most beautiful, longest?
White River - not too far from the airport, a heavily wooded hike through some native Washington terrain.

Outside the distance of those three you could go North to North Park or Mountlake Terrace or South to Ft. Steilacoom.

[gwillim]

Seatac! I wish it was closer so I could play it on a weekly basis!

[snap7times]

Ok, I'll add to that, if you had to choose three courses to play over a 3 day period within an hour of SeaTac Airport, which 3 would you pick...

[Tim]

SeaTac - closest, hardest
Lakewood - close to SeaTac, most beautiful, longest?
White River - not too far from the airport, a heavily wooded hike through some native Washington terrain.

Outside the distance of those three you could go North to North Park or Mountlake Terrace or South to Ft. Steilacoom.

What he said, though Seatac is definitely longer than Lakewood. Also, it's a little bit of a drive, but not TOO bad, I'd highly recommend heading over to Bremerton to play NAD and/or the Kitsap Fairgrounds. Both play through nice PNW forests, NAD is more broken in and easier, the Fairgrounds are fairly new and TOUGH. Both great experiences though, and a pretty sweet ferry ride coming across the sound.

[Nathan]

I'm curious to hear what other DG'ers have to say...
I would like to know the top 3-4 courses within 30-40 miles of seatac airport and why?
Might have a few of my friends fly in and want to hit a few courses but want to make the best of the trip there...
Challenge and uniqueness are desired for first time players at the course.

defenitly play lakewood. its an awesome course and the best looking one out here. ft. steilacoom is probably 30 min drive from the air port and has around 5 different courses that are all awesome to play

[Bullseye]

Ok, I'll add to that, if you had to choose three courses to play over a 3 day period within an hour of SeaTac Airport, which 3 would you pick...

Sea-Tac and the many faces of Stielly.

[snap7times]

Is Stielly really that good? All I have heard is that it's flat, boring, long, and dosen't demand your accuracy over luck, on top of the confusing layouts that Washington state likes to do on some of it's courses?? I don't want to make the trip and find out what everyone has already confirmed... But I'll keep an open mind, hopefully another 5-10 people will post their opinions on this thread topic...

[Tim]

Is Stielly really that good? All I have heard is that it's flat, boring, long, and dosen't demand your accuracy over luck, on top of the confusing layouts that Washington state likes to do on some of it's courses?? I don't want to make the trip and find out what everyone has already confirmed... But I'll keep an open mind, hopefully another 5-10 people will post their opinions on this thread topic...

Hmm, I guess it all depends on the layout you play, but "flat, boring, and long" aren't how I'd describe it. It isn't mountain golf, but it's got elevation in play--part of the course is essentially a plateau, so there are flat parts, but also hills. Luck over accuracy? None of the holes I can think of are like that, though there are some open holes where having a big arm is more rewarding than a technical one. Confusing as hell? Yeah, I can agree to that. Definitely want to hook up with a local if you can. And if you have the opportunity, I'd recommend the pro 27 layout, it showcases all the best holes in my opinion, and has been the most fun of the ones I've played.

[Mystjava]

Some might enjoy Lake Fenwick in it's 21 holes, but don't go there after it rains..
Personally - I would recommend SeaTac and NAD. If you were traveling south from Sea-Tac Airport to points south such as Portland, then I would recommend that visit with Lucky Mud and if possible, check out Riverside in Summer (some folks really like that place), but do include Fort Steilacoom for it's pro course.
It's the challenge that can "catch you" but for a true Pacific Northwest - NAD!

[Nathan]

Is Stielly really that good? All I have heard is that it's flat, boring, long, and dosen't demand your accuracy over luck, on top of the confusing layouts that Washington state likes to do on some of it's courses?? I don't want to make the trip and find out what everyone has already confirmed... But I'll keep an open mind, hopefully another 5-10 people will post their opinions on this thread topic...

if you want to play a really fun technical course you should come play dalawood in olalla. its not super long but defenitly technical.

[captain jack]

Some courses are very close to each other.

The Lakewood course, just to confuse the shit out of you, is actually in White Center, not Lakewood, and is just 5 minutes away from the Seatac course. Both courses can easily be played in a day.
So thats day one.

Second day, you chose to go north or south.
If you go south, go to White River, which has two tee boxes for each hole, the regular tee, and the girls tee.
Very close by, the Riverside course in Sumner, is a great challenge.
You could play those two in one day.

Day three, head north. Play a warmup round of goofy golf on the citys most crowded little course, Mineral Springs in Northgate, "duck!", then drive the reasonably short distance to the Terrace Creek course in Mountlake Terrace for a nice 18 with lots of elevation changes.

If you get a day four, play the Twin Rivers course in Arlington.

[TreeLove]

Fenwick? 21 holes? No.

Most of the baskets crammed around the parking lot and a few lost in the woods? Maybe.

Well let's just say, before you play there, go to:

Seatac
Lakewood
Steilly
Dalaiwood
NAD
Fairgrounds
RiverSide
White River
Lake Stevens

(all from personal experience)

So unless you're REALLY ambitious, I don't see you playing Fenwick, unless you break down and become homeless in Kent.

[Joshua Olmsted]

Is Stielly really that good? All I have heard is that it's flat, boring, long, and dosen't demand your accuracy over luck, on top of the confusing layouts that Washington state likes to do on some of it's courses?? I don't want to make the trip and find out what everyone has already confirmed... But I'll keep an open mind, hopefully another 5-10 people will post their opinions on this thread topic...


I'll echo Tim's comments about Steilly, those odd stereotypes are off base, with some 45+ unique holes, that go from 200' to 600', through a number of ground and forest styles and up and down hills, Steilly definitely isn't boring, or unfair. there are other legitimate complaints about the course. With either a guide or some maps and some patience (and use of the picture tee signs) anyone CAN figure out Steillly (doesn't mean they all will). I wouldn't put it by Seatac as far as must plays but it's definitely worth the stop.

You could check some of the maps in the Steilacoom thread here on the forum.

[ChUcK]

Some courses are very close to each other.

The Lakewood course, just to confuse the shit out of you, is actually in White Center, not Lakewood, and is just 5 minutes away from the Seatac course. Both courses can easily be played in a day.
So thats day one.

Second day, you chose to go north or south.
If you go south, go to White River, which has two tee boxes for each hole, the regular tee, and the girls tee.
Very close by, the Riverside course in Sumner, is a great challenge.
You could play those two in one day.

Day three, head north. Play a warmup round of goofy golf on the citys most crowded little course, Mineral Springs in Northgate, "duck!", then drive the reasonably short distance to the Terrace Creek course in Mountlake Terrace for a nice 18 with lots of elevation changes.

If you get a day four, play the Twin Rivers course in Arlington.

Follow this plan, and you can't go wrong.

[Mystjava]

I'll take back what I said about Lake Fenwick.. I had just only been there once.. I only mentioned it because it was in a reasonable distance from SeaTac.

[TYVEK]

the three courses that you should play is Seatac, Steillicoom, and Lakewood. play those before any others. you deffinately dont want to miss out on stilly! it is the BEST course on the western side of washington!!! Seatac and Lakewood are both close seconds.

[Ol' Bob]

it is the BEST course on the western side of washington!!!

Ahem...

Does this have to move to "Controversial Topics" too?

[DoubleDees]

Well, coming from a pro point of view that has seen many courses up and down the west coast and into the midwest here is what I have to say. Sea-Tac is #1. Steilly is #2. Lakewood is #3. Ive never played white river or NAD but once you play the pro 27 at steilly you will know why its such an awesome coarse. Elevation, fast greens, open bombers, short tunnels, long tunnels and dog legs. The only thing this coarse is missing imo is water!!! Sea-Tac has little elevation if any so anyone that complains about steilly having no elevation has no clue.

[snap7times]

Ok, just to stir things up, if Steily is as great as everyone says, why has the signage and tee issue continued to persist?
I have only played Riverside and White River so I could only compare to those two. All this advice has been great, would like to know more about NAD and the courses near that one.
If a trip was made to Steilcoom, what would be the next closest worthy course?

[Pizzel]

Ok, just to stir things up, if Steily is as great as everyone says, why has the signage and tee issue continued to persist?
I have only played Riverside and White River so I could only compare to those two. In my humble opinion you can not compare Riverside and Steily....they are not even in the same league....Riverside is McDonalds and Steily is the finest restaurant in Seattle......Riverside is Pepsi Clear and Steily is Original Coke.....Riverside is IPA and Steily is Strawberry Boones......

Once you learn a few Steily layouts the course is a great challenge...just don't expect the beauty found at many other Northwest courses.

Oh ya, Seatac is well worth the drive!!!!

[Nathan]

Ok, just to stir things up, if Steily is as great as everyone says, why has the signage and tee issue continued to persist?
I have only played Riverside and White River so I could only compare to those two. All this advice has been great, would like to know more about NAD and the courses near that one.
If a trip was made to Steilcoom, what would be the next closest worthy course?

NAD is out on the kitsap penninsula. there are 4 courses within 35-40 minutes of each other. NAD is kinda in the middle. If you play them in order (assuming that your coming over the bridge) you could hit dalaiwood (in olalla. 20-25 minutes from the bridge) first, which is a fun technical course. The second course (van zee) is about 10 more minutes along the road in port orchard. Its a short, fun, kinda technical course. It has 10pins and two tees for each. Its a fun course but might not be worth you while if your looking for the best in the area. But another 12 minutes along the highway is NAD which is a great course with two tees and two pin positions. Then finally another 15 minutes is fairgrounds, which is a newer course but is alot of fun to play. My favorite and i consider a "cant miss" is dalaiwood but thats my home course so some people might not agree. If you come out to the penninsula your gonna have a good time.

I've heard that they're trimming back the courses at steily to just alt 27 and pro 27 but im not sure on that

[NWDiscer]

Riverside is IPA and Steily is Strawberry Boones......



Oh ya, Seatac is well worth the drive!!!!


ummm if Riverside is IPA then Stilly is http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:242NsUT4bMd_AM:http://legalbeer.com/images/rogue%2520imperial%2520ipa.jpg


http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:me3UqKq54BYG6M:http://www.beerbeacon.com/labelimages/200704/Rogue-IPA.jpg

[olydiscgolf]

The "problem" with Steilly is the number of courses that it has. There is at least a dozen courses laid out through the 40+ acres. The club has been working on narrowing down the number of courses and focusing on improving a few of the best. It is pretty confusing with that many tee pads and baskets, but there are signs to follow. Depending on what time your there, old man Ray sells maps from his old brown van.

Its definetely worth a trip to the West Sound to play NAD and Dailiwood. Both are well designed, heavily wooded technical courses with good elevation and contour. In a word... "Fun"! If you have time for a third course on the West Side, check out Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Its a young course, very left hand friendly, and heavily wooded. It played pretty tight a couple of months ago when I was there, but they have a good club and have "work parties" often. It has probably opened up some. There might even be concrete tee pads by now.

As far as courses to play near the Airport:

1.Seatac (in Seatac)
2.Steilly
3.White River (in Auburn)
3.Lakewood (in White Center)
Yeah they both get #3!

[Yardbird]

Quick reply for the Kitsap Fairgrounds course in the West Sound.

There are now 12 concrete tee pads. Two more tee pads are planned to be poured within the next two weeks. All the tee pads will be done by July. The Fairgrounds course is starting to mature into a "must play" course.



Back to the original thread:

My list for courses to play near the airport would be

1) SeaTac.

2) Lakewood.

3) Fort Steilacoom. I little bit of a drive, but worth it. Plus you get to play multiple layouts. Meet up with a local for the first time.