During the summer the Seattle climate is perfect for getting in some golf. Conditions are rarely wet, temperatures are rarely intolerable, and the sun stays up late into the evening. So, whether you’re a resident of Seattle or just visiting Seattle, you’ll likely want to add some golf to your plans.
Below, we’ll provide the details on the four municipal courses inside Seattle city limits. Then we’ll detail some of the best courses around Seattle and the Puget Sound region. With such amazing summer weather and the beautiful environment that surrounds courses, taking in the best courses Seattle has to offer should be a bucket list item for any golfer.
A List of the Best Golf Course Near Seattle
Here are 10 of the best golf courses near Seattle that include courses you’ll find in the city, destination courses, and great value courses that show off the region without breaking the bank:
- Best Courses in the City of Seattle
- Interbay Golf Center
- Jackson Park Golf Course
- Jefferson Park Golf Course
- West Seattle Golf Course
- Destination Courses in Washington State
- Chambers Bay
- Gamble Sands
- Salish Cliffs Golf Club
- Best Value Courses Near Seattle
- Druids Glen
- Gold Mountain Golf Club (Olympic Course)
In the City
Seattle has four municipal courses and a number of country clubs where you’d need to know a member to play. We’ve detailed the bottom four courses below, but one note of caution: make sure to book ahead of time. With only four courses serving a city of more than 700,000 residents, finding last-minute tee times at these courses can be quite challenging!
Interbay Golf Center
- Weekend Greens Fees: $20
- Driving Range: Yes. 80 covered stalls and 40 that are heated for winter. Stalls also come with Top Tracer technology that can be used for an additional fee.
- Yardage: 1,327 (9 holes)
Interbay is a nine-hole course that’s just 3.6 miles from downtown. The course is mostly par 3s, but the opening hole is 290 yards (all measurements in this article from the furthest tee box) and is a par 4. Interbay bills itself as a ‘Golf Center’ for a reason, the course has a recently renovated driving range that includes 80 covered stalls. You can use Top Golf-style Top Tracer technology from each stall, which can be a fun social activity. If you’re traveling with a family the course also includes a miniature golf course that’s $12 for adults and $8 for 17 and unders.
Jackson Park Golf Course
- Weekend Greens Fees: $45 (tee times before 10:30 am)
- Driving Range: Yes, with two levels. 25 stalls come with Top Tracer technology available for an additional fee.
- Yardage: 6,085 (18 holes)
Located 9.5 miles north of downtown, Jackson Park is only a 14-minute drive when traffic is light. The course features water hazards on 5 different holes that add some intrigue. In addition, there are plenty of hills and some tricky shots with trees framing narrow fairways. However, we’d recommend avoiding the 9-hole executive course as its condition often is lacking.
Jefferson Park Golf Course
- Weekend Greens Fees: $37.50 (tee times before 10:30 am)
- Driving Range: Yes, a double-decker range with 50 stalls and heating. 28 stalls come with Top Tracer technology.
- Yardage: 5,906 (18 holes)
Jefferson Park is located on Beacon Hill, which is another short drive from downtown Seattle. The course (and driving range) offers some stunning views of the city. In terms of course structure, it’s a similar distance to Jackson Park (about 6,000 yards from the tips) and as you’d expect features hilly terrain. If you’re just looking to hit some balls, the driving range has a nice view and Jefferson Park recently opened up the Beacon Grill which has burgers, sandwiches, smoked meat, and a wide selection of draft beer.
If you’re heading to Jefferson with a family, they also have an executive 9-hole course and mini golf as well.
West Seattle Golf Course
- Weekend Greens Fees: $45.00 (tee times before 10:30 am)
- Driving Range: No
- Yardage: 6,402 (18 holes)
West Seattle golf course is – in our opinion – the best municipal course you’ll find within Seattle city limits. The front nine is the highlight of the course as the back nine is extremely hilly and will provide no shortage of uneven lies. The course plays about 6,400 yards from the tips, so you’ll get more distance than other municipal courses in the city. Lastly, it’s worth noting that there are some exceptional views of downtown Seattle from this course, but it can be more difficult getting to West Seattle versus other Seattle courses we’ve already previewed.
Destination Courses in Washington State
If you’re in Seattle and want the best the region has to offer, you’ll need to drive out of the city. Below we’re detailing some of the best destination courses that are drivable from Seattle. Each one is public, but once again make sure to book in advance. Some of these courses can have weekends that are booked solid months in advance.
However, if you manage to get on any of them they not only offer challenging layouts but showcase the natural beauty of the Puget Sound, Olympic, and Cascade Mountains.
Chambers Bay
- Weekend Greens Fees: $250 (non-resident pricing, rates adjust for Washington State and Pierce County residents)
- Driving Range: Yes, has a driving range with putting and chipping areas
- Yardage: 7,165 (18 holes)
- Distance from Downtown Seattle: 50 minutes (41 miles)
Major championships are rare in the Pacific Northwest. When the PGA Tour plays a major on the West Coast, they’re traditionally at either Torrey Pines or Pebble Beach in California. In fact, there have only ever been four majors in the Pacific Northwest.
- 1944: Manito Golf and Country Club in Spokane
- 1946: Portland Golf Club in Portland
- 1998: Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish
- 2015: Chambers Bay in Tacoma
Chambers was built to be a championship-level golf course. Unfortunately, it’s hosting of the US Open in 2015 was widely panned due to the conditions of the greens which used fescue grass.
Fast forward to today and Chambers Bay completely replaced its greens with poa annua grass in 2019. The views of Chambers Bay since this conversion have been outstanding. In 2020, Golf.com said “With apologies to Bethpage Black and all its brawn, [Chambers Bay] is probably the best municipal course in the country.”
Today, Chambers is back to hosting championship golf. In 2022 it hosted the United States Women’s Amateur Golf Championship. If you’re looking for a challenging links-style course with breathtaking views of Puget Sound and the mountains surrounding Seattle, Chambers Bay could be an unforgettable experience.
Gamble Sands
- Weekend Greens Fees: $235 in spring (rates adjust based on demand)
- Driving Range: Yes, has a driving range with putting and chipping areas
- Yardage: 7,146 (18 holes)
- Distance from Downtown Seattle: 45 minutes (30 miles)
Gamble Sands is a relative newcomer to the Washington golf scene, having opened in 2014. However, while new, the accolades are pouring in. Golfweek ranks the course the 19th best course you can play in the United States, Golf Magazine has it ranked #14 on its best public courses.
The course is a long drive from Seattle, but it is located next to the popular resort town of Chelan. In addition, there is a resort located at the course you can stay at. Gamble Sands is carved out of rough Eastern Washington terrain and is perched overlooking Lake Pateros, a section where the Columbia River stretches more than a mile wide.
By 2025, Gamble Sands will become a major destination when its next 18-hole course opens. Both courses are designed by David McLay Kidd, who also designed Oregon’s Bandon Dunes and Sand Valley Resort in Wisconsin.
Salish Cliffs Golf Club
- Weekend Greens Fees: $75 (Uses demand pricing so rates may rise in summer)
- Driving Range: Yes
- Yardage: 7,269 (Championship tees)
- Distance from Downtown Seattle: About 90 minutes (76 miles)
Salish Cliffs is another relative newcomer to the Pacific Northwest golfing scene having opened in 2011. The course sits in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains, and as you’d expect is extremely scenic. Holes 9 and 18 are the showstoppers here, with them sharing a double green that’s ringed by bunkers with a pristine lake separating both fairways. The course is what you’d expect in the Pacific Northwest, the layout is hilly and evergreens lining fairways will require more precision than needed at other courses.
Best Value Courses Near Seattle
Wanting to get a great round in but don’t want to break the bank? Here are some fantastic deals that have greens fees well under $100 and still showcase the best golf courses Seattle has to offer.
Druids Glen
- Weekend Greens Fees: $57 (winter rates)
- Driving Range: Yes, has a driving range with putting and chipping areas
- Yardage: 7,146 (18 holes)
- Distance from Downtown Seattle: 45 minutes (30 miles)
If you’re looking for a course that features Mount Rainier as a stunning backdrop, Druids Glen should be at the top of your list. The course itself is challenging with a slope of 144. From the tips its range is more than 7,000 yards and there are plenty of obstacles such as more than 60 bunkers, tree-lined fairways, and water hazards.
While an excellent course, it should be noted that Druids Glen is an absolute deal compared to other options on this list. In the winter, weekend tee times are only $57.
Gold Mountain G.C. (Olympic)
Weekend Greens Fees: $46 (winter rates)
Driving Range: Yes
Yardage: 7,035 (18 holes)
Distance from Downtown Seattle: 1 to 1.5 hours (63 miles – can take a ferry to reduce length)
Gold Mountain is located on the Kitsap Peninsula (so you may have to take a ferry across), but is an absolutely gorgeous golf facility that contains two different courses. Of the two, our favorite is the Olympic Course. Fairways can be challenging with “chutes” between tall evergreen trees. The course also closes with three incredible holes that balance risk and reward extremely well. With relatively affordable greens fees, great course design, and good maintenance, Gold Mountain is a must-visit for any Seattle golfers.
