Whatcom County has some of the best public and private golf courses in Western Washington. Many of the courses have earned praise from major golf magazines and travel publications and have hosted many pro and amateur tournaments. Western Washington’s temperate climate offers year-round play, just be prepared for any kind of weather. Many of the courses provide stunning views of Mount Baker or the San Juan Islands.
Here is a comprehensive list of the Golf Courses throughout the county, starting in and around Bellingham.
Lake Padden Golf Course has been rated by Golf Digest as one of the best municipal courses in the state. It is a beautiful 18 hole golf course that has been created in a second growth forest on the south end of Bellingham off Samish Way. The Lake Padden Golf Course is a public course that is owned by the City of Bellingham. It offers 18 holes with a driving range and putting green.
The Bellingham Golf and Country Club is a private golf course conveniently located in the heart of the city at the north end of Bellingham off Meridian St. A creek flows through the course, and water hazards come into play on seven holes. The Bellingham Golf and Country Club offers 18 holes and has a driving range.
The North Bellingham Golf Course is a public golf course located off the Smith Road in the Guide Meridian area of Bellingham. The North Bellingham Golf Course has flowering meadows and gently rolling fairways and panoramic views of Mt. Baker. The North Bellingham Golf Course offers 18 holes and a driving range.
The Shuksan Golf Club is a public golf course named after one of the Cascade peaks in the near distance, Mt. Shuksan. It is in a rural setting split by Ten Mile Creek, which meanders through the fairways with alarming regularity. The course varies over 100 feet in elevation with terrain ranging from steep ridges to gentle meadows. The Shuksan Golf Club won Golf Digest’s 2008 & 2009 “Places to Play” Four Star Award. It offers 18 holes with a driving range and putting green. It is located near Lynden.
The Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club is a public golf course located along the shores of Lake Whatcom. The front nine is relatively open and flat and borders the lake, the back nine follows a ridge uphill with narrow evergreen-fringed fairways and smaller greens that have more character. The course has water hazards on fourteen of the eighteen holes and some forty-seven bunkers sprinkled throughout the course. The Sudden Valley Golf and Country Club has a driving range and putting green.
The Hitting Zone is Bellingham’s premier golf driving range. It is located in the heart of Barkley Village and has quality facilities and professional service.
Pro Golf Center Golf Course Guide Meridian Rd. This “pitch and putt” course has some trees that can alter your shots, but no other hazards. This is an excellent course for junior and senior golfers. Additionally, this is a good course to work on your short game.
Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club was rated Washinton’s #3 public course by Golf Digest in 2005, for its immaculately manicured fairways and stunningly contoured greens. It is a tree lined course surrounded by some spectacular homes in the Semiahmoo community. The course was designed by Arnold Palmer
Loomis Trail Golf Club was rated Washinton’s #1 public course by Golf Digest in 2005 for its consistently smooth, fast greens, with water coming into play on every hole. It is the only course in Washington state to make the nation’s Top 100. It is also surrounded by some spectacular homes.
New World Golf Par 3 Golf Course and Driving Range. Golf does not need to be expensive or time consuming. You can complete 9 holes in 40 minutes. This is a great way to practice your short game or learn to play golf. They have a covered driving range to keep you out of the weather so you can practice all year round.
Raspberry Ridge Golf Course. This 9-hole, par 34 course was built on the area’s natural topography, giving it superior drainage and the ability to stay open in the rainy winter months. There are open fairways, well-bunkered greens, and some fun challenges as well as spectacular views of Mount Baker. Good for all skill levels in all seasons.
Sandy Point Golf Course. This is a private, residential golf facility that does not have a pro shop.
Wayne Olsen Riverside Golf Course. This nine-hole course has fairways that are undulating and the greens are medium in size and speed. Water hazards come into play on five holes.
Homestead Farms Golf Course winds its way through an area that was once fertile dairy farm land. It has been transformed to one of the real surprises of Northwest Washington golf. This is a true resort course, with wide landing areas and multiple tees for the recreational golfer – plus the length, doglegs and hidden hazards to challenge players with some game.
Grandview Golf Course is a 6,100-yard course that features water hazards on nearly every hole. It offers easy walking with a challenging layout for both beginning and experienced golfers.
Birch Bay Village Golf Course. This well-maintained course has some greenside sand bunkers and lakes coming into play on several holes. The terrain is hilly, and there is a standard cut of rough bordering the fairways. Additionally, the fairways are lined with pine trees, so shot accuracy is at a premium.
Birch Bay Golf Club. This course has small greens and water hazards coming into play on nine holes.
Sea Links Golf Course is a public course, located on beautiful Birch Bay with 400 feet of waterfront and scenic views of the Gulf Islands and the beautiful Mt Baker and the Cascade Mountains.
Evergreen Golf Course in Everson.This executive 9 hole course, built on flat terrain, is easy to walk. The greens are small, and the fairways are narrow. There are no sand bunkers, but there are water hazards coming into play on several holes.
Dakota Creek Golf Course was once a working farm, there is still an old farmhouse and barn on the site. It is
laid out in the gently rolling hills of north Whatcom County and offers panoramic views of the surrounding valley and San Juan Islands. It is a unique with each hole representing its own challenge with lots of natural ponds and wetlands.
Peaceful Valley Country Club in Kendall
This peaceful course is owned by the home owners of the city. The fairways are wide, and the greens are medium in speed and size.
A course often left out of Whatcom County lists is The Point Roberts Golf & Country Club. It is a bit of a challenge getting there requiring 2 border crossing each way due to it’s unique location, so remember to bring your passport. It has been it ranked 6th in the entire United States for unique golf courses, and has recently been added to the Golf Digest Best Places To Play list for 2008/2009.
You can reach me any time at 369-739-6981 or email me at: michael.eisenberg@exprealty.com