Thinking about golfing in Washington State will likely conjure images of grey skies and constant rain, but here's the reality: Washington is an incredible, diverse, and often sun-soaked golfing destination with a season that stretches far longer than you'd expect. From world-famous U.S. Open venues to hidden gems, this article is your complete guide to not only whether you can golf in Washington, but how to play your best in doing so, no matter the season.
Let's clear the air right away. Can you golf in Washington? Absolutely, and you should. The state is home to a staggering variety of courses that offer year-round play. The persistent "rainy" reputation mostly applies to the Western Washington drizzle, which often keeps courses soft, lush, and green nearly all year. Many golfers might be surprised to learn that a short drive east over the Cascade Mountains opens up- a high-desert climate that boasts over 300 days of sunshine a year.
The secret to great golf in the Evergreen State isn’t dodging a constant downpour, it's understanding the distinct personality of each season and region. You can play a windswept links course along the coast in the morning and a manicured parkland track in the afternoon. That variety is Washington’s greatest strength, and learning how to prepare for it is the first step to enjoying some of the most scenic and rewarding golf in the country.
Washington golf has four very distinct seasons, each offering a unique experience. Understanding what to expect during each will completely change how you approach your rounds. As a coach, I tell my players that embracing the season, rather than fighting it, is how you score well here.
Spring is when the Washington golf scene truly comes alive. Courses that may have been a bit shaggy through winter start to firm up, greens are cut and rolled, and the energy returns. While the chance of a shower is ever-present, you’re often rewarded with brilliant sunshine and rapidly improving conditions.
This is Washington's glorious, picture-perfect golf season. The days are incredibly long (it can be light enough to play until 9:30 PM), the rain subsides, and the courses become firm and fast. From the Puget Sound to Spokane, this is when the state shines. It’s also peak season, so expect higher green fees and more crowded tee sheets.
Many local golfers will tell you that fall is their favorite time to play. The crowds of summer thin out, green fees drop, and the courses are still in fantastic shape. The changing colors of the leaves provide a stunning backdrop, and the crisp, cool air is invigorating. You will face more unpredictable weather, but the rewards are often worth it.
This is where Washington golf surprises people. While mountain courses close and others may be weather-dependent, a huge number of courses, particularly in the Puget Sound and Eastern Washington, stay open all year. Enthusiasts don a beanie and waterproof gear and enjoy empty courses and rock-bottom prices. It's not always pretty, but it's golf!
Washington’s golf landscape is best understood by its geography. What you play in Seattle is a world away from what you’ll find near the Idaho border.
This is the hub of Washington golf. It's home to perhaps the most famous course in the state, Chambers Bay, a stunning links-style U.S. Open host that feels like a trip to Scotland. But it's also packed with must-play public facilities like the 36-hole complex at Gold Mountain in Bremerton and The Home Course in DuPont, co-host of many USGA championships. This area is defined by its tall evergreen trees and consistently green conditions.
Cross the Cascade Mountains and you enter a different universe. This is a dry, sunny region known for its dramatic landscapes. Gamble Sands in Brewster is considered one of the best public courses in the United States, a true links experience with vast, rolling fairways and jaw-dropping views of the Columbia River. Near Walla Walla, Wine Valley Golf Club offers another expansive, firm-and-fast round. This is the place to be for guaranteed sunshine in the summer.
Golf here is a more rustic and rugged affair. It’s less about pristine conditioning and more about the raw beauty of the environment. Courses are nestled along the coast and are often exposed to the wind acoming off the Pacific. It's a quieter, more peaceful golf experience that feels like a true getaway.
As you'd expect, mountain golf is spectacular but seasonal. High-end resort courses like the 36 holes at Suncadia Resort near Cle Elum (Prospector and Rope Rider) offer pristine conditions and massive elevation changes set against a mountain backdrop. These tracks generally open in late spring and close in mid-fall, providing a wonderful alpine golf adventure during the summer months.
Knowing where and when to play is one thing. Knowing how to adjust your game is what leads to better scores. Here are a few Washington-specific skills that I work on with all my students.
You can genuinely experience three or four seasons in a single round. The secret is layering. Start with a moisture-wicking base layer for your skin. Add a quality golf polo over that. Your third layer should be a quarter-zip pullover or lightweight fleece. Finally, and most importantly, have a top-tier waterproof rain jacket and pants tucked in your bag. Not "water-resistant" - waterproof. Being cold and wet ruins your swing. Being warm and dry allows you to keep playing your game.
Most greens in Western Washington are coated in a type of grass called Poa Annua, or "Poa." It's a hardy grass that grows well in the climate, but it has a unique characteristic: it keeps growing throughout the day. A putt on a Poa green in the morning will be smooth and true. By the afternoon, the surface can be bumpy and less predictable as the grass shoots have grown at different rates. The essential coaching fix? Be decisive with your stroke. Don’t try to die the ball into the hole on a bumpy afternoon Poa green. Make a firm, accelerating stroke and take the minor imperfections out of play.
Whether you’re on the coast or in the open plateaus of Eastern Washington, wind is a factor. The old saying is a good one: "When it's breezy, swing easy." Trying to swing harder to fight the wind just adds more spin, which gets exaggerated by the gusts. Instead, club up (take a 6-iron instead of a 7-iron), swing at 80%, and focus on solid contact. The lower spin and more controlled trajectory will produce a much more predictable and penetrating ball flight.
Washington state is a spectacular and underrated golfing mecca, providing a diverse, challenging, and scenic experience for golfers of all levels. From the lush, green courses of the Puget Sound to the sun-drenched, fast-running fairways of the east, you can absolutely enjoy great golf here year-round if you simply know how to prepare.
Handling those unique conditions - a soggy lie on a November morning or choosing the right club in the gusty winds at Chambers Bay - is where the real challenge lies. That's why we designed Caddie AI. If you ever feel stuck on the course, you can describe your exact situation or even snap a photo of your lie and get immediate, on-demand advice. We give you that expert second opinion to help you play smarter and with more confidence, no matter what a Washington course throws at you.
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