Trying to find a tee time in Washington State? The first thing to know is that whether a course is open depends heavily on where it is and what the weather is doing. This guide will walk you through Washington's unique golf seasons, give you an action plan for finding a course that's open right now, and highlight some must-play tracks across the state.
Understanding Washington's Distinct Golf Seasons
Unlike states with a single, year-round golf season, Washington is a state of two distinct halves, divided by the Cascade Mountains. The weather, and therefore the golf season, is completely different on each side. Knowing this is the first step to figuring out where you can play.
West of the Cascades: The Year-Round "Marine" Season
The western part of the state, home to Seattle, Tacoma, and the Puget Sound, has a mild, marine climate. This means rain is common, but heavy snow and deep freezes are rare, at least at sea level. Because of this, many courses in Western Washington stay open all 365 days of the year.
However, "open" in January is very different from "open" in July. Here’s what to expect in the off-season (typically October through April):
- Soggy Conditions: Expect wet, soft fairways. The ball won’t roll out much, and you'll likely be playing "lift, clean, and place" (also known as winter rules). A quality pair of waterproof golf shoes is an absolute must.
- Aerated Greens: To keep greens healthy, courses punch holes in them (aeration) in the spring and fall. Putting on aerated greens is an acquired taste, so it's always good to ask the pro shop about their recent maintenance schedule.
- Frost Delays: On clear, cold mornings, frost can cover the course. When the grass is frozen, walking on it can damage and even kill the turf. Pro shops will issue a frost delay, pushing back all tee times until the ground thaws. Be prepared to be flexible.
The trade-off for these less-than-perfect conditions is that courses are less crowded and green fees are often lower. For the hardy Washington golfer, there's no such thing as an off-season.
East of the Cascades: A Defined Seasonal Affair
Once you cross the Cascade Mountains, the climate changes dramatically. Eastern Washington - which includes areas like Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Chelan - experiences a much more traditional "four season" climate. Winters are colder and often bring significant snowfall, while summers are consistently hot, sunny, and dry.
This means most courses in Eastern Washington have a very defined season. They typically close for the winter sometime in late October or November when the first significant snow is on the horizon and reopen in the spring - usually late March or early April - once the snow has melted and the ground has firmed up.
Up in the mountains themselves, at resorts like Suncadia, the season is even shorter. These higher-elevation courses might not be clear of snow until May, closing again for the season in early October.
The beauty of golf in Eastern Washington is that when the courses are open, the conditions are often spectacular. Plenty of sunshine and dry weather make for firm, fast fairways and a perfect golfing environment.
Your Action Plan: Finding an Open Tee Time Today
So, you’re ready to play. How do you find a course that’s definitely open and taking tee times? It's easy if you have a system.
- Start with a Direct Call: The single most reliable way to know a course's real-time status is to call the pro shop. An online booking system might show a tee time, but the person answering the phone can tell you, "We're on a two-hour frost delay," or "The back nine is closed due to standing water." This five-minute call can save you a wasted trip.
- Check the Course Website and Socials: Most golf courses are savvy about updating their customers. Check the homepage of the course’s website for any alert banners about conditions. Their Facebook or Instagram pages are also great spots for up-to-the-minute news, often with pictures of the current conditions.
- Use Online Booking Engines: Websites like GolfNow, Supreme Golf, or a course's own online booking portal are excellent resources. If they are showing available tee times for the day, the course is almost certainly open. This is the fastest way to survey options in your area. Just remember the pro shop call (Step 1) is your ultimate confirmation against last-minute weather issues.
- Consult Regional Golf Associations: The website for WA Golf (the Washington Golf Association) has an excellent course directory and is a great resource for finding tracks in different parts of the state that you may not have been aware of.
A Coach's View: Top Washington Courses to Watch For
Washington is home to some incredible public golf. As a coach, I appreciate courses that offer a variety of challenges and are rewarding to play no matter your skill level. Here are a few examples that showcase the diversity of golf across the state.
Year-Round Gems (Primarily West of the Cascades)
- Chambers Bay (University Place): The host of the 2015 U.S. Open is a modern masterpiece of links golf. It's open year-round, and its sandy base means it drains exceptionally well, making it one of the best winter-play options in the country. Coach's Tip: This is not your typical "target golf" course. Leave your laser rangefinder in the bag and learn to use your feet. Feel the "rumble" of the ground to judge how far your ball will run out. The ground is your friend here, so embrace the bump-and-run.
- The Home Course (DuPont): Another links-style layout that co-hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur with Chambers Bay. It offers a pure, firm, and fast golf experience without the hefty price tag. It's forgiving off the tee but has challenging green complexes that demand precision. Coach's Tip: Pay close attention to the wind, which is almost always a factor. Learning to hit a lower, "knock-down" shot to stay under the wind will save you multiple strokes a round.
- Gold Mountain Golf Club (Bremerton): A municipal playground with two fantastic tracks, the Olympic and the Cascade. The Olympic Course is nationally ranked and a true test, threading through massive pine trees. Both courses offer a classic Pacific Northwest setting and are kept in phenomenal shape year-round. It's a prime example of high-quality, accessible public golf.
Seasonal Superstars (Primarily East of the Cascades)
- Gamble Sands (Brewster): This David McLay Kidd design is pure, unadulterated fun. Located on a sandy bluff overlooking the Columbia River, the course features enormous, forgiving fairways and wildly creative green contours. It embodies the "playability for all" design philosophy. Its season typically runs from April through October. Coach's Tip: Do not get consumed by the number on the scorecard. The goal here is creativity. Use the massive slopes to your advantage - try putting from 30 yards off the green or using a "bank shot" off a side-slope to feed the ball toward the hole.
- Wine Valley Golf Club (Walla Walla): Reminiscent of an inland Scottish links, Wine Valley is a grand, sweeping course that's consistently ranked among the best in the state. It's wide, firm, and windswept, rewarding strategic play and shots played along the ground. It typically opens in March and provides incredible conditions through the fall.
- Suncadia Resort - Prospector & Rope Rider (Cle Elum): For a mountain golf experience, Suncadia is perfection. Carved through the pine forests of the eastern Cascade slopes, these courses bring elevation changes and stunning views into play. Because of their altitude, their season is the most concise, often from May through October, so you have to time it right. Coach's Tip: The ball flies a little farther at altitude, but the thick mountain air still has weight. Focus on making a smooth, balanced body rotation. Trying to muscle the ball here often leads to bigger misses, and getting stuck behind a giant pine tree is a quick way to circle a big number on your card.
Final Thoughts
Finding an open, playable golf course in Washington just means knowing where to look and understanding the state's very different climates. By calling the pro shop, checking for online updates, and gearing up for the local conditions, you can enjoy some truly world-class golf pretty much any time of year.
Once you are on the course, navigating the unique challenges Washington throws at you - from a punch shot under heavy evergreen limbs to reading a tricky lie in the fescue - is the next piece of the puzzle. This is where Caddie AI can become an invaluable tool. Instead of guessing the right club or shot shape, we give you instant, personalized strategies for any situation you face, helping you approach every shot with the confidence of an expert.