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Region’s golf is great –
from the tips or the trap
Great courses and scenery make
perfect setting for next business meeting
by Chris Gregor The game of golf is an addiction for some, a recreational pastime for many and an exercise in frustration for most. From a business perspective, however, golf represents an excellent tool. Many business executives use a day on the golf course for everything from entertaining existing clients, wowing potential new clients or rewarding employees.
An afternoon on the golf course provides four to five hours of uninterrupted time allowing business people a chance to foster the personal relationships so critical in creating new business opportunities as well as solidifying existing accounts. It is said that five hours on the golf course will reveal more about an individual than a week in a conference room.
Should your career involve sales, if you haven’t considered a round of golf as a reasonable venue for closing a key deal, give it a try. The worst that can happen is the client can decide to do business with one of your competitors, which, by the way, they can decide to do just as easily while meeting in your office. Even if you don’t close the deal, at least you’ll have gotten to know your perspective client on a more personal basis and if nothing else, enjoyed a day on the links. For as they say, the worst day on the golf course beats the best day at work.
Many businesses also use golf excursions or company tournaments as a reward mechanism or morale booster for employees. Much like the company Christmas party in December, a golf tournament in July offers a venue for employees to interact away from the office, have some fun and feel like the powers that be appreciate their everyday efforts.
For any organization in the business of fundraising, daylong golf tournaments or outings are a wildly popular method for raising money. These events often include catered meals, silent auctions and prize drawings as hooks to generate participation.
Fortunately, many local courses also provide full food and beverage services, assistance with tournament planning, banquet rooms and a gamut of meeting and conference facilities making it easy to plan and implement these kinds of outings. Semiahmoo golf course near Birch Bay, Eaglemont G.C. in Mount Vernon, Homestead Farms G.C. in Lynden and Shuksan G.C. in Bellingham are just several of the courses in the area that caterto group events.
Those afflicted with the golf bug might be aware that Northwest Washington offers some of the best golf opportunities in the state. From rustic 9-hole tracks and three of the states top-10 toughest tests, to one of Golf Digest’s top-100 greatest American public courses, this corner of the Evergreen State is ripe with variety.
Since golf, and specifically the operation of a golf course, is no less than a business proposition for the owners, it must be profitable in order to stay afloat. Consequently, most of the area courses are located within reasonable driving distance from the masses. That’s good for most but for anyone living in Island or San Juan counties the choices are somewhat skinny. Within Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties, there are approximately 28 golf courses, with only seven of those located on the islands. The following is an outline of public courses located in our neck of the woods including brief blurbs on each.
San Juan and Island Counties: Camaloch Golf Club – Located on Camano Island, Camaloch is a full 18-hole facility. It lies in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains and consequently receives just half of the rainfall of the greater Puget Sound area.
Gallery Golf Course – This 18-hole layout is owned and operated by the Navy and is located near Oak Harbor. Like most military owned courses it is kept in great condition and the public is welcome.
Holmes Harbor Golf & Beach Club - Located on Whidbey Island, Holmes Harbor is an executive-style course that treats the golfer to a variety of playing challenges as well as stunning panoramic views. An indoor private banquet room can accommodate up to 50 people, making it a great location to conduct business meetings, retreats and special occasions.
Island Greens Golf Course – This is a 9-hole, par 3 course located just minutes from the ferry dock on Whidbey Island. It is a perfect venue for playing with your kids or just working on your iron game.
Lopez Island Golf Course – The only course on Lopez Island, it is relatively short but the fairways are tight at times. It is flat and easy to walk, so should your travels bring you to the area take your sticks and enjoy.
San Juan Golf & Country Club – Typical of island courses, San Juan G&CC in Friday Harbor represents a scenic and relaxed golf experience. It sports 9-holes with two different sets of tee blocks providing golfers with a different look if playing 18-holes.
Orcas Island Country Golf Club – This is yet another scenic 9-hole island course with double tees making for an enjoyable 18-hole experience. Just 10 minutes from the ferry landing near Eastsound, it also provides a unique setting for weddings and corporate outings.
Skagit County:Avalon Golf Course - Overlooking the picturesque Skagit Valley and offering panoramic views of the Olympic and Cascade ranges, Avalon boasts three separate 9-hole layouts. Located just north of Burlington, Avalon has hosted two U.S. Open qualifying events, the most recent in 2001, and specializes in golf outings for charities and corporations.
Eaglemont Golf Course – Perched in the foothills east of Mount Vernon, this 18-hole championship-quality course is both challenging and visually spectacular. Views of Skagit valley and Mt. Baker abound making it easy to forget that Eaglemont is the 3rd most difficult course in the state.
Overlook Golf Course – Sitting on a hillside above Big Lake, this short, 9-hole course provides for a picturesque and relaxing day on the links. The greens are relatively small so accuracy is a must for scoring well here.
Similk Beach Golf Course - Nestled in a narrow strip of land between Fidalgo and Similk bays, this 18-hole course offers a scenic setting and reasonable greens fees. Located just off Highway 20 east of Anacortes, it boasts wide-open fairways and user-friendly greens that challenge golfers to use a variety of shots.
Whatcom County:Baker’s Edge Golf Course – A truly rural 9-hole track located in Maple Falls, it’s easy to walk and sports a small pro shop and snack bar.
Dakota Creek Golf & Country Club – A hillside course if ever there was one, this 18-hole course located in Custer, features Mother Nature as its biggest hazard. The newly opened back nine, which rests on top of a large hill, offers spectacular views of North Whatcom County, including Birch Bay and the San Juan Islands.
Evergreen Golf Course – Another short 9-hole course, this layout in Everson uses small greens, tight fairways and water hazards to give it some teeth.
Grandview Golf Course – Located just off I-5 near Custer, water is the theme here. Grandview is a flat, easily walkable course that features wide tree-lined fairways, numerous ponds and creeks, challenging greens and a few well-placed sand traps. If you own a ball retriever, you’ll want to bring it along on this trip.
Homestead Farms Golf Course – One of a handful of upper tier golf facilities in the area, this layout in Lynden features 18-holes of championship golf, luxury accommodations, a health club, spa, restaurant, pub, and convention center. Ranked as the 6th most difficult course in the state, it was rated “four-stars” by Golf Digest in 2002. You’ll want to bring along your camera on this trip, as on a clear day Mount Baker seems close enough to touch.
Lake Padden Golf Course - Rated by Golf Digest as one of the best municipal courses in the state, Lake Padden is a beautiful 18-hole course carved out of a second growth forest. Recent renovations to the fairways have turned this once soggy track into a year-round treat.
Loomis Trail Golf Course – Arguably the best overall course in the state, it is also ranked as the most difficult. Located between Birch Bay and Blaine, it earned the 99th spot on Golf Digest’s 2005 list of America’s top 100 greatest public courses.
North Bellingham Golf Course – Sweeping views and a links style feel encapsulate this 18-hole layout. With flowering meadows, gently rolling fairways, and a panoramic view of Mount Baker, North Bellingham is a treat for golfers of all skill levels.
Peaceful Valley Golf Course – Yet another laid back, 9-hole course that features two sets of tees for enjoying 18-holes of stress free golf in Sumas.
Point Roberts Golf & Country Club – One of the newer course in the state, this 18-hole, semi-private facility is truly a treat for the eye. With a slope rating of 136 from the tips it can challenge even the most skilled golfers, however, multiple tee blocks make for an enjoyable round no matter your ability.
Raspberry Ridge Golf Course – It is perhaps the best layout in Whatcom County for enjoying year-round golf. Excellent drainage makes this 9-hole, par 34 track, located between Ferndale and Lynden, playable on even the wettest days. It is very popular with older golfers due to its lack of length and ease with which it can be walked.
Riverside Golf Course – If a flat, open and inexpensive 9-hole course is what you seek, then look no further than Riverside G.C. in Ferndale. As its name suggests, it is located on the banks of the Nooksack River and is an enjoyable option for a “family day” of golf.
Sauk Mountain View Golf Course - This 9-hole, Sedro-Woolley course affords a scenic view of the countryside from virtually every hole. The fairways are generally wide, and the greens are medium in size and speed. Water hazards, in the form of two creeks and a lake, come into play on eight holes. It represents another opportunity to bust out that ball retriever.
Sea Links Golf Course – This is an executive style 9-hole facility with different tees for playing 18-holes. Located in Blaine, it represents a great opportunity to relax and work on your game.
Semiahmoo Golf & Country Club – Semiahmoo is one of just a few true destination resort facilities in the state. It is nestled on the northern Puget Sound shoreline between Birch Bay and Blaine, and overlooks Semiahmoo Bay and Drayton Harbor. Semiahmoo is the sister course to Loomis Trail and is open to the public on alternating days of the week. In addition to the outstanding golf, Semiahmoo offers an incredible waterfront hotel and full resort amenities.
Shuksan Golf Course - Named after one of the Cascade peaks in the near distance, Shuksan sports an overall elevation change of some 100 feet and boasts wonderful natural beauty. Located northeast of Bellingham off Hannegan road, it also offers full banquet facilities and tournament services.
Sudden Valley Golf Course – While our area has no lack of scenic golf courses, Sudden Valley takes a back seat to none of them. Located on the southern shores of Lake Whatcom, sweeping lake views and abundant wildlife are all part of the experience. 18-holes of championship golf, on-site restaurant, complete practice facilities and well stocked pro shop make Sudden Valley well worth the drive.
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This shot of the 13th hole at Loomis Trail G.C. underscores why is it rated among Golf Digest’s top-100 American public courses.
The view from the clubhouse highlights the elevation change prevalent at Shuksan G.C.
Wildlife, as evidenced at Avalon G.C., abound at many of area courses.
Lake Whatcom serves as a beautiful backdrop to the 5th green at Sudden Valley.
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