Growing up in Lakewood, basketball and tennis were my sports of choice. It wasn’t until college that I fell in love with the game of golf. I found it the perfect sport for the highly competitive, playing both against my partners and old man par.
A girlfriend once dumped me because — among other reasons, many other reasons — I “played too much golf.” Fortunately, I married a very understanding woman who happens to buy my “I need to play one or two times a week to stay in shape” argument.
Before I had children and a demanding job I spent 20 years enjoying the South Sound’s many wonderful tracks and still take the time to revisit them every month or so.
When I was asked to write down my thoughts on a few local public courses, I jumped at the chance.
Allenmore GC
(18):
This is a fun course in a confined space, which means wide open golf. Reachable par 5s and shorter par 3s make for many birdie possibilities. Tacoma, 253.627.7211, www.tacomaelks.org.
Brookdale GC
(18):
This is a fairly open course with rolling fairways. The long par 3 ninth is probably the signature hole. Goodvalue.Tacoma, 253.537.4400.
Capitol City GC
(18):
One of the better bad weather tracks. Not difficult, but there are a couple of challenging holes. Flat, easy to walk. Olympia, 360.491.5511, www.golfcapitolcity.com
Chambers Bay GC
(18):
The jewel of the Northwest. This course has a wonderfully imaginative layout with holes that test your whole game. The views and elevation changes are dramatic. So is the price. No carts allowed. Home of the 2015 U.S. Open. University Place, 253.460.GOLF, www.chambersbaygolf.com .
Classic Golf Club
(18):
With tight fairways and smallish greens, this course is tougher than it looks. Lower handicappers should play from the back tees, or you won’t be using your driver much. Spanaway, 253.847.4440, www.classicgolfclub.net
Eagle’s Pride GC at JBLM
(27):
Spring is the best time of year to play this challenging, sometimes very long course because it tends to dry out a bit in the summer. It has some beautiful holes that wind through the Douglas firs. Fort Lewis, 253.967.6522, www.fortlewis.com.
Fort Steilacoom GC
(9):
A high handicappers haven. Open, short track with small greens. Lakewood, 253.588.0613
Gold Mountain GC
(36):
Among the peninsula’s trifecta of first-rate tracks along with Trophy Lake and McCormick Woods. Olympic course is the better 18. Bremerton, 360.871.1564, www.goldmt.com
The Golf Club at Hawks Prairie
(36):
Two very different courses. The Links is more open and features one of the most dramatic holes in the state. The downhill, par 4 14th seems to play rightout to the Puget Sound. The Woodlands is classic Pacific Northwest — trees and water. The more difficult of the two. Lacey, 800.55.TEE.IT, www.hawksprairiegolf.com.
The Home Course
(18):
Excellent new edition to the South Sound’s choices. Large greens and stunning views of the Puget Sound and Cascade Mountains will be what you remember most if you can shake off the three putts. DuPont, 253.964.0520, www.thehomecourse.com.
Lake Spanaway GC
(18):
There are no breathtaking views, and the par 3 14th’s lake has a cement bottom. I’ve seen players hit the edge of the water and bounce on the green. But don’t be fooled. This is an excellent test of golf. Spanaway, 253.531.3660, www.lakespanawaygc.com.
McCormick Woods GC
(18):
The beautiful layout is matched only by the beautiful homes that line it. Port Orchard, 360.895.0130, www.mccormickwoods.com
Meadow Park GC
(18):
This track has a bit of everything: long par 4s, two drivable par 4s and a trio of holes on the back side I’ve coined the Meadow Park Amen Corner — two difficult par 4s sandwich a par 3 that features a deep gully that must be cleared. Lakewood, 253.473.3033, www.metroparkstacoma.org.
North Shore GC
(18):
Always one of my favorites. While it’s not a long course, you’ll use nearly every club in your bag, and it helps to be able to shape your shots. Tacoma, 253.447.1375, nsgolfcourse.brinkster.net.
Other courses to consider:
High Cedars GC (27): Orting, 253.845.1853
Highlands GC (9): Tacoma, 253.759.3622
Lipoma Firs GC (27): Puyallup, 841.4396
Tumwater Valley GC (18): Tumwater, 888.943.9500
Whispering Firs (18): McChord-Field, 253.982.4927
University GC (9): Tacoma, 253.535.7393, plu.edu-golf