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"Washington Summer Golf 2026: Best Public Courses, Twilight Deals & Golf Getaways Near Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue & Lake Chelan"
Washington summers were made for golf — and few corners of the state pack in more of it than ours. From sunset putting above Lake Chelan to walking the U.S. Open links beside Puget Sound, the stretch from the North Central Washington high desert to Tacoma's South Sound holds well over a hundred places to play, practice or just knock a ball around with the kids.
This is your verified 2026 planner for all of it: public and municipal 18s, executive and par-3 courses, putting courses, heated Toptracer ranges, indoor simulators, mini golf, and stay-and-play getaways — plus the twilight pricing, youth deals and player cards that make a summer of golf affordable. Use the interactive map below to filter by region, type of golf, price and how much time you have, then save your favorites into a route.
Verified as of June 25, 2026, against the courses' own official pages. Green fees increasingly move with demand, day and season at the marquee venues, so treat every dollar figure here as a recent snapshot and confirm the live price on each course's site before you go. This guide covers Lake Chelan and North Central Washington, King County (Seattle and the Eastside), Snohomish County, and Tacoma and Pierce County, with a short bonus section of day trips.
Best summer golf picks for 2026
Short on time? Start with these, then use the interactive map and the regional guides below to build your own plan.
- Best golf getaway: Gamble Sands (Brewster) — two championship courses above the Columbia, the marquee Washington golf trip.
- Best upscale public round: Chambers Bay (University Place) — the 2015 U.S. Open links on Puget Sound.
- Best value twilight round: Mount Si (Snoqualmie) — super-twilight near $37 under the mountain.
- Best family-friendly course: Lynnwood — Family Golf Hour around $22 adult / $6 junior.
- Best after-work Seattle / Eastside option: Interbay (Toptracer + executive 9) or Bellevue at twilight.
- Best scenic round: Bear Mountain Ranch (Chelan) — lake-and-mountain views and big elevation.
- Best beginner-friendly track: Green Lake Pitch & Putt (Seattle) or Crossroads Par 3 (Bellevue).
- Best new course for 2026: Tolt (Carnation), Cedar Irons (Tacoma), and Scarecrow at Gamble Sands.
- Best 36-hole day: Willows Run (Redmond) — 45 holes on one site.
- Best golf-plus-food: The Golf Club at Newcastle — skyline views and the Calcutta Grill sunset patio.
Summer Golf 2026 planner
Plan your 2026 Washington golf summer
Public courses, twilight deals, short courses, Toptracer ranges and stay-and-play escapes — hand-picked stops from Lake Chelan to Puget Sound. Filter by region, type, price and how much time you have, save your favorites, and we'll line them up.
- Total stops
- 65 stops
- Stops saved
- 0 my golf summer
Quick start
Type of golf
Price
Time
65 stops
Mapped for you by the Homeseed Lending Team — neighbors who love this corner of Washington. Green fees, tee times, twilight windows and event dates change, so confirm on each official page before you go.
2026 summer golf at a glance
A quick comparison of marquee public courses across the region. Drive times are approximate from Seattle; confirm live pricing and tee times on each course's official site before booking.
| Course | Area | Best for | Public | Twilight | ~From Seattle |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gamble Sands | Brewster (NCW) | Bucket-list getaway | Yes (resort) | — | ~3.5 hr |
| Chambers Bay | University Place | Upscale walking links | Yes | — | ~45 min |
| Newcastle (Coal Creek / China Creek) | Newcastle | Skyline 36 & client golf | Yes | — | ~25 min |
| Washington National | Auburn | Serious players | Yes | — | ~35 min |
| Bear Mountain Ranch | Chelan (NCW) | Scenic getaway | Yes | Yes | ~3 hr |
| Bellevue Golf Course | Bellevue | After-work & twilight | Yes | Yes | ~20 min |
| Interbay Golf Center | Seattle | After-work, Toptracer, family | Yes | — | In city |
| Mount Si | Snoqualmie | Twilight value | Yes | Yes | ~40 min |
| Lake Wilderness | Maple Valley | Value full round | Yes | Yes | ~35 min |
| Harbour Pointe | Mukilteo | North-end premium | Yes | — | ~35 min |
| Cedar Irons (former North Shore) | Tacoma | New for 2026 | Yes | — | ~45 min |
| Tolt Golf Club (former Blue Heron) | Carnation | New, Toptracer range | Yes | Yes | ~40 min |
| The Home Course | DuPont | Walkable championship | Yes | Yes | ~50 min |
| Willows Run | Redmond | 36-hole day & family | Yes | — | ~30 min |
Golf prices, hours, tee-time availability, twilight windows and course conditions change seasonally — always confirm directly with the course before booking.
Check before you go — summer 2026 updates
A few things changed this year. Confirm anything time-sensitive on the official page before you drive out:
- New and reborn courses: Tolt Golf Club in Carnation (the former Blue Heron) is back under new ownership with all 18 holes and a covered Top Tracer range; Cedar Irons in Tacoma (the former North Shore) reopened all 18 holes on May 1, 2026 after a $7.5 million Dan Hixson redesign; and Scarecrow at Gamble Sands is playing its first full summer after opening in August 2025.
- Pricing is dynamic. Newcastle, Chambers Bay, Cedar Irons, Bear Mountain Ranch, Desert Canyon and The Home Course price by demand or sell through a live booking widget — there is no fixed weekend number. We show the posted window or a recent example; always check live.
- Closed — don't drive there. Kenwanda (Snohomish) is closed; Brookdale (Tacoma) and Lipoma Firs (Puyallup) have been redeveloped into housing; Fort Steilacoom (Lakewood) and Kayak Point (Stanwood) are now disc golf, not traditional golf.
- Access notes that surprise people: Eagle's Pride near DuPont is fully open to the public with no base pass needed, despite its JBLM name. Chambers Bay is walking-only (push carts included; riding carts are ADA-only with advance approval). American Lake Veterans in Lakewood is reserved for authorized veterans and their dependents, with guests only when accompanied.
How to use this golf planner
The interactive map above plots more than 60 hand-picked public-access stops across the four regions. Filter by area, type of golf (bucket-list 18, public 18, short course, par-3 and putting, range, indoor sim, mini golf), price band and the time you have — then tap a quick-start plan (like "Full round under $50," "Twilight & sunset golf," "Family & kids golf," or "NCW stay-and-play") to load a curated set and route it. A few ground rules for reading prices:
- Dynamic vs. posted. Where a course publishes a flat green fee we list it; where it prices by demand we say "dynamic" and point you to the booking page.
- Tax varies. Some quotes already include tax (Lake Chelan, Tolt), while others add it on top — Chambers Bay, for example, adds roughly 15% except on tax-inclusive advance bookings.
- Twilight finishes aren't guaranteed. Twilight pricing is a great deal, but daylight, not the clock, decides how many holes you finish — start times shift through the summer.
Four stories leading Washington golf in 2026
Tolt Golf Club — golf is back in Carnation
The Snoqualmie Valley course long known as Blue Heron has reopened as Tolt Golf Club under new ownership, with all 18 holes back in play and a 20-bay covered Top Tracer driving range open daily until 9 p.m. Peak-season green fees (June 1–September 30) run about $59 weekday and $65 weekend for 18, with twilight after 4 p.m. around $39–$49, plus 5-, 10- and 20-round prepaid packs (carts billed separately). The lit, all-weather Top Tracer bays are a rare practice option east of the city.
Cedar Irons — North Shore, reimagined
In Tacoma's Northshore neighborhood, the former North Shore Golf Course reopened all 18 holes on May 1, 2026 as Cedar Irons after a two-year, $7.5 million Dan Hixson redesign — rebuilt greens, redesigned bunkers and tees, widened corridors, new drainage and refreshed practice areas. Green fees are sold through a live booking widget (so check the day you want); juniors 17 and under play for about $15 on weekdays. If you're searching, the old "North Shore" name still helps you find it.
Scarecrow's first full summer at Gamble Sands
The destination resort above the Columbia near Brewster now has two David McLay Kidd championship courses. Scarecrow opened in August 2025, so summer 2026 is its first full season alongside the original Gamble Sands, the 14-hole QuickSands short course and the free-flowing putting course — making this a true multi-day golf trip rather than a single round. Summer pricing is a flat $295 for 18 at either course, with a same-day second 18 at $195.
Five ways to experience Chambers Bay
The 2015 U.S. Open host in University Place is more than one expensive bucket-list round. Beyond the full walking-only 18, Chambers Bay runs a deep calendar of lower-commitment social formats: the six-hole Social 6 (July 14, Aug 11, Sept 8), the seven-hole 7 & 7 Seas (July 20, Aug 3, Sept 21), nine holes of sunset Wine & 9 (July 29, Aug 26, Sept 16), a recurring Thursday evening skins game, and the July 4 Red, White & Blue Shamble. Add the waterfront trail and the grill and you can experience the property a dozen ways. Juniors 13 and under play free with a paying adult.
Bucket-list rounds
The splurge list — book these early on summer weekends:
- Gamble Sands & Scarecrow (Brewster) — two of the best public courses in the country on one Columbia-bluff property; $295 per 18, $195 for the same-day replay.
- Chambers Bay (University Place) — walking-only Puget Sound links; summer pricing starts around $209 for Pierce County residents and $325 for non-residents, plus tax.
- The Golf Club at Newcastle (Newcastle) — 36 holes (Coal Creek and China Creek) with downtown-Seattle, Lake Washington and Mount Rainier views, and the Calcutta Grill sunset patio.
- Washington National (Auburn) — the University of Washington's demanding home course, where the Oki Players Cards redeem.
- Bear Mountain Ranch (Chelan) — the signature lake-and-mountain view round; a July green fee runs about $115 weekday and $145 weekend, GPS cart included.
- Harbour Pointe (Mukilteo) and Druids Glen (Covington) round out the premium public field north and south.
Full rounds under $50
Honest, walkable value — confirm the day-and-time window on each course's page, since some figures are weekday or twilight:
- Lake Wilderness (Maple Valley) — about $41 weekday / $46 weekend, twilight near $32.
- Cedarcrest (Marysville) — about $40 / $45, twilight near $30; a top Snohomish all-around value.
- Blue Boy West (Monroe) — a par-33 nine, about $27 for 9 / $33 for 18 weekday.
- Twin Rivers (Fall City) — about $46 / $54, with a 10-round card.
- Nile Shrine (Mountlake Terrace) — a quick par-67, about $43 / $55 with twilight in the low $30s.
- Seattle's municipals via Premier Golf — Jefferson Park, West Seattle and Jackson Park — plus Foster Golf Links (Tukwila) with resident pricing.
Twilight and sunset golf
Long Northwest evenings make late tee times the summer's best value. Standouts with published late-day tiers: Bellevue Golf Course (twilight about $42–$47), Mount Si (twilight $48/$58, super-twilight near $37), Lake Wilderness, Enumclaw (after 4 p.m.), Tolt and Bear Mountain Ranch (after 1:30 p.m.). Remember: twilight ends with the daylight, so you may not finish all 18 — bring a flexible attitude and a camera for the sunset.
Where kids golf for about $5
The single best youth deal in the state is WA Golf's Youth on Course: a $25-a-year membership for ages 6–18 that unlocks $5 rounds at more than 85 participating courses across Washington and Northern Idaho. Locally, that includes Tolt, Cedarcrest, Allenmore, Walter E. Hall, Riverbend, Lake Spanaway and Twin Rivers, among others — each course sets its own eligible days and times, so check the participating-course list before you go. College-age golfers (18–25) get the equivalent through U on Course ($30 a year). And Lynnwood's Family Golf Hour (about $22 adult, $6 junior) is one of the best parent-and-kid offers around.
Family golf, short courses and mini golf
You don't need a full bag or a four-hour window. For real golf at a gentle scale, try the 18-hole grass putting course at The Green in Chelan, the Green Lake Pitch & Putt, Interbay's executive nine and mini golf, the Highlands par-3 in Tacoma, the executive 18 at High Cedars (around $25–$30), Tacoma's Williams Nine at Meadow Park, and the playful QuickSands short course at Gamble Sands. In Leavenworth, the Enzian Inn's Enzian Falls bentgrass putting course comes complete with a waterfall and resident goats. For rain-or-shine mini golf, the Flatstick Pub locations (South Lake Union, Pioneer Square, Kirkland, Redmond), Monster Mini Golf in Bellevue, and Bullwinkle's in Tukwila keep the whole family entertained.
Practice and Toptracer technology
Ranges are a destination in their own right now. For heated, covered, ball-tracking bays, Interbay is one of the top Toptracer ranges in the country, and Jackson Park and Jefferson Park have added Toptracer to their Seattle municipal ranges. Up north, Columbia Super Range in Everett runs 50 covered, heated and lit Toptracer bays plus a chip-and-putt, and Tolt's new 20-bay Top Tracer range stays open to 9 p.m. Puetz Golf in North Seattle and the Woodinville Sports Club add more Toptracer bays. For all-weather social golf, there's Topgolf Renton, Five Iron Golf (Seattle and Kirkland) and PNW Golf Centers' TrackMan bays on the Eastside. One clarification: Willows Run's range uses Inrange, a different tracer system — not Toptracer.
Stay-and-play golf getaways
When you want to make a weekend of it, compare the whole package, not just the green fee:
- Gamble Sands (Brewster) — two championship 18s, a short course and a putting course with on-site lodging and dining; the marquee Washington golf trip.
- Desert Canyon (Orondo) — a dramatic Columbia-canyon resort course with lodging and the Oasis restaurant (confirm summer 2026 operation when you book).
- Kahler Mountain Club (near Lake Wenatchee) — a wooded alpine course with condos and an aqua range; ask about the stay-and-play green-fee discount.
- Alta Lake (Pateros) and a Chelan combo of Bear Mountain Ranch and the city's Lake Chelan Golf Course round out the NCW options.
- Suncadia (Cle Elum, about 80 minutes east on I-90) — two championship courses, the Arnold Palmer-designed Prospector and the family-friendly Rope Rider, plus a free 3-hole Rope Rider Golf Park and a year-round simulator; the value Sun Country course sits just off Golf Course Road nearby. (Tumble Creek is private, members-only.)
- Across the Sound, Salish Cliffs at Little Creek Casino Resort near Shelton makes an easy one-night escape.
36-hole days
Want to play two rounds without changing courses? Willows Run in Redmond is a 45-hole campus (two full 18s, a par-3 nine and a putting course); Newcastle has Coal Creek and China Creek side by side; Suncadia in Cle Elum pairs Prospector and Rope Rider; Gold Mountain in Bremerton pairs the Olympic and Cascade courses for an affordable two-course day; Hawks Prairie in Lacey offers the Links and the Woodlands; and at Gamble Sands you can play Gamble in the morning and Scarecrow (or the $195 replay) in the afternoon.
Golf plus food, wine and waterfronts
Some of the best rounds end at the table. Pair Chelan golf with the valley's wineries and the clubhouse Albatross restaurant; Newcastle with the Calcutta Grill at sunset; Chambers Bay with its grill and the waterfront trail; Allenmore with the on-site Urban Elk; Madrona Links with the Gig Harbor waterfront; and the walkable Leavenworth Golf Club with a stroll through downtown Leavenworth.
Golf deals and discount programs
A little planning goes a long way this summer:
- Oki Players Cards — the Original ($149, one prepaid round plus discounts), the Weekday 3-Pack ($239, three rounds with cart) and the Platinum ($579, seven rounds plus guest passes). They redeem at nine public Oki courses in our footprint, including Newcastle, Washington National (Auburn), Harbour Pointe (Mukilteo) and Redmond Ridge. Newcastle carries a per-card upcharge; all 2026 cards expire March 31, 2027.
- Premier Golf's Frequent Players Program — free to join, earning one point per dollar toward 5–20% discounts (Bronze through Platinum) at the Seattle municipals (Interbay, Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, West Seattle) plus Bellevue and the Everett munis. Watch the rotating daily deals for limited cheap tee times.
- WA Golf membership — unlocks $5 Youth on Course rounds for juniors and preferred member pricing at Chambers Bay and The Home Course (where membership can pay for itself in a round or two).
- NCW Players Card — discounts across the four North Central Washington sister courses (Desert Canyon, Bear Mountain Ranch, Alta Lake, Rock Island). Heads up: the official pages currently disagree on the price (listed at $125 on some and $145 on another) and the per-course benefits differ, so confirm the exact card and perks by phone before buying.
- Three Lakes (Malaga) ten-round punch cards — about $500 for ten 18s, $270 for ten 9s — are strong value for frequent Wenatchee-area players.
More public courses by area
Lake Chelan & North Central Washington: Highlander (East Wenatchee), Rock Island, Leavenworth Golf Club, Mount Cashmere (Cashmere) and the Wenatchee Valley's newer indoor and mini-golf venues (the Golf Dojo simulator and Tap & Putt).
Seattle & the Eastside: Bellevue Golf Course, Crossroads Par 3, Redmond Ridge and the 45 holes at Willows Run.
South King County: Maplewood (Renton), Riverbend (Kent), Auburn Golf Course, Enumclaw, Druids Glen (Covington) and the Snoqualmie Valley trio of Mount Si, Snoqualmie Falls and Twin Rivers.
Snohomish County: Legion Memorial and Walter E. Hall (Everett), Lynnwood, Harbour Pointe (Mukilteo), Echo Falls and Snohomish Golf Course, Battle Creek (Tulalip), Gleneagle (Arlington) and Nile Shrine (Mountlake Terrace).
Tacoma & Pierce County: Allenmore, Oakbrook (Lakewood), Meadow Park, Lake Spanaway, Madrona Links (Gig Harbor), High Cedars (Orting), The Classic (Spanaway), Tapps Island and the fully-public Eagle's Pride near DuPont.
Bonus day trips & getaways: Suncadia's Prospector and Rope Rider plus the value Sun Country course in Cle Elum (I-90, ~80 min east), and across the Sound, Trophy Lake (Port Orchard), Gold Mountain (Bremerton), Hawks Prairie (Lacey) and Salish Cliffs (Shelton).
Summer 2026 golf events calendar
Future-dated events as of late June 2026 — registration and capacity change fast, so confirm on the official page:
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 4 | Red, White & Blue Shamble (2-person, 9 a.m. shotgun) | Chambers Bay, University Place |
| Jul 11–12 | West Seattle Amateur | West Seattle Golf Course |
| Jul 11 · Aug 8 · Sep 26 | Ladies Golf Bootcamp | Allenmore, Tacoma |
| Jul 14 · Aug 11 · Sep 8 | Social 6 (six-hole social golf) | Chambers Bay |
| Jul 20 · Aug 3 · Sep 21 | 7 & 7 Seas (seven-hole social golf) | Chambers Bay |
| Jul 20 | Family Golf Day | Meadow Park, Tacoma |
| Jul 25–26 | Bellevue City Amateur | Bellevue Golf Course |
| Jul 28–29 | Senior Women's & Super Senior Amateur | Desert Canyon, Orondo |
| Jul 29 · Aug 26 · Sep 16 | Wine & 9 (nine-hole sunset golf) | Chambers Bay |
| Aug 14–16 | Boeing Classic (PGA Tour Champions — spectator) | The Club at Snoqualmie Ridge |
| Thursdays | Evening Skins Game (public, 3:30–5:30 p.m.) | Chambers Bay |
Watching, not playing? The Boeing Classic (PGA Tour Champions) returns to Snoqualmie Ridge in mid-August, and the WA Men's Amateur plays The Home Course in DuPont in late June — both great free or low-cost ways to see elite golf in our backyard.
Before you go: a golfer's checklist
- Book premium weekends early and check live pricing — Gamble Sands, Chambers Bay, Newcastle and Bear Mountain move fast and price by demand.
- Mind the tax and the window. Some quotes include tax, some don't, and "summer" spans posted peak windows that change your price.
- Know the walking and cart rules. Chambers Bay is walking-only; many resorts include or require a cart; Eagle's Pride is fully public; American Lake Veterans is reserved for veterans and accompanied guests.
- Sign juniors up for Youth on Course ($25/year) before the first round — it pays for itself almost immediately.
- Plan around heat and smoke east of the Cascades. In Chelan and the Columbia basin, book early tee times in July and August and check the air-quality index on wildfire days.
- Hydrate and respect pace of play on busy summer weekends; arrive 30 minutes early to warm up.
Washington summer golf questions and answers
What's the cheapest full 18-hole round this summer?
Neighborhood courses like Lake Wilderness (Maple Valley), Cedarcrest (Marysville), Twin Rivers (Fall City) and Nile Shrine (Mountlake Terrace) post 18-hole pricing in the $40s, and twilight tiers dip into the low $30s. Many figures are weekday or twilight, so confirm the day-and-time window on the course's page.
Where can kids and juniors golf for about $5?
Through WA Golf's Youth on Course — a $25-a-year membership for ages 6–18 that unlocks $5 rounds at 85-plus participating Washington and Northern Idaho courses, including Tolt, Cedarcrest, Allenmore and others. College-age players (18–25) use U on Course ($30/year).
Which driving ranges near Seattle have Toptracer?
Interbay, Jackson Park and Jefferson Park (Seattle), Columbia Super Range (Everett), Tolt (Carnation), Puetz Golf (North Seattle) and the Woodinville Sports Club all run Toptracer bays. Willows Run uses a different system, Inrange — not Toptracer.
Which courses are walking-only, and which are easy walks?
Chambers Bay is walking-only (push carts included; riding carts ADA-only with advance approval). The Home Course in DuPont is a genuinely walkable championship course and a 2026 U.S. Open local-qualifying site.
What are the newest or just-reopened courses to play this summer?
Tolt Golf Club (formerly Blue Heron, Carnation), Cedar Irons (formerly North Shore, Tacoma) and Scarecrow at Gamble Sands, which is playing its first full season after opening in August 2025.
Can I play 36 holes in one day, and where?
Yes — Willows Run (Redmond) on one site, Newcastle (Coal Creek plus China Creek), Gold Mountain (Bremerton) and Gamble Sands plus Scarecrow with a same-day $195 replay.
How much is Chambers Bay, and is it dynamic?
Summer pricing is dynamic and quoted as "starting at" — roughly $209 for Pierce County residents and $325 for non-residents in July and August, plus about 15% tax unless you book a tax-inclusive advance price.
Do I need a military base pass to play Eagle's Pride at JBLM?
No. Despite the JBLM name, Eagle's Pride sits outside the secured perimeter off I-5 and is fully open to the public — no base pass or military ID required.
Which multi-course card saves the most?
It depends on where you play: the Oki Players Cards work across nine Puget Sound courses, the NCW Players Card covers four North Central Washington courses, and Three Lakes punch cards are best for frequent Wenatchee-area golfers. Compare the courses you'll actually play before buying.
Where can I watch pro or elite golf this summer?
The Boeing Classic (PGA Tour Champions) at Snoqualmie Ridge in mid-August and the WA Men's Amateur at The Home Course in late June.
Which former courses are now closed?
Kenwanda (Snohomish), Brookdale (Tacoma) and Lipoma Firs (Puyallup) are gone or redeveloped, and Fort Steilacoom (Lakewood) and Kayak Point (Stanwood) are now disc golf — so don't drive out expecting traditional golf.
Final takeaway
From a $5 junior round at the muni down the street to a stay-and-play weekend above the Columbia, this corner of Washington gives you a whole summer of golf without leaving home. Save a few stops into your plan, check the live price before you go, and enjoy the long Northwest evenings. And if wandering these fairways has you dreaming about a home closer to your favorite first tee, our local team knows these neighborhoods well and is always happy to talk through them — no pressure, just neighbors who love this place. See you out there.
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