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3.7
142 Reviews (142)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
74
3 Stars
32
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.5
Value
4.0
Layout
3.9
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
3.3
Amenities
3.5
85.2%
Recommend this course
121 out of 142 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 71
Length 6305 yards
Slope 126
Rating 69.9

North Shore Golf Course in northeastern Tacoma has been a local favorite since it first opened in 1956. It has built its reputation on the quality of the greens and fairways. The classic layout provides enough of a challenge for experienced golfers without being too intimidating for beginners. The layout will test your short-game skills with undulating greens that roll fast and true. Bunkers are also carefully placed around the greens and there are trees lining the narrow fairways. Accuracy is essential for a low score but it will also take some quick and strategic thinking since the setup on each hole presents a different challenge. North Shore is a tough, but fair course for players of all skill levels. There is also an all-grass driving range and practice facility available.

Course Details

Year Built 1961
Golf Season Year round
Architect Al Smith

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes
Pull-carts Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Reviews

3.7
142 Reviews (142)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 20
Patio Dining 13
Dinner 10
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 30
Bunkers 28
Elevation Changes 27
This course/club is great for:
Locals 34
Advanced Golfers 18
Walkers 18
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 24
In the 'Burbs 19
Worth the Drive 17

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

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Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good challenge

Well, the greens are tough. The bunkers are dirt with little room for error. The carts are garbage. It smoked and brakes were metal on metal. You would think for the price you pay for a cart, that it would work right. The "club house" has been under construction for years, without any results. I will still keep playing here, but only for discounted rates.

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Default User Avatar
Commented on 09/06/2016

Good news sir. We are aware many areas of our facility need attention and improvement, I trust the staff at least was good to you.
So now to the good news, on Friday, September 9th of this year, new owners and a highly regarded, world class management company will be assuming the operation of the North Shore golf course. They are committed to "substantial capital improvements to both the golf course and the facilities". Will everything be done at once, no, but I can confirm that there will be immediately noticeable improvements and that urgency is one of the primary values of the new operators. I invite you and other golfers to send us your thoughts on what you would like to see around at North Shore.
I can also tell you this, the outgoing owners are grateful that the improvements they had hoped to make but couldn't will now become a reality.
Sincerely, North Shore Golf.
PS -
you can send your comments to us directly at ns.golf.email@gmail.com or if you prefer use this site

Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

My review

The course is in fair to good condition. I found the green difficult because of slopping. The pro shop and dinning area are very old and in need of upgrading. The carts are old also and should be replaced. It looks to me that they are short of funds to it look like the last time I played over 10 years ago. Lots of up hill shots. Use one more club.

Conditions Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Enjoy it every time

Enjoy, get there early...

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice course but pricey

Fun round of golf. Very walkable. Couple of goofy holes but overall good round. Paid$46 walking .,.seems like $35 more reasonable for course and conditions.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Slow Slow Slow

It was extremely slow for a Thursday and course was not it best condition {greens were great shape}

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun course, not an easy course.

First time playing at North Shore. You need to play target golf. Greens are fast.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

First time at North Shore

We enjoyed the course and appreciated being able to bring our dog along. The pace of play was our only complaint. Would probably come again.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

Northshore

go play it. greens are in good shape

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Nice track just a little off the beaten path

I always enjoy playing North Shore. Friendly staff, nice layout and normally in very good condition. They've made serious improvements in pace of play from a few years ago when it was a real problem.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Long white beard

If you like 6-7 hour rounds and watching fivesomes make the turn as you warm up, this is the course for you.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Default User Avatar
Commented on 07/13/2016

Sorry about the long round, I played at 8:38 in the morning and completed my round in 4 hours and 15 minutes and I just spoke to the golf shop manager who played 9-holes at 1:30 in the afternoon and she said it took her 2 and 1/2 hours so I'm not sure when you started. We do allow fivesomes to play but we watch them quite closely to make sure they don't fall behind the group in front of them.

Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fairly Decent Course

This course was fun. It's a really short course. Don't expect to hit the big dog every par 4 or 5. Modest oles are pretty tight. The brush is cut down under all the tree so finding a ball that had a mind of its own is easy. The normal green fee for this course should be around $25 to $30 walking rate. All together I enjoyed the course. I will probably play it again. Oh one last thing. It's a par 71. 36 From and 35 back. The back has three par Three's two are back to back. Don't really like that also they let 5somes play that really iratates me on the weekends and really slows down play. Management should look into this would make the course better and more time friendly.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Great course for an average golfer

this use to be my home course till I moved to the north side of Seattle. Was great to get back and play another round, met some nice gentlemen who play there a lot. I would recommend it to anyone.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Only SIX Hours

That's right, 6 hours for 18 holes! 10-15 minute wait at every Tee-box and sometimes another 10-15 minutes at mid fairway. Tried to get a rain check but paid online with GN and was efused by the pro shop. The longest round Ive played in at least 8 years. A frustrating waste of money.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

North Shore Golf Club...

I enjoyed North Shore for the most part. The bunkers were in great shape and challenging. The greens were sizable and cropped well; however, there were so many Cigar burns and ball marks from Golfers lacking in ettiquette that putting was not enjoyable for our group. I counted an average of 12 ball mark repairs that I personally made on nearly every green. PLEASE REPAIR DIVETS and BALL MARKS, and don't put Cigars ON THE GREENS.

One problem: We lost several balls in the "overly long cuts along side of the fairways. So hopefully they'll trim down a little more for the future.

Good Golf etiquette goes a LONG WAY. And it keeps the maintenance down which means prices can remain affordable for all of us.

I'll play this course again for sure. Best wishes and good golf all!

Till next time... Nicholas

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Awesome course

Nice course! But the worker on the has no patience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Hidden gem

Super rates, excellent greens, average fairways.
N Shore offers a great variety of holes and challenges. While there often are 5somes, they usually keep up pace of play. Marshals do a good job of keeping an on course presence.
My Memorial Day round at 1pm finished in 4.5hrs

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played

Little things

This is a great track that suffers from general lack of knowledge in the front desk. The weekend staff doesn't seem to be able to handle managing the tee sheet. So while I had envisioned a comfortable round of golf I'm sitting the fairway as a single golfer wedged between a three some and a foursome. since there's nowhere to go, I am stuck with what looks to be a very boring afternoon of waiting. Unfortunately, this is all too common.

Cart paths crossing the fairways is Bush league. My perfect shot down the middle scorched my brand new $4 gold ball. That's just adding insult to injury.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Great course, bad timing

The course is beautiful and in great shape, but this is the third time I've played here and it's always the same story. The starters are trying to get too many people out too quickly and the pace of play slows to a crawl. On several holes there would be a 2 group backup at the tee. The course is so much fun to play, but waiting 5 and 10 minutes between walking off the green and teeing off is just unacceptable. My recommendation: avoid it during usual course busy times. It's twice as slow here as anywhere else.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

VALUE

First time player, digging the range and homegrown staff. Course greens and fairways played decent despite rainy day. Good workout if you like to walk!
Water hazards are shallow, so if you hit one wet, your ball is easily retrieveable.
Can't wait to play this course dry!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

first time on course

Great golf course. Has many challenges for the golfers.A few of the fairways are tough got to be accurate on drives.Greens can be tricky

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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