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3.7
150 Reviews (150)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
84
3 Stars
23
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
6
Conditions
3.5
Value
3.5
Layout
3.7
Friendliness
4.1
Pace
4.0
Amenities
3.0
75.1%
Recommend this course
114 out of 150 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
6 Reviews (6)
5 Stars
3
4 Stars
2
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.7
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
4.5
83.3%
Recommend this course
5 out of 6 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.6
34 Reviews (34)
5 Stars
5
4 Stars
16
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
7
1 Stars
0
Conditions
3.3
Value
3.4
Layout
3.6
Pace
4.1
Amenities
3.0
StaffFriendliness
4.1
70.6%
Recommend this course
24 out of 34 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Public
Par 72
Length 6902 yards
Slope 134
Rating 73.2

The Classic Golf Club in Spanaway sprawls across rolling hills blanketed with towering Douglas firs. Located just 30 minutes south of Tacoma, it is one of the area's hidden gems, offering not only a beautiful natural setting but also a challenging round. The layout features elevated greens, tree-lined fairways, and ponds and wetlands that come into play on several holes. The greens are the most challenging element of the golf course. Some are small, which is tough enough to maneuver as it is, and most are framed by mounding. Sand bunkers also provide contrast against the smooth and fast-rolling greens. The Classic is a challenging course but still playable for all skill levels.

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The Classic Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 1991
Fairways Bent Grass
Greens Bent Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Bill Overdorf

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes

Policies

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

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

  • Golf Advisor: Top 25 Most Improved U.S. Golf Courses (2016 #17)

Reviews

3.7
150 Reviews (150)

What Golfers Are Saying

Course Challenges Include:
Narrow Fairways 25
Bunkers 24
Undulating Greens 22
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 21
Locals 20
Walkers 20
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 20
In the 'Burbs 12

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good course made more simple

Played the course yesterday and it was in pretty good shape. It has an interesting layout that has been made easier because of the removal of a lo of by of the trees. My friend and I loved the layout and creative cf city needed to play. The course needs much more signage for where by you are going to get to the next hole. We f OK and ourselves wondering where to go quite often. The greens we're in good shape and we had a good day. I would not want to pay the full price for the course and i would not play on the weekend. I think most players would struggle with their speed of play becausr of the layout and dificult turain around the greens. We played quickly until we got to our balls around the greene. Overall, i wOK uld say you should play this course ifyou want to play a course with intetesting holes.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 32
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Gem of a course, great value

Hadn't played the classic in a few years. The removal of some 1800 trees is a positive for the course, though still very challenging for any golfer. Terrific undulating greens. Course knowledge a positive to help score
Will definitely play more often.
Terrific GN rate

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Slow Going

Very slow pace, took me just about 3 hours to play the front nine. Played 4 holes on the back nine and finally quite after the 14th hole. Too slow. Only saw the ranger once in the front and never saw him again. This was my first visit to the course and was disappointed when I left.

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Fair
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Gone downhill

this course was much better before RMG decided to remove what appears to be 1000 or more trees from the golf course. The picture shown on this site is in no way accurate anymore. This group has ruined Oakbrook as well as McCormick by selling off timber as well.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Fair weather
Walked

Still a nice course

Haven't played The Classic in a while but glad to see it is still a nice course. They have taken down a number of trees (but not too many) to open up the course a bit - I think it has been nicely done. Course conditions were excellent - fairway were well groomed, greens rolled nice as I remembered and pins were tucked in some unusually tight places (probably b/c it was US Open w/e) which made for a fun challenge. Pleasantly surprised we walked the course in 3 hrs and a Saturday - probably due to the Open and poor weather forecast (though it never rained and it was a comfortable 65F)

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Fantastic conditions

To any of you who have played the Classic in the past, the course has been dramatically altered for the better. They removed over 1000 trees letting in light, helping the greens and fairways become dryer and healthy. This also improved sight lines speeding up pace of play. The only issue I found was the lack of sand in the bunkers. Overall a very fun and demanding course.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap Don't know
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

The Classic in Spanaway...

I played the Classic last Monday May 30th 2016:

The course I played with a new friend and his son whom had known this course for many years. They were surprised and pleased to see the now 'lack-of-trees' living the fairways of days old. It was now a park-like setting. The winds were challenging for us this day, but the day was absolutely beautiful.

There were water hazards that if I hadn't had Dan with me, I would not have known they were there. Thank goodness he WAS with me so that I would be able to avoid them as much as my 'less-than-perfect-drives' would allow me.

The greens were in great shape, very consistent in play. However, those who golfed before us had left their plugs or 'ball-marks' and we spent quite a bit of time fixing them on each green. So with that said, a plea to our fellow Golfers, "PLEASE always fix your divets and plugs or ball-marks on the greens. It makes ALL OF US look better and it keeps the putting and playing surfaces much better for playing.

The cart paths need work. And inbetween fairways there were patches of DEEP GRASS that caused losses of balls that should not have occurred. An example: I hit fat in a par three, the ball landed just over the green, which we could not see past because it sloped down away from the back of the green. When we got up to the green and looked past the green only feet away, the grass was 2 feet tall and think. I could not find my ball. All of us looked. Not cool guys. Please cut this grass down to managable if it's THAT CLOSE to the green or fairway.

It was a fun course. I'll have another go at it some day. I'm off to play North Shore next. Till then...

Have a great day and good Golfing everyone! Remember always: To bring your best gentleman's Golf etiquette WITH YOU to the courses.

Always, L. Nicholas J.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Challenging RMG course

RMG is working on improving sunlight to course by removing many trees. It has changed the "look". Still it is tough by most standards with it's undulating FWs and greens. For amount of play it gets it is very well taken of despite current improvement work going on. Greens very good, fast, IMHO! Very good deals with GolfNow on weekends.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 16
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Walked

Great player's course

This course has a little of everything. A few long par 4's and 5's. Some layup only par 4s (I recommend a long iron off of 3, driving could prove frustrating to get into position). The only thing i wish they had was a little longer par 3 (200ish yards) to test some long iron play.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

This course was ruined by removing most of the trees

This course used to be one of the prettiest in the Pacific Northwest. It has been logged off. It is like playing in a stump farm or slash field. One of the ugliest courses you will ever see. It was previously one of my favorites. I won't ever play it again. I understand that RMG ruined its' other two courses the same way. It is unfortunate that golf course owners are allowed to cut all the trees for $$$.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Fair
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Walked

Worth the money

Course was in great shape along with the greens.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

I'll be back!

Played this course several years ago and course condiitions were deplorable! They have made drastic improvements since: darinage now great, (course played dry and firm even this early in spring), greens rolled true, boxes are 'under construction' - appeared to have been recently punched and sanded., and trees between fairways have been thinned just enough to allow for a recovery from an errant tee shot. amy hat is off to the course superintendent!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good Golf!!!

This was my first time playing the course since they cut down the trees and I really liked it. I've heard mixed reviews about the tree removal and that the course has lost its character, but that's not the case. The course is still great, and still poses its challenges. The fairways and greens were in great shape despite the wetter weather we've been having. The bunkers, on the other hand, need to be fluffed up a bit. The lies are tight and the sand was firm, which made for some challenging greenside bunker shots. All and all, I like the new look and I'll definitely return.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
2.0
First Time Playing
Average weather
Walked

Course design is awkward, greens are abnormally small

The front nine is decent. The back nine was significantly less so.

The greens are very small and are awkwardly shaped. Portions of multiple greens were no wider than 6-10 paces and yet, pins were still tucked in these locations.

Small greens provide a tough challenge as it is, but some of the mounding and frequently elevated greens made getting on the putting surface exceedingly difficult to the point of being unfair in many places.

The greens themselves were in nice shape and rolled well. No complaints about the surfaces themselves.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Walked

Course is old and rundown

Course is in bad condition. Everything is old and rundown. I would not play here again for free.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Golf on

Leave this course with my dad and my brother in law at first they didn't want me to pick any more courses cuz I thought it looked a lot nicer online than what it was but there was just a windstorm in Washington so that could have been why I'm from California so they do get the Washington experience of golfing in the rain discourse is a difficult course kinda because there are a lot of sand trap Sandhills couldn't really drive the cart on the course they told us but the staff was super friendly the first guy that was there was amazing and then later on in the day there was some other kid there who was very unfriendly with the first guy that helped us was the best

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Classic Problems

The only positive thing I can say about the course is that the greens were in excellent condition. Other than that I felt the the fairways and rough were in poor condition with a quite a few bare spots. Also they had cut down alot of the evergreen trees lining the fairways so the course has lost alot of its ambieance for me.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Nice Layout, Dry Course

The challenge that we had was that we played this course in August, and it was really dry. The pin placements were really tough coming off of the basically tight lies in the fairway due to the lack of water.

Still enjoyed the course, but it will be a course that I play next time in early June, when it is not so dead.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 25+
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Walked

Open feeling

Course is in GREAT condition, especially the greens. First time playing since cutting down the majority of the douglas firs. While it's nice to be able to other fairways I miss the woodsy feeling. It also opens up some of the narrow tee areas and makes it easier to find a ball hit into the trees that are left, which will help the pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Average weather
Walked

No tree's just stumps

too many tree's gone. That picture that golf now has on it's website is false advertisement. I used to love that course. Im glad i only paid 22 bucks cause if it was more i would have left. I could not warm up, the people in the proshop didn't want to fix ball machine so that i could give them more money. the greens were very inconsistent. It's not worth time/money/gas.

Conditions Poor
Value Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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