ckwak

Joined a group to play Mt Si after being away for a couple of years. First of all, the surrounding is definitely one of a kind, one of the most beautiful settings you are gonna get, surrounded by Mt. Si, majestic trees all around and the recent course enhancements (knocked out a number of over grown trees and some green complex work) were much needed and will work out great over time.

The pace was good, even though there was a tournament at the time and the course was pretty busy. I would say, a solid 4.5 hour pace. Not bad for a friday afternoon. I felt the restaurant staff was WONDERFUL. Very friendly, very efficient and excellent customer service overall. I would come back just for the restaurant staff. The course conditions - well, it was still summer conditions so I can understand the bare spots and dry/hard pan conditions. Greens were ok, but inconsistent at best. My real reason of complaint is the cost. To walk 18 holes, it cost me $71. It would have cost me another $18 to add a cart and another $13 for a bucket of golf balls to warm up. I walked and went straight to the first tee, but for most people, it would cost almost $100 to play 18 holes.. on a course that's about 6,200 yards, and frankly, not much better than a local Muni course. Does this course has to charge this much? I guess there aren't too many options around Norhtbend, but wow, pretty pricey for an average course experience.

The course was in great shape overall. The pace of play was perplexing consider f there weren't that many players. Coupe of really bad two domes clogged the pace on holes 14 and 15. Otherwise, it was a good day of golf in Auburn.

I was there when this course first opened as "Remington", way back wen.. A world class facility, course design & difficulty. It was supposed to be one of the handful of premier golf stop in the state of Washington. It opened to great reviews and anticipation was high.

Well, after all these years, I'm still waiting for that potential to blossom. I still love the course design & the challenges, but am disappointed by how the course is managed, from the course conditioning and management... and if one is going to make a long trek out to Covington to play, it has be worth their time. Perhaps an increase in greens fee for increasing the overall quality of the course would be in order... perhaps in the neighborhood of Washington National, Trophy Lake or even like the facilities at Newcastle?

Had the privilege to play at Doral, the Jim McLean course. The Big Blue was closed due to construction and I couldn't get tee times at the others (Gold or Great White), but I have to tell you, the JM course was not a consolation prize. It's a championship track and I felt very underrated versus how the other Doral courses are described.

Plenty of trouble on the course, strategic bunkers and water and the infamous Bermuda Triangle was pretty amazing. The course begins with 3 par 4s that goes 470, 490, 490, in swirling Florida wind. Wow, you either start with a bang or will go down pretty hard before you even get to the 4th hole. We did ok to get by these three monsters with minimal damage.

The green fee was a great value and the staff was exceptional. I would go back to this course any time.

One of the best golf courses in the state of Washington, this Peter Thompson design will force you to utilize every club in your bag, rewarding great shots and punishing those that are a bit off the mark. There is no "gimmie" hole on the course as every hole requires strategic placement of your drive and precise second or third, if not, a menacing bunker (some are just plain unfair) and water hazard await to swallow your precious Titleist Pro V1.

The Championship tees will play at around 7,320 yards, which starts benign with a 388 yard par 4 hole, but then turns on the heat from second hole on. If you get to hole #5 relatively unscathed, you walk upon a 593 yard par 5 with a sliver of fairway waiting for you.

Beautiful old growth forest along with a stunning view of Mt. Rainier from multiple holes frame this beautiful course and with unique design that places the resident homes way out of play. I would place this course against some of the other greats in the state (Tumble Creek CC, Snoqualmie Ridge, Aldarra CC and Sahalee).

I finally got to play English Turn CC after having this course on my bucket list for many years. I was truly excited to play one of the finer courses in America and yet, another Jack Nickalaus designed course.

The staff was super friendly. Very professional and absolutely took care of you. I did play the championship tees (Gold) stretching over 7,000 yards.. not the longest championship course, but with water appearing in 17 of 18 holes, I can see why this course was deemed difficult for even the PGA ranks.

Hole #15 is truly amazing. It's deceptively difficult and the green is not that big at all. You can leave your self anywhere between 100 to 140 yards for your third shot.. but with the cross winds, you need to commit to your shot and pull the trigger. I was unable to do that. Hole #18 is ridiculously difficult. Water and bunker stretching from tee to green, with the hole length at 467 yards. Yes, the course beat me up pretty bad, however, it also yieled some really satisfying shots which made the experience truly special.

Add this course to your must play. The fairways, greens, bunkers and the design, it's a-la Jack Nicklaus... I think the best course in New Orleans... even better than TPC Louisiana.

After couple of average golfing experiences near New Orleans, I decided to take a drive and get out to La Tour. I was obviously hoping for something different, but expected the same boring, flat, average conditioned golf course even way out in Matthew. The only hope I had was that this was a David Tom's signature course.

When I got to the first tee, I was excited because it was nothing like the courses near New Orleans. The fairways were pristine, greens were smooth & fast and the course layout was truly championship caliber. I played the black tees to get a feel for what David Toms had envisioned for this course. Truly a championship caliber course. At $49 w/cart, there is no better deal anywhere. A course like this in Phoenix would be well over $200 a round.

The club house staff was super friendly and definitely took good care of me. My only regret is a double bogey on the last hole... which is a monster of a hole.

I finally got to play one of the courses on my bucket list... the Pete Dye course at Westin Mission Hills at Palm Desert. The course layout and the design is definitely a Pete Dye, with massive hills, too many to count pot bunkers and plenty of intidimating holes & greens. I loved it. Unfortunately, I played as they just finished reseeding the course and the conditions were not what I had expected. The greens were smooth, but it was top dressed with sand and very, very slow. Also, much of the fairways & tee boxes were curing from the recent reseeding, so I didn't get to experience a true Pete Dye experience (like the PGA West TPC stadium course, or the Kiawah Island Ocean course). I can see how much more exceptional this course can get if the conditions were up to par.

It plays par 70 and about 6750 from the tips. Not the longest, but plenty of challenges that makes this round one of the more exceptional golfing experience in Palm Desert.