We asked 6 Washington golfers spread across King County, Whatcom County, the Eastside, and eastern Washington to rank every public course they've played together. The result is the most honest, crowd-sourced golf course tier list in the state.
No sponsored posts. No PR visits. Just golfers arguing about whether Chambers Bay deserves to sit above The Home Course (it does) and which south King County muni is the most depressing place to lose a sleeve of balls (we'll let the tier list speak for itself).
"The best golf course is the one that makes you want to come back. These rankings settle the debate"
How the Rankings Work
Six golfers. Dozens of rounds. One very heated group chat.
Our panel represents a range of handicaps, budgets, and corners of the state. They've played everything from Chambers Bay during a calm fall morning to a brutal February round at a D-tier muni where the fairways were 40% standing water. Every course on this list has been played by at least one member of the group.
Courses are rated across six tiers:
Each course shows the city it's in and an estimated green fee range (18 holes with cart, peak season). Rates are approximate and vary significantly by day, season, and how far out you book always worth checking GolfNow or the course's website before you tee it up.
The Tier List
Below is the full ranking. It's a living document as our 6 golfers play new courses around Washington, they'll be added. Check back for updates.
WA Golf Tier List
Washington State Course Rankings
Avg. green fees · 18 holes w/ cart · peak season · rates vary by day & demand
A Few Notes from the Panel
S Tier: Worth the Drive
If you're serious about golf in Washington, Chambers Bay (University Place), Gamble Sands (Brewster), and Wine Valley (Walla Walla) belong on your bucket list. Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and plays like it — links-style, windswept, and punishing if your iron game isn't sharp. Gamble Sands is a destination course that requires a road trip but absolutely delivers. Wine Valley is eastern Washington's gem and consistently underrated by west-siders who haven't made the trip.
A Tier: Great Days Out
The A tier is where value and quality intersect. Gold Mountain Olympic in Bremerton punches well above its price point and routinely lands on best-in-state lists. Scarecrow in Brewster and Palouse Ridge in Pullman reward golfers willing to leave the I-5 corridor. Desert Canyon and Salish Cliffs round out a strong group of courses worth building a weekend around.
B Tier: Your Reliable Saturday Round
This is the deepest tier on the list — and probably the most useful for everyday golfers. Suncadia's Prospector and Rope Rider courses in Cle Elum are resort-quality mountain golf. Druids Glen in Covington and The Home Course in DuPont are among the best public layouts in the greater Seattle-Tacoma area. Trophy Lake, Loomis Trail, White Horse, and the Bellingham courses fill out a tier you'd be happy to play any weekend.
C Through F: Honest Takes
Not every round needs to be a bucket list experience. C-tier and D-tier courses are perfectly fine for a casual nine, a twilight rate, or introducing a friend to the game. F tier exists, and that's okay, but now you know which ones to manage expectations on before you book.
🔄 This List Is Always Growing
Our 6 golfers are still playing. As they tee it up at new courses across Washington — from the San Juans to the Palouse — those courses will be added and ranked. If you're a WA golfer with strong opinions about a course that isn't on the list yet, we want to hear about it. Reach out through caddiematchgolf.com.
What This Has to Do with CaddieMatch Golf
At CaddieMatch Golf, our whole mission is to get more people playing the game and to make sure cost isn't the thing that holds them back. A new set of clubs shouldn't cost $1,500 when a quality used set can have you playing Chambers Bay ready for a fraction of that.
We source, inspect, and ship quality used golf clubs directly to beginners and casual golfers across Washington (and beyond). Whether you're getting into the game for the first time or replacing a set that's seen better days, we match you with clubs that fit your game and your budget.
So if this tier list has you itching to finally play Gamble Sands or book a tee time at The Home Course, we'll help you show up with the right clubs.
Ready to Get Out There?
We'll match you with quality used golf clubs that fit your game so you can focus on the course, not the gear.
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