The Best Golf Courses in the Pacific Northwest: Oregon and Washington
The Pacific Northwest golf landscape divides into two distinct categories: the coastal courses of Oregon, anchored by Bandon Dunes, and the inland high-desert and wine-country courses of Washington, anchored by Wine Valley Golf Club and Chambers Bay. Both are exceptional; together they make the Pacific Northwest one of the most compelling golf destinations in America.
Oregon: Bandon Dunes and the Coast
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is the dominant force in Oregon golf — six courses, all walking-only, all on dramatic Pacific coastline terrain. Pacific Dunes, Old MacDonald, Sheep Ranch, Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails, and The Preserve collectively constitute the most significant golf resort development in American history. If you're coming to Oregon for golf, Bandon is the reason.
Beyond Bandon, Salishan Golf Links on the central Oregon coast offers ocean views and links-inspired design. The Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club in the Portland suburbs has hosted multiple USGA championships on its Ghost Creek course. Tetherow Golf Club in Bend, designed by David McLay Kidd, offers high-desert golf with mountain views that is among the best in the state outside of Bandon.
Washington: Chambers Bay and Wine Valley
Chambers Bay Golf Course in University Place hosted the 2015 US Open — Jordan Spieth's first major championship — and remains one of the most controversial US Open venues in recent history. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed it on a former sand and gravel quarry overlooking Puget Sound, with fescue fairways and greens that generated significant player complaints in 2015. It is a public course, accessible to the public, with dramatic views of the Sound and the Olympic Mountains.
Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla is Washington's most acclaimed course — a Dan Hixson design that ranks among the best public courses in America. The Columbia Valley high-desert landscape, the elevation changes, the exposed wind, and the quality of the design make it worth the eastern Washington drive from Seattle (approximately 4.5 hours). Walla Walla's wine industry makes the trip a complete destination.
Planning a Pacific Northwest Golf Trip
The logical Oregon itinerary begins and ends at Bandon Dunes, with the drive down the Oregon coast providing additional course options. The Washington itinerary pairs Chambers Bay (near Tacoma) with Wine Valley (eastern Washington) — they're four to five hours apart by car, making a three to four day trip covering both the sound and the wine country feasible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bandon Dunes worth the long drive?
Yes, for serious golfers, without qualification. No other golf resort in the United States offers the combination of course quality, walking-only tradition, and Pacific coastline setting available at Bandon Dunes. The remoteness is part of the experience.
What is the best course in Washington State?
Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla consistently ranks as the best course in Washington State and one of the best public courses in the Pacific Northwest. Chambers Bay is the most famous but has divided opinion since the 2015 US Open.