Wine Valley Golf Club: The Best Golf Course in Washington State
Wine Valley Golf Club opened in 2009 in Walla Walla, Washington — a small city better known for its wine industry than its golf. Designed by Dan Hixson, the course was immediately recognized as one of the best new courses in America, appearing on multiple top-100 lists within its first few years and establishing Walla Walla as an unexpected golf destination.
The Course
Wine Valley plays to a par 72 at approximately 7,300 yards from the back tees. The course occupies a dramatic site in the Columbia Valley — rolling terrain with natural vegetation, views of the Blue Mountains, and the wide-open feel of the high desert plateau. Hixson routed the holes through natural draws and ridges with minimal earthmoving, giving the course an organic quality that makes it feel discovered rather than constructed.
The wind is a constant factor — Walla Walla sits in a wind corridor, and the course is exposed enough that a calm day is genuinely unusual. This variability rewards creative shotmaking and punishes one-dimensional power golf. Wine Valley plays differently on every visit.
The Wine Country Context
Walla Walla is one of the premier wine regions in the Pacific Northwest, with over 100 wineries within a short drive of downtown. The combination of excellent golf and excellent wine makes it one of the most interesting multi-day golf destinations in the country for golfers who also care about what they drink afterward.
The wineries of the Columbia Valley — producing Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot from the high desert volcanic soils — are open for tasting most days during the season. A two-day trip organized around morning golf and afternoon wine tasting is the standard local itinerary for a reason.
Getting There
Walla Walla Regional Airport has commercial service from Seattle and Portland with multiple daily connections. Both Seattle-Tacoma and Portland International have extensive national connections. The drive from Portland is approximately 4 hours through the Columbia River Gorge; from Seattle approximately 4.5 hours through the Cascades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed Wine Valley Golf Club?
Wine Valley Golf Club was designed by Dan Hixson, a Pacific Northwest architect also responsible for Silvies Valley Ranch in Oregon and Crosswater in Sunriver. It is widely considered his best work.
Is Wine Valley Golf Club public?
Yes. Wine Valley Golf Club is a public course. Tee times can be booked online through the club's website.
What is there to do near Wine Valley Golf Club?
Walla Walla has over 100 wineries within easy driving distance of Wine Valley Golf Club, plus a lively downtown restaurant and hotel scene. The combination of top-tier golf and world-class wine makes Walla Walla a compelling two or three day destination.