Aside from Broadmoor and Aldarra, I have had the opportunity to play all the Seattle-area private courses, and without a doubt I can say that Seattle Golf Club ranks above the rest. No other course in the state evokes such a sense of history and grandeur while at the same time showcasing a variety of holes to test every aspect of your game.

FRONT NINE
The 2nd is a short par-4 that requires an accurate drive and difficult uphill approach to a well-bunkered green. There are 4 fairway bunkers on the left that you must avoid. The 4th is a short par-4 that has a valley in the middle, so if you can carry the ball a long way (and bend it from left to right), it's possible to get up close. The 7th is a straight par-5 that runs along the fenceline and challenges golfers to go for the green in two. But don't go right (OB) or left (lake) with your approach. The 9th is a short par-5 that brings you back to the clubhouse. The 100 year-old clubhouse sits in the background, framed by the Olympic Mountains off in the distance. Though your tee-shot is downhill, your approach climbs back up a hill to another well-bunkered green (there are over 80 bunkers on the course). It is reachable in two, but you will have an uphill lie and will likely need 1.5-2 extra clubs.

BACK NINE
If you have made it through the front nine with a decent score, the back is where the fun begins, not only because the holes get harder but because the scenery is breathtaking. The 10th is a downhill par-4 with an uphill approach. Long hitters will only have a wedge into the green. The 11th alongside 10, but there's a courtesy cart available to save the 200 yard walk back to the tee. This is my favorite hole on the course. Tee boxes built into the hill and stretch from 120-200 yards. The green is set on the other side (only yards from the edge) of a lake that sits between 10 and 18, and the backdrop of rhododendrons, tall pines, and other flowers makes this a memorable tee-shot. The green is 2-tiered and surrounded by bunkers. Accuracy is a must. The 13th is a par-4 with a sharp dogleg left. Three gigantic fairway bunkers line the landing area, and the green is also surrounded by large, deep bunkers. The 14th is a long downhill par-5 that ranks second on my list. Lined by pine and oak trees on the right and left, the view from the tee is breathtaking. The drop in elevation means that you will hit a very long drive, but the second shot is not so easy. A gigantic oak tree sits on the right side of the fairway about 100 yards from the green, and with 4 fairway bunkers left of the fairway, the landing area is only about 30 yards wide. The only way to reach this green in 2 is if you hit your drive down the left side and can fade your approach around the oak tree (it blocks almost half of the fairway). This is not an easy hole. The 16th is a downhill par-3 with a lake on the left and trees on the right. It plays about 200 yards from the back tees, so you had better be accurate with long irons. The 17th is a shorter, uphill par-4 that requires an accurate, left-to-right tee shot. Though you'll only have a short iron for your uphill approach, the 3-tiered green slopes severely towards the tee, so don't go long. A partner of mine missed a downhill 4-footer on the top tier, and his ball rolled all the way off the front of the green and 15 yards down the hill (he went from a 4 foot putt to a 30 yard chip). The 18th is a fitting end to such a great course. Just like number 9, 18 runs back to the clubhouse and features a downhill drive and an uphill approach. It slightly doglegs to the left, but if you challenge the left side with your drive, you run the risk of landing in the lake (unless of course you can carry it 320 yards over the water, which, given the drop in elevation, isn't impossible. If you can do this (I have about a 20% success rate), you have a mid-iron in to the green. This approach is uphill and tree-lined, but the green is accessible and fairly flat.

Customer Service

Outstanding. The driving range has 5 bunkered target greens, and the practice putting/chipping/bunker greens are superb.