APR 2020
www.nwgolfadventures.com
PLACES TO PLAY
Trophy Lake Golf & Casting Port Orchard, WA Though just a short ferry ride from downtown Seattle, Trophy Lake Golf and Casting Club feels like you’re a million miles away from civilization. Set on the Kitsap Peninsula, the area is surrounded by water on three sides and offers some of the best views of forests and mountains available to golfers. Trophy Lake is unique in offering not only golf, but
fourth and par-5 eighteenth stuck out when all was
also fishing. The ponds and lakes are full of rainbow
said and done.
trout, bass, and more. Throughout a round, you’ll encounter serious anglers trying to land a trophy fish.
The fourth hole stretches to 441-yards, all of it playing uphill and into the wind. It’s easy to miss this
It is the golf, however, that will leave a more lasting
green because of the long approach shot, making this
impression, or mark, if you prefer. Trophy Lake boasts
a scramble hole for sure.
a front nine difficult enough to challenge the best players. The yardage from the championship tees is
The 18th hole is just a great finishing hole, Measuring
listed as a paltry 3,376 on the scorecard, but plays
532 yards, the par-5 offers a chance for big hitters to
much longer. The back nine, while playing to a longer
go for it in two, but with a shallow green and a creek
yardage of 3380, seems a breeze compared with the
in front, the best chance for birdie is a lay-up.
brutal front nine. In all, Trophy Lake is a reasonable priced round of golf With so many excellent holes and views to choose
that will challenge everyone in your foursome. It has
from, it’s hard to pick a true signature hole for Trophy
the amenities you’d expect and is a nice course to
Lake. Employees in the pro shop said the course
walk.
really has 18 signature holes. However, the par-4
Firecliff @ Desert Willow
Palm Desert, CA
Desert Willow Golf Resort, nestled in the heart of
targeted grass range, putting greens and short game
Palm Desert, offers 36 holes of championship desert
area. Pro Link GPS is standard on all carts, as are ball
golf on layouts designed by Mike Hurdzan, Dana Fry
& club washers and ice chests.
and PGA Tour professional John Cook. The Firecliff and Mountain View courses have been rated 4 out
At Firecliff, golfers will notice immediately the
of 5 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play, with each
intricately designed sand bunkers that are strategically
providing five sets of tees that make a challenging
located along the well manicured fairways, and near
test for experienced players, while also providing a
the mildly undulating green complexes. In total there
fun and rewarding round for amateurs.
are 100 bunkers - though their intricate designs makes it feel like more. The desert waste areas that
The Desert Willow layouts provide all the excitement
help define the fairways are cleaned out so that
and vistas of desert golf, without the long forced
recoveries are sometimes possible.
carries that are sometimes prevalent on these types of layouts. There are some natural desert areas to
The finely sculpted tee boxes are adorned with
carry, but the tee shots are reasonable in length.
wildflowers and landscaped shrubbery, and are layered with desert in between - reminding one that
On property is a beautiful clubhouse that features a
this is truly a desert layout. The setting is pristine and
wonderful pro shop, locker room facilities, restaurant
spectacular, with mountain views and natural areas
& lounge that provides an extensive lunch menu, and
highlighting an experience that all levels of players
an outdoor patio that affords spectacular golf course
will appreciate. Water hazards on seven of the holes
views. There is a full service practice facility with
also add to the aesthetic experience and challenge.
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