Gold Mountain (Cascade)

Although the city of Bremerton has since added a second course that gathers much of the acclaim, the Olympic, to its Gold Mountain property, the original course — the Cascades — still deserves a visit from those looking for a fun 36-hole day. This course was designed by Ken Dyson 25 years prior to the opening of Olympic.

Although the latter John Harbottle III-designed course is considered the “championship” test of the two, measuring more than 400 yards longer than its older sibling, the Cascades Course can ultimately be just as difficult for the golfer who struggles with accuracy from the tee; the fairways here are tighter and tree-lined, quickly applying penalty to the big hitter who hits big in the wrong direction.

A metaphor for this shorter-isn’t-easier outlook can be seen between Nos. 5 and No. 15. Although the latter is significantly longer, at 600 yards to No. 5’s 490 yards, it is the shorter par five that is ranked as the number-one handicap hole on the course. Despite featuring just one bunker (greenside), a touch of slope manages to make this minuscule monster a man-eater.