Pasco, USA
River Ranch Golf Resort is a forthcoming destination layout by David McLay Kidd, set atop the bluffs where the Snake and Columbia rivers converge near Pasco, Washington. Designed on sandy, fescue-friendly terrain carved by ancient floods, the resort opens in August 2027 and will be managed by KemperSports.
River Ranch Golf Resort is a forthcoming destination layout by David McLay Kidd, set atop the bluffs where the Snake and Columbia rivers converge near Pasco, Washington. Designed on sandy, fescue-friendly terrain carved by ancient floods, the resort opens in August 2027 and will be managed by KemperSports.
River Ranch Golf Resort brings a David McLay Kidd fescue layout to southeastern Washington's Tri-Cities region, occupying a 300-acre former vineyard site atop the Snake River bluffs near Pasco. The routing is built on sandy soils left by prehistoric floods — the same terrain type that underpins firm, fast conditions at Kidd's most celebrated designs — and delivers views toward the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers.
The land that will become River Ranch Golf Resort was purchased by four local partners — Brad Beauchamp, Ben Harris, and brothers Keith and Jordan Tiegs — after the site's former winery closed in 2020 and the property entered bankruptcy. The Tiegs family farms over 150,000 acres in the region; Beauchamp and Harris operate a residential land development business. All four grew up boating and fishing along the Snake River.
The ownership group cold-called Scottish architect David McLay Kidd in late 2024 after rezoning permits confirmed a golf course was viable on the site. Kidd — who made his name with the original Bandon Dunes course in Oregon and has since added Tetherow and the two courses at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington, to his Pacific Northwest portfolio — was initially sceptical before visiting the property. Ground was broken in November 2025, with Kidd committing to over 100 days on site during construction. Grassing is scheduled to begin in May 2026, with an opening target of August 2027. The resort will be managed by KemperSports.
River Ranch Golf Resort is currently under construction and no playing review is available at this stage. The routing has been designed by David McLay Kidd to follow the natural bluff topography above the Snake River, with fescue fairways planned for the sandy soil base. The 15th hole — a par 3 set on a promontory of land with a tee shot over the river — has been described by Kidd as among the most visually dramatic holes he has designed, drawing comparison with the 16th at Cypress Point Club.
The site sits at the point where the Snake River makes its final approach to the Columbia, and prevailing winds off the river corridor are expected to be an integral feature of how the layout plays. The ownership group retains nearly 1,000 additional acres of riverfront land, with the potential for further holes or a second course at a later stage.
Want to know what other travelling golfers really think? Click the Reviews tab to discover the latest ratings and reviews.
River Ranch Golf Resort is one of the most significant golf developments currently under construction in the Pacific Northwest. A 300-acre former vineyard on the Snake River bluffs, sandy fescue-friendly soil, and a Kidd routing that culminates in a clifftop par 3 overlooking the river confluence all point to a layout with genuine destination credentials. With KemperSports overseeing operations and an August 2027 opening target, this is a course to watch for any golfer planning a Pacific Northwest golf holiday.
The latest ranking of the Top 100 Golf Courses in the World serves as the ultimate global golf bucket list. Most members of our World Top 100 Panel are seasoned golfers, each playing 20-30 of these courses annually while travelling extensively over decades to form their opinions on others. We recognise that opinions vary—even among our panel members. Rankings are subjective, and there are undoubtedly 50 or more courses in the UK and USA alone that could easily fit onto this list. Links Golf Pilgrimages The rankings
California, United States
New Jersey, United States
Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
New York, United States
New York, United States
