The Home Course - Washington - USA

Home of the PNGA and WSGA, the Home Course is one of the better draining courses during the PNW’s infamous winter. Although you won’t find firm and fast conditions during winter, the course is much less puddle ridden than many other golf options around the Greater Seattle region. An easily walkable course with some interesting features left over from the explosives manufacturing plant that once occupied what’s now the course. Of the two nines I found the Dupont nine to be more interesting with a greater variety of holes when compared to the Weyerhaeuser front nine. Deep faced bunkers with tight fringes, I imagine would make the course more challenging in the summer months. Elevated greens on many holes put ball striking at a premium. The course is wide enough for all golfers and befitting to the PNGA and WSGA which look to grow the game.

Played this one a while ago during a trip that included 27 holes at Chambers Bay the previous day (I loved it) and then we played a Public Course before heading to this one which I knew had hosted US Amateur back in 2010.

It was during Soccer World Cup and remember watching one game during lunch before the game. The Club House was under construction and we were hosted at a provisional building which was not bad at all.

About the course, I remember it similar in setting to Gleneagles PGA Centenary with similar grass and topography. Course was in pristine shape and it still had the signals used for the US Amateur, the typical USGA ones which was a nice touch.

It is a course that off the tee usually gives you space to play and one of the sides had enough space to miss as well. Speed of greens was not dramatic but good enough to challenge and some of them had quite a generous size but not big slopes or platforms.

A great course to combine with Chambers before heading to Crosswater Resort for the Tourism Show and then to Bandon Dunes, which would be the trip I would recommend if you are headed there.

Some of the holes:

- 4th hole a good 190yds par 3 with a tough carry over a “hazard”.

- 7th a great two shooter where a lake protects the green, long hitters will not be able to hit driver.

- 11th a short par 4 where tee shot landing area is blind and going in an aggressive line will save you distance for the approach.

- 14th a nice semi island green stretching something like 165yds.

- 18th a demanding finishing hole where 2 very well hit shots are needed.

I won’t say it is a course worth the travel on its own, but if you want to do Chambers Bay it is a very good second choice.