1. Carnation

Are those 7,000-yard tracks beating you down? Tired of hitting driver-hybrid on every par 4? When your ego — and your handicap — needs a little massaging, head out to Carnation Golf Course. Short without being an executive, and challenging enough to make you work for a good number, Carnation gives you plenty of looks at birdies — or eagles, depending on how good your big stick is working. Cut through age-old cedar, Douglas fir, maple and cottonwood trees, the course sits adjacent to the Carnation Marsh, a protected wetland preserve. Of course, this dooms the golf course in the winter, especially this past one, when several trees, yard markers and even sections of fairways washed away. But the grounds crew have done an excellent job getting the course back in shape, and because it sits on such soggy soil, the course stays much softer and greener in the dog days of summer. Fairly flat and straight throughout, the course has some intrigue on the front, the long par 4 third hole is a , the familiar chorus of bullfrogs chortling in the pond behind the green. The very reachable par 5 eighth hole (425 yards) offers spectacular views of the Cascades — but not much of a look at the landing area for your drive. Don’t cut the corner too far or you’ll find the creek. The course gets going on the backside, with several great scoring holes right away. The 10th, 14th and 15th are all drivable, so swing away. There’s no better feeling than grabbing the flat stick while you’re on the tee box. The last three holes on the course also offer an opportunity to post a good score. No. 16 is a nice wide par 5, guarded by OB on the left and a big fir tree in the middle of the fairway. The par 3 16th is just a wedge to a wide green and the 18th coming home is about as wide open a par 5 as you’re going to find anywhere. With Kat’s Grill serving a variety of great dishes all day, a nice patio out back and a double-sided driving range with real grass tees, Carnation has it all.

Best Hole If you’re ever going to drive the green on a par 4, No. 14 is the perfect opportunity. At a mere 260 yards from the white tees and dead straight ahead, the putting surface beckons you to swing away.

• Address: 1810 W Snoqualmie River Rd NE, Carnation, WA 98014
• Yardage: par 71; 6,011 (blue), 5,462 (white), 4,540 (red)
• Rates: $18-$33
• Web: www.carnationgolf.com
• Tel: (425) 333-4151

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2. Classic

Bangers beware. The Classic Golf Club, a venerable gem of a golf challenge hidden among the mature Spanaway neighborhoods, is not so much a test of the brawn but the brain. It’s all about course management and making smart decisions, which might mean eschewing the driver in favor of the 3-wood on many holes. The Bill Overdorf layout, built in 1991, is only 6,008 yards from the whites (6,902 from the championship tees) but don’t assume it’s a snap. Qualifiers for the U.S. Public Links and U.S. Senior Open were held here because it forces the golfer to use all the clubs and both sides of the brain. For most tee shots you need to bring a couple club choices. It’s not an automatic driver course. There are holes where the trees encroach so much that sacrificing distance for safety is paramount. That is never more apparent than the short (310 yard) par-4, No. 10. Trees tightly border the hole for virtually its entire length. Stray and you pay. While some of the tree hazards are unforgiving, such as the dense forest along No. 13 and OB along No. 14, most of the trees that straddle the fairways are just pesky. Ownership has allowed the trees to grow while clearing out of brush underneath so your ball is generally playable. But once you enter the tree clusters, it’s difficult to pass through all the limbs toward the green. Most of the time your only option is a lateral pitch back to the fairway. The bent grass green complexes are substantial and undulating. This is the course’s fourth ownership and you can trust this one knows golf. It is owned by Mike Moore, father of former U.S. Amateur champion and emerging PGA star Ryan Moore.

Best Hole The par-4, 368-yard No. 5 hole can be a minefield of trouble. Bunkers and trees on both sides force you to steer the ball straight. If you can find a level lie, consider yourself fortunate.

• Address: 4908 208th St. East, Spanaway, WA 98387
• Yardage: par 72; 6,902 (black); 6,404 (blue); 6,008 (white); 5,656 (red)
• Rates: $20-$45
• Web: www.classicgolfclub.net
• Tel: (253) 847-4440

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