READERS CHOICE
10
Desert Canyon • Orondo
By the narrowest of margins — one single vote — Don Barth’s Desert Canyon edged out the six other tracks included in our “Readers Choice” poll for this No. 10 slot. And, as the pick of the public, it might well be the highest honor of all.
Always one of Washington’s most scenic courses, Desert Canyon is also one of its most well-conditioned. Fairways are pleasantly soft, greens roll true, and the scenery might just be second-to-none — colorful flowers, oasis-like water elements and seemingly endless views across Columbia River gorge, to the Cascade Mountains beyond.
When you squint from the tee box of the elevated par-5 Desert No. 6 to try and see the green hanging on the edge of the cliff 632 yards away (and that’s from the whites), know that the double bogey you’re about to make will be one of the most unforgettable of your life. Then take in that view one last time, grip loose, and let it rip.