Watching the Masters this weekend, and imagining what it would be like to have the chance to knock it around Augusta National just one time, got us thinking — what are some of our own “major” championship venues; that is, courses that have hosted a USGA championship, or any recognized golf “major”?
Certain ones came to mind right away, of course: Chambers Bay (2012 U.S. Amateur and 2014 U.S. Open), Sahalee (1998 PGA Championship and 2010 U.S. Senior Open), Gold Mountain Olympic (2006 U.S. Public Links, 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur). But in fact, there are 11 courses in Washington state that have hosted a similar “major” championship event — not even counting places like Washington National, a frequent NCAA Championships site, and the numerous courses that host local qualifying for USGA events. And, true to our belief that there is no better place in the world to be a daily-fee golfer, five of those 11 courses are open to the public, every day of the week:
Course: Broadmoor Golf Club (Seattle, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1961 U.S. Girls Junior, 1974 & 1984 U.S. Women’s Amateur
Course: Chambers Bay Golf Links (University Place, near Tacoma, Public)
Championships Hosted: 2010 U.S. Amateur, 2015 U.S. Open
Course: Gold Mountain, Olympic (Gorst, near Bremerton, Public)
Championships Hosted: 2006 U.S. Public Links, 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur, plus numerous NCAA Regional and National Championships.
Course: Indian Canyon Golf Course (Spokane, Public)
Championships Hosted: 1941 & 1984 U.S. Public Links, 1989 U.S. Women’s Public Links
Course: Jefferson Park Golf Course (Seattle, Public)
Championships Hosted: 1967 U.S. Public Links
Course: Mill Creek Country Club (Mill Creek, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1984 U.S. Girls Junior
Course: Sahalee Country Club (Sammamish, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1998 PGA Championship, 2010 U.S. Senior Open
Course: Seattle Golf Club (Seattle, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1952 U.S. Amateur, 1981 U.S. Senior Amateur, 1981 Walker Cup
Course: Spokane Country Club (Spokane, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1966 U.S. Women’s Open, 1969 U.S. Junior Amateur
Course: Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Lakewood, Private)
Championships Hosted: 1961 U.S. Women’s Amateur, 1994 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, 2007 U.S. Girls Junior
Course: West Seattle Golf Course (West Seattle, Public)
Championships Hosted: 1953 U.S. Public Links