Shelton, Washington
Salish Cliffs offers a dynamic, high-caliber championship test cut through immense evergreens, loaded with elevation and shot variety. Impressive post-renovation conditioning, bold visual drama, and destination casino resort vibes make it a must-play in the Pacific Northwest.
Gene Bates’ design at Salish Cliffs leverages the dramatic, forested Washington terrain and nearly 600 feet of elevation change to present a bold and strategic test. Every hole journeys through towering evergreens, exposed rock, and natural ridgelines, with a strong sense of adventure in routing and sightlines. The course pulses between valley-floor par 5s and exposed, high-perch tees, demanding both precise placement and creative approach play. The 2023 renovation raised the bar: all bunkers were rebuilt for modern playability and aesthetics, while bridges and ponds renewed the sense of visual drama and day-to-day conditioning. Salish Cliffs is a blueprint for mountain-woodland golf that challenges, inspires, and leaves golfers buzzing from the journey.
Gene Bates, best known for his bold, strategic resort work in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, crafts layouts that intertwine drama and playability — as showcased to great effect at Salish Cliffs.
The longest hole at Salish Cliffs, the par-5 8th is a quintessential three-shot journey winding through a tree-lined corridor and climbing steadily to a raised green. Strategic landing zones and contoured fairways demand plan-ahead positioning to have a look at the elevated, well-protected target.
Precision off the tee and careful layup are critical — bite off too much and you’ll bring penal slopes into play near the green.
Pushes or pulls off the tee find deep woods; bunkers and runoff areas wait for approaches that come up short or leave offline angles.
Pristine resort conditioning with slick bentgrass greens, freshly rebuilt bunkers, and outstanding definition from tee to green.
Steady, with typical resort pace around 4.5 hours — carts allow for efficient progress on hilly stretches.
Scenic, secluded, and casual-luxe; a destination feel but with Pacific Northwest personality and tribal warmth.
Standard golf resort attire; collared shirts recommended, no denim.
Elevation and blind shots can make judging distances tricky — tech is your friend.
Even with a cart, you’ll face plenty of climbs, uneven stances, and long treks between holes.
Short-game recovery is key with sloping greens, deep runoffs, and tricky surrounds.
Practice green and short game areas allow you to acclimate to the bentgrass speed and undulation.
Course project and land development initiated by Squaxin Island Tribe
Salish Cliffs Golf Club officially opens to the public
Awarded Golfweek's Best New Course to open in 2011
Major bunker, bridge, and pond renovation by Gene Bates and Robert Pearsall
Salish Cliffs stands alone as golf’s first Salmon-Safe certified sanctuary, with course design and irrigation crafted to double as a model for environmental stewardship. The Squaxin Island Tribe’s commitment can be seen in every pond, stream buffer, and wildlife corridor.
Carved deep into dense Pacific Northwest woods, Salish Cliffs’ design is an exploration in dramatic elevation, sudden vistas, and muscular strategy — every hole moving boldly through ridges and natural valleys. First-time players remember the sense of scale and silence among towering trees.
The 2023 renovation brought every bunker up to modern standards with Better Billy Bunker liners and totally rebuilt crossings, streamlining play, elevating aesthetics, and making rain no match for playability. Even longtime regulars discovered new looks and new options.
As a signature project of the Squaxin Island Tribe, guests often find a special sense of hospitality and purpose woven through the setting and experience. The identity and mission lend a unique atmosphere that sets Salish Cliffs apart from the typical commercial resort.
Owned and operated by the Squaxin Island Tribe, Salish Cliffs integrates tribal heritage throughout the guest experience.
Certified as the globe’s first Salmon-Safe golf course — a point of pride and education for all who play.
Each bunker was rebuilt in 2023 using Better Billy Bunker liners for improved drainage and playability.
The course gained national media buzz as Golfweek’s top new opening of 2011.
Elevation change from the course’s low to high points approaches 600 feet, one of the most dramatic in the Pacific Northwest.
Championship-level layout with mountain scenery and quality conditions
Tournament pedigree and wide landing areas for all skill levels
U.S. Open host and iconic Pacific Northwest open links
Distinctive forested test with strong playability and design
Scenic Hood Canal play that's lower-key and relaxing
Little Creek Casino Resort for convenient access, or Olympia for broader dining/lodging and multiple course options
Courses with the most similar DNA profile — matched by deviation shape across all eight playing characteristics.
Why it matches: Hudson National Golf Club is a natural next stop after Salish Cliffs Golf Club: it offers similarly polished playing surfaces.
Why it matches: If Salish Cliffs Golf Club is your kind of course, Old Kinderhook Resort Golf Club & Spa is worth a look because it puts the same premium on presentation.
Why it matches: What links these two? Makes the landscape part of the experience and puts the same premium on presentation — a familiar feeling, expressed in Wade Hampton Golf Club's own setting.
Community Sentiment
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