Golfing On I-5 Corridor Proves To Be A Mixed Bag

Like many longtime golfers, I have recurring visions of a dream course. But mine would be bigger than most. It would, in fact, measure more than 250 miles.

I call it the "Interstate-5 Golf Club" and though it is largely a creation of my imagination, it is not imaginary.

It is composed of 11 real golf courses along I-5. It has 225 holes. From the middle tees, par is 900.

"I-5 G.C." begins at Peace Portal Golf Course in Surrey, B.C. and ends on the southern bank of the Columbia River at Portland's 36-hole Heron Lakes complex. The 11 public courses were selected primarily because of their proximity to the freeway. Some fine courses, like Kayak Point near Marysville and Semiahmoo near Blaine, were left off because they are more than three miles away from the freeway.

Some of the chosen are high-class, high-priced layouts, like Avalon Golf Club, a 27-hole facility an hour north of Seattle. Others, like the humble Grandview Golf Course in Custer, have barely evolved, in terms of amenities, beyond their cow-pasture histories, and are priced accordingly.

Following is a course-by-course description of my dream track, traveling north to south:

PEACE PORTAL GOLF COURSE

A fully mature, tree-lined Canadian beauty. If you've ever been stuck in the traffic waiting to cross the U.S. border, you've probably seen glimpses of Peace Portal's 11th, 12th and 13th fairways through the fence bordering the highway.

The course, which opened in 1928, is on the short side of the length scale and reminds me of Seattle's Broadmoor C.C. - a well-maintained, tight layout with smallish greens.

Peace Portal's adjacent 9-hole, par-3 course has several ponds, giving it a look similar to hollowed Augusta National's short course. En route to Peace Portal's property, one passes the 18-hole, Meridian par-3 course and the Peace Arch Driving Range (which is across the street from an aromatic dairy farm shed).

GRANDVIEW GOLF COURSE

The course is hard against the west side of the freeway. It's very popular course with seniors and Canadians - its short, flat and relatively cheap ($18 weekdays, $20 weekends). Course staffers said 70 percent of play is by Canadians. You're basic fun-to-play course.

The smallish, low-ceilinged pro shop/snack bar, which is dominated by a large, 1960s-era console television set, is a trip. It has the look, feel and musty smell of a thift shop.

AVALON GOLF CLUB

Destined to become a Northwest favorite, this course also attracts a lot of Canadians. It will always be an all-golf facility (no houses). Golfers will love the driving range, which offers grass tees, and large practice chipping and putting greens.

Avalon has a variety of pricing plans, including two-for-one green fees days certain times of the year. Some will consider it pricey, but few will feel cheated after playing any or all three nines.

Avalon's restuarant, which is on the fancy side, is very popular with non-golfing locals (the berry pies are awesome).

JACKSON PARK GOLF COURSE

Nothing fancy about Seattle most-popular golf course. Like all of Seattle's munis, "Jack" is reasonably priced - $15 for King County residents, $19.50 for others.

Jackson is a nice blend of challenging holes (like Nos. 9 and 11) and ordinary ones (like Nos. 2 and 10). Walkons are welcome, but reservations are recommended during warmer months because one could spend hours waiting for a spot in a foursome.

No driving range, but golfers will like the large practice putting green near the No. 1 tee and the chipping green behind the clubhouse. Jackson also has a decent par-3 course.

JEFFERSON PARK GOLF COURSE

"Jeff" is Seattle's oldest course. It plays harder than its nearly 6,300-yard length would indicate. Most difficult holes are No. 11 and No. 18. Both are par-4s which high-handicappers should think of as par-5s.

Jefferson has a covered driving range, which is on the dingy side, and a nice par-3 layout. Reservations also are a must during summer months.

Although conditions at Jefferson, Jackson and West Seattle are much less than perfect, the futures looks bright for Seattle's courses. The city will turn over control of the courses to a non-profit, private board, whose mission is to upgrade the courses, July 1.

RIVERBEND GOLF COMPLEX

Riverbend's championship course, which gets better with age, is a challenging beauty and a bargain (18 holes $19 weekdays, $23 weekends). Should be considered a must-play opportunity for visitors.

The nearly 600-yard long, par 5 sixth hole is memorable. The Green River bisects the course and several holes on the back nine are bordered by man-made ponds, as well as the river.

Course offers great value for the budget-conscious players during winter months, when players can add lunch (any sandwich, chips and a drink) to the cost of 18 holes for $1.

Riverbend complex includes a 9-hole, par-3 track and a covered driving ranges. Reservations recommended during summer months.

ALLENMORE GOLF COURSE

A typical, old-fashioned Northwest course. Allenmore isn't very long, but small greens and mature trees lining the fairways make it a tough-but-fair test. Course has a few hills, but is considered an easy walk by most. Allenmore's popular because its close to large population centers and its green fees ($20 every day) are in the moderate range. Call ahead for reservations.

TUMWATER VALLEY GOLF CLUB

Course is built on gently-rolling, river land next to the brewery that once made Olympia famous. Tumwater Valley is known for its great greens, long length and tree-lined fairways (newcomers are advised to leave their slices and hooks at home).

THREE RIVERS GOLF COURSE

Three Rivers is less than three miles from I-5, but is the hardest course on this list to find. Best to call course after getting off freeway for detailed directions.

Even though this course was built on top of an old garbage dump bordering the Cowlitz River, it is worth getting lost for - especially during the Northwest rainy season. Three Rivers may be driest course in state because its built on volcanic ash that was dredged from the Cowlitz River after the Mount Saint Helens eruption. The ash is nearly 20-feet deep in most places.

TRI-MOUNTAIN GOLF COURSE

May be the best course Seattle-area golfers have never heard of. It's long drive to Tri-Mountain (Clark County), which opened last July, but the links-style course will not disappoint.

From the freeway, one can see the seventh and eighth holes, the course looks ordinary, wide-open and easy. But closer inspection will reveal how well-groomed the course is, the many undulations on the greens and numerous mounds on either side of the lush fairways.

The rough, which doesn't look out of control, is deceptively pretty. But shots straying into the deep stuff will be as hard to find as they are to hit.

HERON LAKES GOLF COURSE

Seattleites will weep with shame when they visit the pride and joy of Portland's municipal golf system. Heron Lakes' two 18-holes layouts have gained national praise. Both were ranked in Golf Digest magazine's top 75 public courses two years ago.

The Greenback course is the older of the two and least expensive to play - $15/$17 for Portland residents, $19/$21 for outsiders.

The Great Blue costs $25 for locals and $29 for visitors. The Great Blue, which was completed two years ago, is a links-style layout designed by the noted architect Robert Trent Jones. Take lots of balls to play the Great Blue, 16 holes have water in play.