This month's bargain: Loomis Trail
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BLAINE - There were years you couldn't get on Loomis Trail Golf Club even if you were the member of another country club. Any country club.
What was once a part of the early 1990s Japanese period of opulence - investors paid $14 million for a club and then tore it up - is now open to any golfer willing to pay the greens fee.
Which for the rest of this month - believe it or not - is $35 for during-the-week playing privileges.
The same rate is applicable at neighboring Semiahmoo, a spectacular layout by Arnold Palmer that's just 10 minutes away. Both are within a Tiger Woods shot of the Canadian border.
Both are ranked among Washington's top 10 courses by Golf Digest magazine.
Both are closed one day to the public and open the next. They alternate.
"Overall, it has worked out well for the membership," said Semiahmoo member Jim Coyne. "We now have two wonderful golf courses to play instead of one."
Loomis Trail is open to the public on even days of the week, Semiahmoo on odd days. On the days they aren't open to the public they are available to the members of both clubs.
The arrangement not only gives both memberships another course to play but brings in money to offset costs.
It enabled Semiahmoo owner David Syre to buy Loomis Trail and both satisfy existing members and his own need to increase revenues.
Loomis Trail is a lovely golf course. From the minute you spy the clubhouse, a two-story Tudor with 44,000 square feet, you know you are somewhere you probably don't belong.
We made the easy two-hour drive from Seattle on a Wednesday morning and teed off at 7:45, sweeping the dew off the bent-grass fairways, enjoying the course almost to ourselves.
The course is a sanctuary for birds and golfers alike. It is a member's course. It's delight to walk and difficult - it has one of the highest slope ratings in the state - but not too difficult.
The course doesn't require hero shots. But misplay a shot and you pay dearly: The course meanders through 40 acres of water shaped and placed in the penal form of ponds and canals. Water is everywhere.
In a way, it is Northwest target golf. On the par-5 14th hole, you must drive well enough to position yourself for a second shot over water to an island from which your third shot can be launched to the green.
The par-5 second hole sweeps to the right, but so does a canal bordering its fairway. Every shot must be hit in a precise manner, or it likely gets wet.
The course has 80 bunkers. From the back tees, it measures 7,137 yards and has a staggering slope rating of 145. From the white tees, where we played, it measures 6,192 yards, but the slope remains a healthy 132.
"Loomis Trail is more difficult than Semiahmoo," said Semiahmoo member Coyne. "But they are both great golf courses."
The 200 acres where Loomis Trail is situated was once home to Doran Stables, an equestrian facility. The golf layout originally was developed by International Golf Management of Bellingham and designed by Bill Overdorf of nearby Lynden.
The Japanese firm of North Sanai then purchased it for a $14 million in 1990 only to tear up much of what had been done so Japanese pro Jumbo Osaki could become the new designer.
The course was then sold to Kaiyo of Japan, which hired Canadian Graham Cooke to complete the design. Despite all the turmoil, Golf Digest called Loomis Trail the best new private course in 1993.
Once June rolls around, greens fees, including a cart and range balls, will be $100 every day of the week ($75 for those staying at Semiahmoo). Remember, Loomis Trail is open even days, Semiahmoo odd days.
And, remember, too, to bring a ball retriever.