The Tri Cities might not be the first place that comes to mind when planning a golf trip, but this high desert region offers 12 courses with green fees ranging from $22 to $95. With over 300 days of sunshine annually and minimal rain, you can actually play year-round here… though you might question your sanity teeing off when it's 102 degrees in July.
The heavy hitters: Championship courses worth the splurge
If you're going to drop serious cash on a round, you want a course that delivers more than just a hefty credit card charge.
Canyon Lakes takes the crown
Canyon Lakes Golf Course in Kennewick has won "Best Golf Course in Tri Cities" for 13 consecutive years, and honestly, the other courses have probably stopped entering at this point. The 1981 John Steidel design stretches 7,026 yards from the black tees with a 131 slope rating that'll make you reconsider your handicap.
The real party trick here is hole #12, featuring the Pacific Northwest's largest green at 12,000 square feet. That's roughly the size of three average homes, so bringing your putting A-game is essential unless you enjoy four-putting from 150 feet away. Weekend rates run $95 with cart, but here's the insider move: Military Mondays drop to $55 all day. The new ownership recently cut their tournament schedule from 51 to 25 events annually, meaning Friday through Sunday mornings are actually available for public play now.
Columbia Point brings the drama
Columbia Point in Richland feels like someone gave architect James J. Engh a blank check and said "make it interesting." The 1997 design features dramatic mounded fairways and greens so undulating they could double as a skateboard park. Playing 6,571 yards from the championship tees with a 132 slope, it's the kind of course where you'll use every club in your bag… including the one you throw after chunking your approach into the 47th bunker.
Weekend rates hit $78 with cart, while weekdays drop to $68. The smartest play? Snag their Preferred Player Card for $389, which cuts green fees in half. After about 10 rounds, you're basically playing for free (that's how math works, right?). The Cafe restaurant offers panoramic views perfect for drowning your sorrows after that triple bogey on 18.
Horn Rapids demands precision
Horn Rapids in Richland is what happens when a golf course designer decides trees are your enemy. Keith Foster's layout spans 6,945 yards with narrow, tree-lined fairways that'll have you praying to the golf gods before every tee shot. Several holes demand 240-yard carries, so if your driver isn't cooperating, you're in for a long day.
The course recently changed hands, and the new owners have been pouring money into improvements faster than you can say "fore left." Weekend rates are $75 with cart, dropping to $65 on weekdays. Rewsters Bar & Grill stays open until 9 PM Monday through Saturday, giving you plenty of time to explain how that 11 on the par 4 was actually your caddie's fault.
Mid-range courses that won't break the bank
Sometimes you want quality golf without having to sell a kidney to afford it.
Sun Willows delivers serious value
Sun Willows in Pasco might be the best bang for your buck in the entire region. Robert Muir Graves designed this beauty in 1959, and someone wisely decided to add 32 bunkers and five lakes during the 1980 redesign, because apparently golfers weren't losing enough balls already.
The course plays 6,819 yards from the blue tees with a slope rating up to 136… tenth toughest in Washington State according to the Western Golf Alliance. Weekend rates are just $56, which is basically what you'd pay for a mediocre steak dinner. Their Preferred Player Card at $374 gives you 50% off all rounds, and the Willows Cafe serves a weekend Bloody Mary bar that'll help you forget that snowman you posted on the front nine.
Zintel Creek keeps it old school
Zintel Creek in Kennewick has been around since 1938, back when it was called Twin City Golf Club and golfers wore ties on the course. The 4,945-yard layout plays to a par 65-66, making it perfect for those days when you want to feel good about your score without actually improving your game.
The original push-up style greens and mature trees give it that classic feel, like playing your grandfather's home course. They've recently added state-of-the-art indoor golf simulators, presumably for when the weather finally decides to be uncooperative. Golf Digest estimates rates around $72 for 18 holes, though you'll need to call for current pricing because apparently updating websites is harder than maintaining century-old greens.
West Richland: Where floods build character
West Richland Golf Course has been operating since 1953 along the Yakima River, which sounds scenic until you realize "along the river" sometimes means "in the river" during spring flooding. The roughly 6,000-yard, par 70-71 layout gets mixed reviews on conditions, but the recently built clubhouse could make a country club jealous.
The course hosts the annual Tri-City Pro-Am Invitational in October with an $11,000 winner's prize, which is approximately $10,950 more than you'll win in your weekend Nassau. Their restaurant stays open until 11 PM most nights, perfect for those twilight rounds that turn into midnight putting contests in the dark.
Where beginners can learn without embarrassment
Everyone starts somewhere, and these courses understand that "somewhere" usually involves a lot of topped shots and creative profanity.
Columbia Park Golf Tri-Plex: Three ways to play
Columbia Park in Kennewick gives you options: traditional golf, FootGolf, or disc golf. The 2,682-yard, par-55 layout features small greens and zero water hazards, because Rocky Dorsett apparently believed beginners suffer enough without adding swimming requirements to their round.
The executive-length course is perfect for working on your short game or introducing kids to golf without the four-hour death march of a full course. Fair warning: seasonal geese have claimed squatter's rights and aren't shy about leaving presents on the greens. But hey, it adds an element of surprise to your putting line.
Buckskin Golf Club wins on price
At $22 for 18 holes walking, Buckskin in Richland costs less than a movie ticket and popcorn. The nine-hole, par-35 course measures 2,800 yards with wide-open fairways that forgive your slice better than your playing partners will.
Designer Jeff Marcum doubles as the PGA professional, offering lessons and junior clinics for those brave enough to let someone watch their swing up close. The 250-yard driving range gives you space to work out the kinks, and the 1,500-square-foot banquet room hosts events for people who apparently enjoy combining golf with formal occasions.
Pasco Golfland keeps it simple
Pasco Golfland strips golf down to its essence: hit ball toward hole, repeat. The nine-hole par-3 course totals 1,131 yards with holes ranging from 67 to 177 yards. No water, no sand, no problems… except for your short game, which this place will expose mercilessly.
They proudly advertise being "allergic to mats" at their 175-yard grass driving range, and nine holes cost $19.74 (yes, that's oddly specific). The on-site Chicken Cow Pig BBQ means you can work on both your golf game and your cholesterol levels in one convenient location.
The private option (good luck getting in)
Meadow Springs Country Club in Richland maintains a 104-member waiting list, so unless you saved the club president's life or have compromising photos, you're probably not playing here soon. The Robert Muir Graves championship course stretches 6,915 yards from the black tees with a 136 slope rating that would humble most mortals.
Recent improvements include a new Golf Improvement Center (fancy talk for "practice area"), irrigation system overhaul, and multi-year cart path replacement. Members also enjoy swimming and tennis facilities, because apparently dominating at one sport isn't enough for these overachievers.
When to play without melting or freezing
The Tri Cities' location in the Cascade Mountain rain shadow creates nearly ideal golf weather, assuming your definition of "ideal" includes occasional 30+ mph winds and summer temperatures that could bake cookies on your cart hood.
Seasonal breakdown for planning:
- Spring (March-May): Perfect temperatures, courses in peak condition
- Summer (June-August): Book before 9 AM unless you enjoy heat stroke
- Fall (September-November): Ideal weather returns, fewer crowds
- Winter (December-February): Playable but unpredictable, some courses reduce hours
The region sees rain only 60-65 days annually, meaning you have roughly an 83% chance of dry conditions on any given day. Those Chinook winds, however, show up whenever they feel like it, turning your gentle 7-iron into either a pitched wedge or a stinger 3-wood depending on direction.
Matching courses to your game
Not every course suits every player, unless you enjoy maximum frustration with your recreation time.
If you're actually good at golf:
Canyon Lakes' 7,026-yard gauntlet will test every aspect of your game, especially your vocabulary when you find that 12,000-square-foot green. Sun Willows throws 32 strategically placed bunkers at you, while Columbia Point's narrow fairways punish anyone who thinks "fairway finder" is just a suggestion.
For us mortals in the middle:
Horn Rapids offers desert-style target golf where course management beats raw distance. Zintel Creek's shorter yardage but tree-lined fairways create scoring opportunities without being a pushover. West Richland provides a relaxed vibe where nobody will judge your unconventional swing.
New to golf? Start here:
Columbia Park's executive layout lets you focus on iron play without exhausting walks between shots. Buckskin's forgiving fairways and $22 rate remove both physical and financial pressure. Pasco Golfland's par-3 design builds confidence one short hole at a time.
Getting the most value for your golf dollar
Smart money management means more rounds, and more rounds means more chances to finally break 80 (or 90, or 100… no judgment).
Best deals in town:
- Canyon Lakes Military Monday: $50 with cart (save $45)
- Sun Willows Preferred Card: $374 annually for 50% off
- Columbia Point Preferred Card: $389 for half-price rounds
- Buckskin's $22 special: Cheaper than lunch at most courses
Annual passes make sense if you play regularly. Sun Willows' weekday pass at $1,379 breaks even around 30 rounds, which sounds like a lot until you realize that's barely twice a month during peak season.
The competitive scene
The Tri Cities maintains an active tournament calendar for those who think golf needs more pressure.
Major annual events:
- West Richland Tri-City Pro-Am (October): $11,000 purse
- Columbia Point Amateur Championship
- Multiple Washington Junior Golf Association events
- Weekly leagues at most courses
Horn Rapids runs Wednesday men's and Thursday women's leagues, while Sun Willows' clubs stay busy with regular competitions. Even if you're not tournament material, these events mean course conditions stay pristine and pace of play matters to management.
Bottom line on Tri Cities golf
For a region better known for wine and nuclear history, the Tri Cities delivers surprising golf variety. Twelve courses ranging from Canyon Lakes' championship test to Pasco Golfland's friendly par-3 layout mean everyone finds their speed. The combination of reliable weather (300+ sunny days), reasonable pricing, and genuine variety makes this an underrated golf destination.
Sure, you won't find the oceanside drama of Bandon Dunes or the pristine perfection of Augusta National. What you will find are well-maintained courses where you can actually get a tee time, prices that won't require a second mortgage, and enough variety to keep golf interesting whether you're shooting 69 or 96.
The smart play? Book weekday mornings for better rates and pace. Spring for a preferred player card if you'll play more than monthly. Keep Military Mondays at Canyon Lakes in your back pocket for when you want championship golf without championship prices. And always, always bring extra balls for those Chinook wind days… trust me on that one.
