Golf in Washington
Overview
What golf looks like for retirement in Washington: where to do it, what the state costs, and the towns that fit.
Course sample
Chambers Bay
Golf ranking
#27
Washington scores 72/100 for retirement golf fit.
Current weather
Checking current weather
Find places
This page explains golf in Washington. The sorter handles the local question by city or ZIP.
Golf in Washington
The Puget Sound area has dozens of public courses, including The Home Course in DuPont with panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains, and Seattle Times publishes an annual public course directory noting that most offer senior and twilight rates on top of standard green fees. Washington Golf's statewide directory lists member courses across all regions of the state.
Published local price
Jackson Park Golf Course (City of Seattle municipal) 18-hole weekday adult reference rate; rates vary by season and tee time
Published range: $22.50 to $53.50.
Seattle municipal golf course rates (Jackson Park) · as of 2026Where to go
Golf score
17th of 51 states for retirement golf
Golf score blends year-round playability (34%), playable access (16%), affordability (16%), course pedigree (12%), and statewide course density (22%).
Courses
A sample of marquee courses across Washington, with where to play and how to book.
Links-style dunescape above Puget Sound, host of the 2015 U.S. Open · Robert Trent Jones Jr.
This is the muni that hosted a U.S. Open, a true links walk along the Sound with a lone fir tree as its emblem. It is walking only with no carts, so come ready for a long, rewarding stroll.
Opened 2007 · $$$$ · Slope 139
Photo: Atomic Taco
Sandy high-desert links with wide fairways that funnel shots back · David McLay Kidd
Up in the high desert above the Columbia River, this is a forgiving links built on pure sand, with fairways so wide they invite you to swing freely. It was laid out for walkers, so you can take it on foot the way it was meant to be played.
Opened 2014 · $$$$ · Slope 120
Rolling well-bunkered fairways with water and mountain views · Arnold Palmer
Tucked into the Cascade foothills near Cle Elum, this Palmer-designed resort course is playable for every level while the bunkers and water keep things interesting. It pairs nicely with a weekend stay at the lodge.
Opened 2004 · $$$$ · Slope 135
Open links land with views of the Sound, Olympics, and Rainier · Mike Asmundson
A walkable, open layout in DuPont with long views of Puget Sound, the Olympics, and Mount Rainier on a clear day. It is public and well kept, a relaxed companion to nearby Chambers Bay.
Opened 2007 · $$$ · Slope 132
Classic 1930 hillside design with tree-lined fairways · H. Chandler Egan
A historic Spokane muni from 1930 that has landed on national top-public lists for decades, all at a friendly city rate. The tree-lined, hilly fairways play shorter than the big resorts but ask for smart shotmaking.
Opened 1930 · $ · Slope 126
Towering evergreens framing tight Pacific Northwest fairways · John Harbottle III
Bremerton's city-owned course on the Kitsap Peninsula winds through tall evergreens and has long been a value pick among Northwest publics. Fair rates and a championship pedigree make it an easy day trip from the ferry.
Opened 1996 · $$ · Slope 131
Canals and lakes in play on all eighteen holes · Graham Cooke
Up near the Canadian border in Blaine, this lush course brings water into play on every hole, which earns it one of the steepest slope ratings in the state. The greens run smooth and true, so bring your short game.
Opened 1993 · $$$ · Slope 145
We've mapped 13 courses across Washington so far.
What Washington costs
Cost of living
107
BEA index, U.S. = 100
State income tax
None
Social Security
Not taxed
How people start
Most metros list city-run courses with published fee schedules. Those set the affordable floor before any private club enters the picture.
Many courses post a reduced weekday senior rate and a season pass. The difference between pay-per-round and a pass is the number that usually drives the yearly cost.
In warm states the season runs most of the year; in cold ones it is a few months. The yearly cost is rounds-per-year times rate, plus cart and equipment.
Towns in Washington
Seattle Parks and Recreation owns four municipal 18-hole courses (Interbay, Jackson Park, Bill Wright Golf Complex at Jefferson Park, and West Seattle Municipal Golf Course), all operated by Premier Golf Centers under city contract; senior rates apply to golfers aged 60 to 74, with weekday green fees at approximately $37, and super-senior rates for players 75 and older drop to around $21.50 on weekday mornings. The Green Lake Pitch n' Putt offers a low-pressure par-3 option for casual rounds.
Premier Golf Centers SeattleCommon questions
The Puget Sound area has dozens of public courses, including The Home Course in DuPont with panoramic views of Mount Rainier and the Olympic Mountains, and Seattle Times publishes an annual public course directory noting that most offer senior and twilight rates on top of standard green fees. Washington Golf's statewide directory lists member courses across all regions of the state. Towns like Seattle have their own local options.
Washington has a cost-of-living index near 107 (U.S. = 100), no state income tax, and does not tax Social Security. The full state guide breaks down property tax, sales tax, and long-term-care costs, each sourced.
Sources
The life your money is for