Highland Pacific Golf

Almost 50 years ago, Herb Plasterer—an architect, historian, and artist—acquired 190 lush acres nestled along Thetis Lake, where he envisioned building a public golf course that would preserve the land’s natural beauty. When Herb passed away, his wife, Rose Maria, and their six children decided it was time to realize his dream. Their hard work, along with that of course architect Chris Young, yielded the Audubon-certified Pacific Nine and Highland Nine that golfers tackle today.

While drinking in views of the Olympic Mountains, Thetis Lake Park, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, golfers face close-cropped fairways hemmed in by thick copses of trees and wetlands that swallow balls without even chewing them first. Cybergolf calls the Pacific Nine “truly sublime,” and Canadian Golfer—which lauds the course as being on “the must-play list”—marvels at the tricky contours of its par-4 fifth hole. Although more compact than its sister, the Highland Nine is challenging on its own terms, with uphill approaches that end in fast, unreceptive greens, as well as a number of downhill par 3s.

Before zooming across the fairways in GPS-equipped golf carts, players can warm up at a 300-yard-deep driving range that boasts heated stalls and an illuminated tee line. PGA professional instructors offer guidance during lessons at the golf academy, and students can fuel up for swings with homestyle soups, entrees, and sandwiches at the Range Café, rather than with the usual gulps of petroleum. The café also invites celebratory post-round sips of beer and wine out on a heated patio or next to a crackling indoor fireplace. And to keep guests looking fresh, the course laundromat will even wash sweaty polo shirts right after a round.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par-71 course
• Length of 6,603 yards
• Six tee options
• See the scorecard