Course Details: Sahalee Country Club, located in Sammamish, Washington, is a private par-72 course designed by Ted Robinson in 1969, with updates by Rees Jones. Spanning 7,003 yards, it has a course rating of 74.1 and a slope of 142. Known for hosting the 1998 PGA Championship and the 2002 WGC-NEC Invitational, Sahalee is set among dense evergreen forests, with its name meaning “High Heavenly Ground” in Chinook. The 27-hole facility, divided into South, North, and East nines, features a luxurious clubhouse and top-tier amenities. Recent tree-thinning efforts have improved playability, but its exclusivity limits access to members and guests. The course is surrounded by a golf community, yet maintains a serene, wooded ambiance.

Play Characteristics: Sahalee’s narrow, tree-lined fairways demand pinpoint accuracy off the tee, as dense cedars and firs offer little recovery for errant drives. The fairways are lush but tight, and the greens are small, undulating, and well-guarded by bunkers, requiring precise iron play. Holes like the par-4 11th, with its corridor of trees, and the par-5 18th, with a demanding approach, punish anything less than straight shots. The course’s moderate length allows mid-handicappers a chance to score, but its penal design and fast greens challenge even professionals. Recent tree management has opened up recovery options, but golfers must prioritize placement over distance, making it a strategic, ball-striking test.