Something for everyone

This municipal layout, which is owned by the city of Pasco and leased by I.R.I. Golf Group, L.L.C., first opened as the Pasco Municipal Golf Course.

Since then, however, it has undergone several major makeovers – the biggest coming in 1980, when nine holes were moved off the original property and reconstructed closer to the Tri-Cities Airport.

The redesign, which resulted in the name change, was handled by renowned golf course architect Robert Muir Graves, who gave the once-bland layout some much needed character.

Today, Sun Willows ranks not only as the region’s best value, but as one of its most pleasant surprises, as well.

The layout, which features four sets of tee boxes and fairways defined by mounds and stands of mature trees, has managed to maintain an unpretentious, municipal course feel that makes it the most popular in the region.

According to assistant pro and tournament manager Rick Wiley, Sun Willows plays host to almost 60,000 rounds each year.

Among its best holes is the 410-yard, par-4 10th, which features water along the left side of the fairway and a wide, but narrow, green that slopes severely from back to front and is protected on the right by another small pond.

No. 2, a 155-yard par-3, is another favorite because of the visual treat offered from its elevated tee box.

And the recent addition of water hazards on the 580-yard, par-5 6th and the 360-yard, par-4 12th have enhanced the character of those two holes, as well.

“The new hazards are going to make those two holes play substantially different,” Wiley said. “You’re not going to be able to just step up and swing away any more. In the past, you could play an errant tee shot, but now it’s going to be in the water.

“They’re going to be fun holes.”