Chelan courses find a niche

With four championship courses already in place and a fifth scheduled to open later this summer, the Lake Chelan area in central Washington is quickly emerging as one of the state’s top golf destinations.

Located almost midway between Seattle and Spokane, the region is defined by the Columbia River, which snakes between the massive cliffs on which most of the courses sit.

The courses range from the low-profile Alta Lake Golf Course in Pateros to the high-end Desert Canyon Golf Resort in Orondo and offer a diverse and wonderfully entertaining golfing experience as a modest price.

Adding to the excitement that has gripped the region is the anticipated opening of Golf Club at Bear Mountain Ranch, which is still expected to open this summer despite the slow growing weather conditions experienced this spring.

The new course is going in on the south shore of Lake Chelan on a 6,000-acre ranch owned by Jerry and Mary Pat Scofield. The proposed yardage for the par-72 layout, which will occupy some 210 acres of the ranch, is about 7,200 yards, and there will be views of the lake and surrounding mountains from every hole.

In addition, there will be five sets of tees, making the course playable for golfers of all skill levels.

Jim Oscarson, the head professional at nearby Lake Chelan Golf Course, said his course and others in the area welcome the addition of The Club at Bear Mountain Ranch.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “Being a native of Chelan, I’ve seen plenty of businesses come and go in our town and it’s really neat to see something like Bear Mountain starting to happen.

“The more golf courses, the better off everybody’s going to be. We’ll all share the overflow from other courses, and as the region becomes more of a golf destination, I can see nothing but good things happening for the local economy.”

Following is a look at the four 18-hole courses in the Lake Chelan area.

•Alta Lake Golf Course

Address: Alta Lake Road, Pateros, WA 98846

Phone: (509) 923-2359

Yardage: 6,146

Par: 72

Rating/Slope: 69.5/121

Greens fees: $25 for 18 holes, $15 for 9.

Remarks: The original nine-hole layout was expanded to 18 holes in 1993 and sits on a 215-acre plot that overlooks the confluence of the Columbia and Methow rivers. The two nines different dramatically as far as elevation changes are concerned, with the front playing up and down over a valley and the back across a flat plateau.

The greens are large and receptive, but feature some wild and perplexing undulations that make them as challenging as any in the area. The scenic course has gotten much more play since its expansion, and tee times are recommended

Getting there: Take Highway 2 east to Orondo. Turn right onto Highway 97 and drive to Chelan. From Chelan, head north on Highway 197. Turn left at Highway 153 and drive appromixmately 1.5 miles to Alta Lake Road. Turn left again and follow road to the golf course.

•Lake Chelan Golf Course

See story on previous page.

•Desert Canyon Golf Resort

Address: 114 Brays Road, Orondo, WA 98843

Phone: (800)-258-4173

Yardage: 6,751

Par: 72

Rating/slope: 72.1/135

Greens fees: $89 for 18 on weekends, $79 on weekdays.

Remarks: Consistently rated among the top five courses in the state, this high-end layout that was designed by Jack Frei remains the gem of the region. The course, which opened in 1993, features wonderfully conditioned fairways and greens that overlook the Columbia River.

There is over 200 feet of elevations changes and massive distances between greens and tee boxes, which makes a riding cart – which is included in the greens fees – mandatory. Winds that routinely scour the target-style layout add to its difficulty. And the 690-yard, par-5 sixth holes ranks among the most scenic – and challenging – in the Pacific Northwest.

Getting there: Take Highway 2 east to Orondo. Turn right on Highway 97 and the right again on Brays Road, which leads to the golf course.

•Highlander Golf Club

Address: 2920 8th St. S.E., East Wenatchee, WA 98802

Phone: (509) 884-4653

Yardage: 6,466

Par: 72

Rating/slope: 70.9/125

Greens fees: $54 Fri-Sun, $49 Mon-Thurs.

Remarks: This true links-style course, which opened briefly in 2002 and then again last spring, is built on a cliff that rises dome 900 feet above the Columbia Rivers. It’s treeless landscape makes it a dead ringer for the links-style courses that have made Scotland such a popular golf mecca.

The views are spectacular from nearly every point on the challenging, well-conditioned layout, which can play extremely tough when the winds kick up. In addition, pot bunkers are scattered throughout the course, which features massive greens and rolling fairways framed by fescue grass that can make shots from the rough a nightmare.

Getting there: Take I-90 to Wenatchee/Quincy exit No. 151 and head toward Wenatchee. Drive past the Rock Island dam, turn right on Batterman Road and follow signs to Pangborn Airport. Drive approximately 6 ½ miles and turn left on Union. Drive another mile to 8th Street and turn right.