TRAILHEAD AT LIBERTY LAKE
Trailhead, formerly known as Valley View Golf Course, stands as the only true executive course in the region and has benefited greatly from the city of Liberty Lake’s decision to purchase the course from Dennis Reger in 2002.
After taking over the nine-hole layout, which stretches just over 2,000 yards but has two sets of tee boxes on each hole to allow golfers to play both a “front” and “back” nine, the city sunk considerable money into improving the conditions of the course and the driving range.
Rough was grown, fairways were more closely mowed and the once-dry man-made pond between the third and seventh holes was filled. Today, with its wonderfully manicured green, Trailhead has emerged as the standard bearer among the Spokane-area’s shorter courses.
“It’s amazing what the city has done,” head professional Mollie Thola said. “They have truly, truly done was needed to do to step it up to be comparable with MeadowWood and Liberty Lake.
“Our greens, right now, are as good as those at the other two courses. They’re rolling awesome.”
In addition to its smooth, fast green, Trailhead offers a wonderful variety of holes that range in length from 114 to 376 yards and give golfers of all skill levels and chance to hit every club in their bags.
The course, like most other shorter layouts in the region, caters primarily to beginners, families and women and features a Family Day every Sunday during which greens fees drop to $5 per person after 3 p.m.
“When I first took over here, you could close up shop at 3 p.m. on Sundays,” Thola recalled. “But now we have families playing out here until dusk.”
The course also features two sets of junior tees, which can play as a par-3 layout for adults. Under that configuration, it measures just over 2,600 yards and, according to Thola, represents “one of the toughest par-3 layouts you’ll ever see.”
Trailhead did close to 20,000 rounds in July, Thola added, making it one of the busiest in the area. And the driving range, which gives golfers the option of hitting off grass or mats – and in heated stalls, as well, if they so desire – has become an equally popular stop.
Another draw is the Palenque Mexican Restaurant, which shares space with Thola’s pro shop and offers the only full-service bar among Liberty Lake’s three courses.
Adult green fees at Trailhead are $10 for nine holes and $5 to play an additional nine. Juniors 18 and under and seniors 60 and over can play nine holes for $7.25 and an additional nine for $4.