Short drive for golfers’ quick fix

MOSES LAKE – Open year-round, with the exception of an occasional winter snow day, The Links at Moses Pointe continues to draw large numbers of golfers from the Spokane area – especially in the early spring when the wintry weather on the eastern-most part of the state has yet to change.

But this particular spring has witnessed a dramatic increase in Spokane-area traffic as snowbound fanatics search out cures for cabin fever in the more hospitable climate of central Washington.

“We’ve definitely seen a lot more Spokane golfers this spring, because of the courses being closed over there,” said The Links at Moses Pointe’s Director of Golf Bill Porter. “There have been a couple of weekends where we’ve had 100 or so players from Spokane come through.”

But what has pleased Porter even more is the way golfers from across the state have flocked to his course through the summer and fall months, as well – the result, he presumes, of the ongoing renovation and upgrade of the challenging and scenic 7,549-yard layout located on a high point of rolling terrain on the west side of the Moses Lake.

“It seems like every year we’ve getting more and more play from Spokane and the rest of the state during the shoulder (Apr. 4-Oct. 19), as well as early in the year and late in the year,” Porter said. “And that’s impressive – especially from Spokane, because I’ve always thought Spokane is the best golf city in America because of all the great public courses they have over there, and how reasonably priced they are.

“We’re finding that a lot more people from Spokane are planning golf trips here, even during the summer months.”

Numerous motels in the area offer stay-and-play packages, and the course also features one of the region’s most popular dining establishments in The Steakhouse at Moses Pointe, which is located in the clubhouse and offers a wide variety of steak, seafood, pork, poultry and pasta entrees, along with an Apple Gillette desert dish that was recently added to the menu.