The directions from the pro shop were simple and concise as we began our initial round at Meadowmeer Golf and Country Club – turn left; turn left again; yet again, turn left; and finally turn left. This will all make sense as we golf our way around this 9-hole track. This is our fourth stop as we continue our adventure – Golfing the Islands of the Pacific Northwest.
You start with a blind tee shot at Hole #1. This straight par 4 has large trees, houses, and OB left. You can be wild right, but you will be playing from #9 fairway. So what were the instructions again about how to get to Hole #2? These four senior golfers conferred and decided that we think it was, if in doubt turn left. So we hopped in our carts and took the road behind the green to the left; crossed another road; then down through the trees; and low and behold we found #2.
Or you can look at the course design and very clear directions on the scorecard (of course we would need our reading glasses to be able to see this fine map!). As Yogi would say, this hole is deja vu all over again: blind tee shot; hilly; large trees all around; par 4; and PNW beautiful.
It’s a testament to golf architects how they can turn a hole that looks so elementary on the scorecard and turn it into a thought-provoking hole in reality. This is how I viewed the par 4 third hole. A ground ball off the tee will find water; wild left is OB; tree trouble dominates the right; and even the fairway shrinks the farther you hit down the landing area. For a straight par 4, this hole has character!
The fairway at Hole #4 angles slightly to the left and it is framed by huge fir trees on both sides. A definite birdie hole if you find the landing surface with your drive.
There is a lot of meandering through Meadowmeer, but the course is well marked, directing you to the correct tee boxes. What is it we have to remember boys? Left, left, and left again! Hole #5 is a par 4 of 354 yards with a big dogleg to the right. Crazy people (Long-ball Dave) may try to drive up and over the trees to the right, but the prudent play is down the nice wide fairway. You can’t see the green from the tee box at the straight par 4 sixth hole. The fairway is large, but stay down the right side as there is a body of water to the front, left of the green. Speaking of the green, it is crowned so it slopes off on all sides.
This is exactly the type of course you would expect to find on the islands of the Pacific Northwest – green, lush and surrounded by huge fir trees. Hole #7 is the seventh straight par 4 and another short one at 252 yards (white tees). As everyone tries to drive this green, a large bunker and pine tree do their best to block your path. Long-ball Dave defied all odds and missed by one foot his ball settling on the green.
An elevated tee box welcomes you at Hole #8, the first and only par 3 on this beautiful course. The green is encircled with trees and defended by bunkers left and right. At the ninth hole you find the only par 5 of the round. Best advice here is to hit it long and straight, duh! Large trees follow you down this fairway, and two bunkers may block your approach to the green.
Rating – Ace (53 out of 60): Everything is green, and everything is left! The course was in excellent shape; the people were very friendly and helpful (left, left, and left); and the PNW weather was perfect.
Our plan was to make a return visit to another 9-hole course – Port Townsend Golf Course in Port Townsend. However, we spent too much time at Bainbridge Brewery, along with visiting the town of Poulsbo, including Slippery Pig Brewery, before just making the ferry back to Whidbey Island. You can go back in time for the review I wrote about Port Townsend GC – now newly refurbished and renamed Camas Prairie Park.
8530 Ronny Lane NE, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110; 206-842-2218; www.meadowmeergolf.com
