My golfing buddy and YouTube influencer, Armchair Piper, has a saying to describe his most outstanding pipes – Beautious, Megamus, Maximus…that’s Latin, you know! Those three “words” best describe the initial course on our Washington Island Hopping Golf Tour – Tapps Island Golf Course.
You have a great introduction to the course as you roll a few on the putting green. Mount Rainier looms large over the lake. Unfortunately, today it was overcast and the giant hill was nowhere to be seen.
We were playing from the Blue/White combination tee boxes. This is a 9-hole course, however it is expertly laid out if you want to play 18; you would play the blues on the front nine and the whites on the back nine.
Hole #1 is a par 4 of 330 yards with a slight bend to the right. It’s best to keep your tee shot slightly left because there can be tree trouble right. However too far left may find a little water problem. As you approach the green, you see two flags planted in the ground – one has a blue/red combination; one has a white/gold combination. We will only be playing the front nine, so our aim point is the blue/red flag. Another good design for 18-hole play. There are four sets of tee boxes – blue (2725 yards); white (2786); red (2421); gold (2448).
We are only at the second hole and are in love with this track. A 315 yard par 4, but with a pond to carry in front of the green. A layup hole of about 200 yards for most of our group. Your aim point is the bridge to the right of the large, strategically-placed fairway tree. Of course, Long-ball Dave decided to go for it and had his ball land and somehow stay on the middle of the bridge. Good luck with the second shot!
The course is in a private community, but it is open for public play. There are houses all around but so far none are really in play for our wild shots. The only challenge at the par 3 third hole is the water, bridge, and enormous bunker you have to carry to reach the green. Because of the two flag setup, the greens are large!
Hole #4 is a modest dogleg to the right and another very interesting hole. It’s a par 4 over water and uphill, and depending on how long (short) your tee shot is, your approach shot is to an elevated blind green. There is a large fairway tree that will block a few approach shots, so stay to the right of it.
There is water lurking about where my drive may roll to at Hole #5. It’s the only par 5 on the course, so it is decision time. Not for me, I’ll lay up, but for Long-ball Dave and any players who want to go long, this is a risk/reward hole. For most of us, the second shot is over water and uphill to a green protected by trees and a front, right bunker. So far the first five holes have water in play, so bring plenty of balls.
If you can’t hit a straight ball, trouble is forthcoming at Hole #6. Too far left is OB and maybe through a house window; too far right is not much better as large trees will block your path to the green, but you will have more money in your wallet. Oh, and by the way, any topped shot off the tee will find water. The par 3 seventh hole is probably the easiest on the course. If you can avoid the large front bunker and find the correct tier on the green, it’s a good birdie chance.
Hole #8 has a blind tee shot, and the landing area to the left will give you a better look at the green at this par 4. Large trees down the right will be an annoyance if you play that way. Your tee shot at Hole #9 is best down the right side as the green will be off to the left. But of course the farther right you go, the more chance you will have to carry the pond that is to the front, right of the putting surface. The green slopes from left to right and back to front which leads to the water. Would you expect anything else from a finishing hole?
Rating – Ace (56 out of 60): Beautious, Megamus, Maximus pretty much sums it up. Every hole is a scenic wonderland. The course was in excellent shape, and the routing and setup is outstanding. The staff was very professional and attentive to my initial email correspondence. There is a restaurant, but no driving range on site. All you need to know is after this round I was ready to go house-hunting and move back to the PNW! The only negative is they need to be able to control the weather so I can view Mt. Rainier!
20818 Island Parkway E., Lake Tapps, WA 98391; 253-862-7011; www.tappsisland.net
