Golfing Near Scenic Yakima Canyon

One of the country’s most scenic stretches of road snakes for 18 miles along the Yakima River in central Washington. Designated a state scenic route, it connects the towns of Ellensburg and Yakima, and is a perfect alternative to nearby Interstate 82.

Officially known at State Highway 821, Yakima Canyon Road was immortalized in photos by Ansel Adams back in the 1930s. Looking at his photos today, three-quarters of a century later, you can see that not much has changed in the area’s appearance.

Yakima Canyon Road follows the Yakima River as it slices between basalt cliffs in a narrow gorge with rock ridges rising toward the heavens. Depending on the time of year and time of day, the basalt rock colors will change, enhanced by shadows, sun and clouds. It’s easy to see why Ansel Adam’s spent several hours climbing a hill to capture the essence of Yakima Canyon Road for posterity.

Camping Cheap
Having driven this road dozens of times, I never tire of its ever-changing beauty. And, I always carry my binoculars.

In addition to offering visitors a breathtaking view of flora and fauna, Yakima Canyon Road is a great place to park an RV. There are four rustic campgrounds along the river, compliments of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The price is right, too. Camping fees are $2 a night or $15 for a yearly pass.

Travelers will find welcome signs for the following BLM rec sites: Umtanum, Lmuma, Big Pines and Roza. Each has adequate parking and access to the river. At Umtanum, you will find a well-maintained footbridge; it’s the only access in the canyon to the other side. Be on the lookout for bighorn sheep, as well as elk, bear, deer, coyotes and bald eagles.

Golf Options
And speaking of eagles, if golf is in your plans, Yakima Canyon Road is a great place to park an RV for a day or two while checking out the links options in Ellensburg and Yakima. In Ellensburg, you’ll find two courses: Reecer Creek Golf Course and Ellensburg Golf Club. Reecer Creek, a rather short 18-hole course at 3,783 yards, is also a little noisy because of its proximity to Interstate 90. It’s still a decent course to practice your irons and chipping game. There’s also a driving range and a practice green for putting.

A little farther north is a nine-hole course that’s been around for years: The Ellensburg Golf Club originally opened in the 1920s as the Willowwood Golf Club. It’s very scenic, has a few challenging holes, and measures just over 3,000 yards.

Yakima Courses
In Yakima and its surrounding communities, five public courses are available: River Ridge Golf Course, Suntides Golf Course, Apple Tree Golf Resort, Westwood West Golf Course and Fisher Park Golf Course. River Ridge Golf Course, a newer nine- hole course with several picturesque and challenging holes, is accented by a great clubhouse. The burl wood bar and good food are attractions for those just wishing to relax and enjoy the scenery; there’s a good view of the ninth hole, too.

Suntides Golf Course scores an ace for also doubling as an RV park. This 18-hole, par 70 measures 5,941 yards. Other features include a driving range and putting green, as well as a lounge and snack bar.

Apple Tree Golf Resort has a claim to fame in its elevated 17th tee where golfers shoot down to an apple-shaped island green sitting in the middle of a lake. And, having played this course twice, I proudly report that I’m two for two in hitting the green. (Yes, on the first shot!) Apple Tree measures 6,618 yards and is a par 72.

Westwood West Golf Course, though only nine holes, is a picturesque and challenging par 35. At 2,689 yards, its additional amenities include a driving range, putting green and snack bar.

Last on the Yakima golf list is Fisher Park Golf Course. At nine holes and a par 27, Fisher Park measures 1,354 yards. Like Reecer Creek, this too is a great course to practice your short game.

The 19th Hole (and a few chip shots)
Latest statistics reveal the United States has an estimated 27 million golfers. Of those, the Chicago metro area leads the country in avid golfers with 193,136, according to Golf World magazine. Other metro areas with large numbers of golfers include Los Angeles-Long Beach, 123,669; Detroit, 114,282; Washington, D.C., 113,381; Philadelphia, 112,556; Minneapolis-St. Paul, 94,656; New York, 93,528; Atlanta, 93,395; Phoenix-Mesa, 89,452, and Boston, 85,663. In the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle-Everett-Bellevue area has an estimated 60,913 golfers, while the greater Portland, Oregon/Vancouver, Washington, area has 43,810.

Of the nation’s nearly 7 million women golfers, California reports the largest number with 140,035. The Golden State is followed by Florida with 95,567; New York, 64,869; Texas, 60,634, and Illinois, 57,628. Washington State has 27,656, and Oregon has 16,580.

And finally, for those of you wondering what this new Washington slogan, “SayWa,” is all about, here’s the scoop. The mindless “SayWa” slogan recently supplanted “Experience Washington” as the state’s official branding motto. Considering that most Washingtonians have no clue what SayWa means, let alone an appreciation for its supposed cleverness, the state tourism board should seriously re-think its mission. After a half million bucks and 18 months spent in creative mode, SayWa is the sad result. Hopefully, visitors will overlook this obtuse attempt at trendy creativity and continue, nevertheless, to visit Washington for its many splendid offerings.

Rick Stedman is an avid RVer, golfer and writer who lives in Yakima, Washington. He can be reached at rick.stedman@charter.net