Sun Country Golf Course Cle Elum Wa
Sun Country Golf Course in Cle Elum, Washington, is the kind of place where you can show up in jeans, rent clubs that have seen things, and still have a blast. It’s not August...
Sun Country Golf Course in Cle Elum, Washington, is the kind of place where you can show up in jeans, rent clubs that have seen things, and still have a blast. It’s not Augusta National. It’s better—if your idea of better involves not spending your mortgage payment on a green fee.
Cle Elum sits about 80 miles east of Seattle, just off I-90, in a valley that smells like pine trees and campfire. The course is tucked into the Cascade foothills, so the views are gorgeous and the wind is... creative.
If you slice a ball into the trees, don’t panic. You’re just visiting the local wildlife.
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A hidden gem with a sense of humor
Sun Country is an 18-hole public course, par 72, playing around 6,500 yards from the back tees. That’s long enough to feel like a real golf course, but short enough that you won’t need a Sherpa.
It opened back in 1965, which means it’s older than most of your golf idols and definitely older than your driver. The layout rolls through mature trees, with enough water and sand to keep things interesting.
It’s a classic mom-and-pop operation: friendly, affordable, and refreshingly free of polo-shirt dress codes. You might see a guy in a hoodie, a kid in sneakers, and a retiree with a pipe all on the same tee sheet.
What makes it fun
The course sits at about 1,900 feet elevation, so your ball flies a little farther than at sea level. That 150-yard shot might sail 155, which is great—until you realize you just hit it into the hazard you thought you couldn’t reach.
Sun Country is known for its relaxed pace. You won’t get yelled at for wearing a tank top, and you won’t wait 20 minutes on every tee. It’s the anti-country-club.
The greens are smallish and tricky, the fairways are tree-lined, and the rough can eat a ball like a Labrador eats a hot dog. But the price is right, and the vibe is even better.
Sun Country Golf Resort - Cle Elum, WA
The course is walkable, which is great for your Fitbit and terrible for your ego when you realize you’re tired by hole six.
Weather that keeps you guessing
Cle Elum sits in the rain shadow of the Cascades, so it gets less rain than Seattle. That’s a win for golf, even if the weather still changes faster than a politician’s promise.
You might tee off in sunshine, putt in a drizzle, and finish in a hailstorm—all within nine holes. Bring layers, a towel, and a sense of humor.
And maybe bring a spare ball or six, because the deer, elk, and magpies have no respect for your golf game.
Wildlife as unofficial marshals
The course isn’t fenced off from the surrounding forest, so you’ll often see deer grazing on the fairways. They act like they own the place, and honestly, they might.
Elk have been known to wander through, too, which adds a certain “Jurassic Park” tension to your backswing. Just remember: you can’t take a drop from a moose.
If a magpie steals your ball, that’s just the local rule. Play it where it lies—or where it flies.
Sun Country Golf Resort - Cle Elum, WA
The 19th hole and beyond
After your round, the clubhouse offers basic grub and cold drinks. It’s not a Michelin-star situation, but a burger and a beer taste pretty great after you’ve just three-putted four times.
The course is attached to an RV park, so you can roll in, play 36 holes, and sleep it off without driving anywhere. That’s what I call a stay-and-play.
Cle Elum also has a few breweries, a historic downtown, and the Palouse to Cascades Trail if you want to pretend you’ll hike after golf.
Why you should play it
Sun Country isn’t trying to be fancy. It’s trying to be fun, affordable, and friendly. And it succeeds on all three counts.
If you’re a scratch golfer, you’ll find enough challenge to keep you honest. If you’re a beginner, you won’t feel like an intruder. If you’re just there for the scenery and the beer, nobody will judge you.
Compare it to Suncadia, the luxury resort just down the road, where green fees can make your eyes water. Sun Country is the blue-collar cousin who’s more fun at parties.
So next time you’re driving over Snoqualmie Pass and see the Cle Elum exit, do yourself a favor. Pull off, grab your clubs, and play a round at Sun Country. Your wallet will thank you; your ego might not, but that’s golf.
