Lake Spanaway is a majestic golf course carved out of a forest of native firs that truly is a great test of golf. A long straight driver at Lake Spanaway is a great tool to have to lower your scores. The greens are large and the breaks are somewhat subtle at times. This is a challenging, yet fair, golf course for golfers of all levels and ages.

The 18 hole, championship layout Lake Spanaway, designed by legendary A. V. Macan, (who also designed, among others, Fircrest in Tacoma, Broadmoor and Inglewood in Seattle, and Royal Colwood in Victoria), opened in 1967 and is located within a community south of Tacoma in central Pierce County adjacent to Spanaway Lake. Lake Spanaway golf course is owned by Pierce County and managed by KemperSports. Lake Spanaway is a part of the Pierce County golf family including Chambers Bay.

The course has been recognized on a national level and consistently ranks as one of the top courses in the Pacific Northwest. Lake Spanaway was acknowledged with the following: in 1999 the Seattle PI rated it as one of the regions driest golf courses. In 2002, Lake Spanaway’s 15th hole was selected by the Seattle Times as one the top 18 holes in the Puget Sound, with 7 of it’s other holes receiving Honorable Mention or Runner Up recognition as well. In 2003, the Seattle Times referred to Lake Spanaway as one of the “Best Bang for the Buck” courses in the area.

Championship Pedigree:

• 1997 – PNGA Men’s Amateur Public Links Championship
• 1998 – PNGA Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship
• 2003 – USGA U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship – Qualifier
• 2004 – WSGA Men’s Amateur Championship
• 2018 – WSGA Women’s Amateur Championship
• 2018 – WSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship
• 2018 – WSGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship
• 2018 – WSGA Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championship
• 2018 – USGA U.S. Amateur Championship – Sectional Qualifier
• 2019 – WSGA Senior Men’s Amateur Championship
• 2019 – WSGA Super Senior Men’s Amateur Championship
• 2019 – USGA U.S. Amateur Championship – Sectional Qualifier
• 2020 – WSGA Mixed Chapman Championship
• 2021 – WSGA Parent/Child Championship
• 2022 – USGA Women’s Amateur Qualifier
• 2023 USGA Junior Amateur Qualifier

Scorecard

HOLES 1 – 9

The first 9 holes challenge golfers of all abilities to match par. There isn’t a hole, until you get to #9 a mid-length par 5, that will allow you to catch your breath. Watch the par 4’s and par 3’s, they will make or break you on the front side. There are some scoring opportunities on the par 5’s, but these two holes can also reach up and bite you when you least expect it.

This challenging dog leg left opening hole requires a right to left tee shot to set up a mid to long iron approach to a green that slopes back to front. A large, right green side bunker will come into play when the flag stick is on the right 2/3 of the green.

A long straight away that requires a very accurate tee shot, and a second shot that makes the best shot makers really think.

The green has a three-club swing and any shot that doesn’t hold on the left-hand side makes for a very tricky up and down. A great shot makers’ hole from the back tee.

This slight dog leg right, par 4 requires a tee shot that is played to the left side of the fairway. The mid to long iron second is guarded by a grass bunker that runs the entire width of the green on the right side.

Be careful of the “grip it and rip it” attitude as you prepare to hit the tee shot on this relatively short par 5. Right and left are jail and possible bogey. Two huge bunkers guard the front of the gigantic green and require very difficult sand shots.

A downhill par 3 that you do not want to be long on when the flag stick is on the front of the green. With two bunkers front left and right, easy does it on all down hill putts.

Aim right at the giant fir, standing 150 yards from the center of the green. Any ball left or right will leave you a mid to long iron to this long narrow green.

Keep your tee shot down the left-hand side of this long par 4, as the right side is known as bogeyville. The front part of this green is hidden and guarded by a blind bunker front right.

Fly the bunker on the left side of the fairway, and you could be home free. Short of it and you’re playing a three shot par 5 to a heavily guarded green.

HOLES 10-18

The back 9 is as challenging as the front. Skilled shot making is going to be required to make it through the remaining 9 holes in par or better.

This is the “Amen” corner of Lake Spanaway. Play holes 10, 11, and 12 even par or better and you will feel like a King or Queen. Under par and you will feel like you are on top of the world. A straight drive will set up a fairway wood to a relatively generous green. Be careful of the sand bunker on the right hand side of the green.

This hole appears to play longer than it does. A smooth swing with your driver down the left center of the fairway and you are set up perfectly for a mid to short iron approach to a big, generous green.

This dog leg left par 4 is one of the holes at Lake Spanaway that you will remember when your round is finished. Take an extra club on your approach. It is all carry to this huge green protected by two bunkers from left and right.

Play this straight away par 5 as a three shot hole and you are assured a par or birdie. If you go for it in two – a fade off center of the fairway will give you your best lie and approach to this green that slopes back to front, and has a bit more break than you actually see.

This sleeping beauty of a par 3 could be the kiss of death. No the water does not come into play here but more bogeys than birdies are marked on the scorecards. Just because this is the 18th handicap hole doesn’t mean it’s easy.

This is the big giant that has conquered them all. The trees are double bogey trees, not firs. Cut the center of the fairway or play the right side. Those sand bunkers left and subtle hill that rolls away from the green on the right will make you wonder why you didn’t take one or more clubs for your second shot.

Play 16, 17, and 18 even par and you’re in the money. Play 16 down the middle and aim for the middle of the green. This green is second to #6 in three putts.

#17 is the second toughest par 3 on the course. Two giant firs on the left and fairly good size bunker on the right protect this large green. It looks simple, but looks can be deceiving.

A straight drive down the middle of 18 is the biggest gift a golfer can ask for. As you walk up the middle of the fairway, you will notice that the trees do not come in as close as they appear from the tee.