All You Can Eat

The Links at Avalon
The Links at Avalon
THE LINKS AT AVALON

Burlington | avalonlinks.com

Afew years ago, we set our minds to playing as much golf as we could from sun-up to sun-down, and squeezed in an amazing 88 holes. Now, there are only so many places, and certain times of year, that you can make a marathon day like this a reality. You need a facility that’s close to home, allows carts (duh), is easy to get around (long drives between holes will kill your pace of play) and one that has a rate for all-day play, making 88 holes just as affordable as 36, or 54, or however many you plan to fit in.

For us, that place is Avalon. It checks all the boxes — just an hour from the north end, with an all-day rate that’s just $10 more than the standard 18-hole price. At the peak of summer, that means you’ll pay just $65 ($10 more than the peak rate of $55) to play as much golf as you want, from sun-up to sun-down.

It’s also helped by its 27-hole layout. The two most limiting factors in playing as much golf as you can in one day are pace of play, and boredom. With the three distinct nines at Avalon, though, it doesn’t feel like you’re playing the same holes time and time again. Instead, it’s like you’re biting off nine-hole chunks at a time — moving from the tight and tree-lined North, to the shorter and more player-friendly West, to the open and linksy South, each requiring (and rewarding) different skill sets.

It can’t be understated how much that format helps when you’re playing a marathon golf day — thinking of each “round” as just nine holes at a time helps you keep from being overwhelmed, while the differing styles of each nine keeps you mentally sharp. It also helps if you’re struggling with one aspect of your game — if your driver is shaky, you can put it away on the West; if it’s on fire, the South gives you the chance to bomb away. In addition, the starter can place you onto the most open course each time you pass through, keeping your pace of play up and preventing you from being stuck behind a slow foursome for a full 18 holes.

It makes for a fun day you won’t soon forget, and at just $10 more than the standard greens fee at the time you tee off, it’s a deal that’s impossible to pass up.

Suncadia Resort, Prospector Course
Suncadia Resort, Prospector Course
SUNCADIA RESORT

Roslyn | suncadiaresort.com

While many golfers tend to lump Suncadia in with the Central Washington destination courses, the fact is that it’s less than 90 minutes from Seattle — heck, on some days, it probably takes less time to drive from Seattle to Suncadia than it does from Seattle to Tacoma. It’s an understandable misconception, though, because the reality is that when you’re at Suncadia, you feel like you’re a world removed from civilization — and you’re certainly in no mood to go home anytime soon.

We like to start at Prospector, the original of the resort’s two public courses. It’s a little more challenging than Rope Rider, and features a full driving range where we can warm up beforehand, and shake out any rust that accumulated in the car. A mainstay in our rankings of Washington’s top public courses (eighth in 2013, and tied for 10th in 2015), Prospector’s Arnold Palmer design features a number of unforgettable holes (the tee shot at the par-4 10th is quite possibly Washington’s best) and a pace of play at that’s universally quick — we’ve never played a twosome there in more than four hours.

That leaves us plenty of time to hit Rope Rider, just a mile or so down the road, before heading back home. Opened in 2011, Rope Rider is more open than its older sibling and, despite a longer yardage on the scorecard, plays a little shorter, which makes it a favorite of resort guests, families and groups of mixed ability.

What used to be Washington’s best front nine is now the back, with reachable holes at No. 10 and No. 12; one of our favorite par-4s, at No. 15; and a finishing three-hole stretch that wraps around a 100-foot-high pile of coal tailings before returning you to the Swiftwater Cellars winery, which pays tribute to the region’s mining history in its architecture and decor.

So what’s the cost to play 36 holes at a resort featuring two of the top-10 public courses in the state? Hit Prospector before 8 a.m. and you can pay as little as $69 in peak season (or as little as $79 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.), then take advantage of a replay rate that’s as low as $39 to play Rope Rider, and be back at home in time for dinner. That’s what we call money … well … spent.

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