Pierce County Golf Guide 2026: The best public courses for every budget
If you’re a casual golfer in Tacoma or Pierce County, chances are you’ve played Allenmore and Meadow Park. Maybe you’ve splurged at some point and played Chambers Bay.
Looking to branch out and hit some new tracks this summer? I’ve got you covered with some recommendations. This is The News Tribune’s 2026 Pierce County Golf Guide.
THE CRITERIA
To keep the list from getting too bloated, I’m limiting this list to courses within Pierce County rather than the entire South Sound, though it’s worth noting there are some great courses a short distance away in nearby counties (we’re looking at you, Gold Mountain in Kitsap County).
I’m also limiting the list to public courses, despite my personal fondness of Fircrest.
There are several factors I could consider when recommending courses, but I think the two that are most important to most golfers are A) the quality of the course and B) bang for your buck, especially in this economy. Those are the two things I’ll weigh for this list.
THE ELITE COURSES
Chambers Bay Golf Course (University Place)
This list wouldn’t be complete without Chambers, home of the 2015 U.S. Open. The course, which features panoramic views of Puget Sound, is a championship level course and challenge. The British links-style course, which is owned by Pierce County, is around 7,500 yards and with no carts allowed, can be a workout on a hot day. Chambers is a legitimate, hilly challenge with some epic bunkers. It’s not cheap to play (non-residents pay upwards of $300 in July and August, but the value is exceptional for Pierce County residents, who can play the course for around $200 during the summer months, and under $150 at other times of the year.
Quality: 10
Value: 8
Overall score: 9
The Home Course (DuPont)
Tucked into the residential part of DuPont, The Home Course has a lot going for it: pristine landscaping, scenic views, challenging holes, wide-open fairways and undulating greens. The course has hosted a number of championship events, most recently the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The varying tee boxes make the course as approachable or challenging as players wish. The value is good, too — there aren’t many courses of this caliber that can be played for under $100. The biggest challenge is securing a tee time; they often fill out weeks in advance.
Quality: 9
Value: 8
Overall: 8.5
MID-TIER GEMS
Eagle’s Pride Golf Course (DuPont)
This is my go-to value course in Pierce County. Located next to I-5, the 27-hole course is owned and operated by Joint Base Lewis-McChord but is open to civilians. Active duty and retired military can golf here for under $40, but even for civilians, it’s a great value at just under $50 for 18 holes (Mon-Fri). The course has some of the best junior rates around, too, at $13 for kids all the way through high school. The course is long, challenging, varied and is kept in good shape year-round. The greens and bunkers aren’t perfect like some of the area’s pricier courses, but they’re good enough. My favorite hole is the 18th: a 590-yard Par 5. This is the best bang-for-your-buck course in Pierce County.
Also worth checking out: Whispering Firs (located inside JBLM) is also open to the public and offers similarly great value, but it’s a little more challenging to access and play. Golfers without military or DOD ID need to secure a day pass at the visitor’s center by bringing an enhanced driver’s license, passport or other form or ID that conforms to the REAL ID Act.
Quality: 7
Value: 9
Overall: 8
The Classic Golf Club (Spanaway)
Another short drive from Tacoma, The Classic offers a good variety of different holes and layouts with some doglegs and elevation changes. The fairways and greens are consistently in good shape. Morning weekday tee times in July are $55, offering solid value for the course, which is located near Bethel High School, quickly accessible for residents of Spanaway, Graham and South Hill.
Quality: 7
Value: 7
Overall: 7
Oakbrook Golf Club (Lakewood)
Tucked away in a peaceful Lakewood neighborhood, this easily-walkable course has some of the fastest, most perfectly-manicured greens in the area. With all the houses lining the course, it’s a bit redundant from a scenery perspective, and some other courses offer better single-round value, but Oakbrook has some challenging holes and tricky bunkers to navigate and will punish golfers who are erratic off the tee. It’s worth noting that while some courses offer better single-round value, Oakbrook’s memberships offer exceptional value, with an unlimited Golf + Range membership currently $280/month and an unlimited Golf + Range membership to both Oakbrook and The Classic (Spanaway) at $322/month.
Quality: 7
Value: 6
Overall: 6.5
BACK NINE NOTES
- If you’re looking for the best practice range, Meadow Park in Tacoma offers covered bays for year-round practice, as well as generous putting and chipping greens. The course, owned and operated by Parks Tacoma, is also beginner and kid friendly, with a short 9-hole course called the “Williams Nine.”
- If you’re a northeast Tacoma resident, Cedar Irons Golf Club (formerly North Shore) recently underwent a significant $7.5 million renovation, making several improvements to the entire course, notably on the front nine. It remains one of the pricier options, though.
- Lake Spanaway Golf Course is another solid bang-for-your-buck option with morning rounds under $50.
- Want a quick evening round? Highlands, in Tacoma’s west end near the Tacoma Narrows, offers affordable rounds for its 9-hole, Par 3 course.
This story was originally published July 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Pierce County Golf Guide 2026: The best public courses for every budget."
