Lake Spanaway Golf Course

Lake Spanaway Golf Course sits in the Spanaway area south of Tacoma, Washington, serving as a public facility in Pierce County's network of municipal courses. The design work came from Vernon Macan and Ken Tyson, both Pacific Northwest architects who contributed to the region's mid-century golf development. The course reflects the practical, accessible design philosophy common to public courses built in this era, prioritizing playability for a broad range of golfers while working within the natural topography of the area. The routing occupies relatively level terrain characteristic of the Puget Sound lowlands, with mature tree growth framing many holes. Water features, including the lake that gives the course its name, come into play on several holes and add strategic interest to what is otherwise a straightforward layout. The design emphasizes accuracy over length, with tree-lined fairways that reward position and punish wayward shots. Lake Spanaway functions as a community course, drawing regular play from Tacoma-area residents and serving as an affordable option in a region where golf real estate has grown increasingly expensive. The facility includes practice areas and a clubhouse that supports daily-fee play. The course remains a fixture in the local golf landscape, offering a traditional tree-lined experience without the pretense or price point of private clubs in the greater Tacoma metropolitan area.