Sahalee Country Club

Sahalee Country Club's North and East nines form one of two eighteen-hole combinations at this private club in Sammamish, carved from dense Pacific Northwest forest east of Seattle. Ted Robinson designed the original twenty-seven holes, which opened in 1969, routing them through towering Douglas firs, cedars, and hemlocks that create narrow, cathedral-like corridors. Keith Evans later refined the layout, and Rees Jones conducted a significant renovation ahead of the 1998 PGA Championship, which Vijay Singh won in conditions that tested every aspect of the players' games. The North and East combination plays through heavily wooded terrain with minimal elevation change, though the land rolls gently enough to create natural contours and strategic interest. The tree-lined fairways demand accuracy from the tee, and the design emphasizes position over distance. Greens are typically mid-sized and well-bunkered, with subtle breaks that reflect the surrounding topography. Water comes into play on several holes, adding variety to what is primarily a tree-management exercise. The course's character remains distinctly Northwestern: shade, moss, and the constant presence of timber define the playing experience. Sahalee hosted the 1998 PGA Championship and the 2010 U.S. Senior Open, both times presenting a test that favored precision and course management. The club maintains a traditional private membership and operates two distinct eighteens from its twenty-seven holes, with the North/East pairing serving as one of the primary championship configurations.