Salish Cliffs Golf Club

Salish Cliffs Golf Club opened in 2011 on land owned by the Squaxin Island Tribe near Shelton, Washington, approximately an hour southwest of Seattle. The course was designed by Gene Bates, a Pacific Northwest architect known for his work throughout the region. The property sits on a dramatic hillside site overlooking the southern reaches of Puget Sound, with significant elevation changes that define the routing and playing experience. The layout moves through dense stands of Douglas fir and features substantial vertical movement, with several holes playing sharply uphill or downhill along the forested slopes. The routing takes advantage of the topography to create a variety of angles and perspectives, and occasional clearings provide views across the water toward the Olympic Mountains. The design incorporates native grasses and naturalized areas that reflect the coastal Pacific Northwest landscape, and the conditioning typically emphasizes firm, fast playing surfaces where the terrain allows. As a tribal enterprise, Salish Cliffs operates as a public facility and serves as an economic development project for the Squaxin Island Tribe. The club includes a full-service lodge and restaurant that incorporate elements of Coast Salish design and culture. The course has hosted regional amateur events and serves both destination visitors and golfers from the greater Puget Sound area seeking a distinctive setting and challenging terrain within reasonable driving distance of Tacoma and Olympia.