
Sun Willows Course
Sun Willows Golf Course

About this course
Sun Willows Golf Course sits in Pasco, the largest city in Washington's Tri-Cities region, where the Columbia and Snake Rivers converge in the semi-arid Columbia Basin. Designed by Robert Muir Graves and opened in 1966, the course represents the architect's work during a period when he was establishing municipal and daily-fee layouts throughout the Pacific Northwest and California. Graves, who trained under Alister MacKenzie and practiced extensively in Northern California, brought his understanding of strategic design to public golf facilities that needed to serve a wide range of players. The layout occupies relatively flat terrain characteristic of the Columbia Plateau, with the design relying on strategic bunkering, water features, and mature tree plantings to define holes and create interest in the absence of significant elevation change. The course plays through an irrigated landscape that contrasts sharply with the surrounding desert environment, a common feature of golf in this part of Washington where water management and maintenance practices differ considerably from courses in wetter climates west of the Cascade Range. Sun Willows serves as Pasco's primary municipal golf facility and functions as an accessible option for local golfers in a region where public course options are limited. The course reflects the mid-century approach to public golf design, emphasizing playability and maintenance efficiency while providing a straightforward test that accommodates daily play from residents and visitors exploring the Tri-Cities area.
Quick facts
- Location
- Pasco, WA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1960
- Designer
- Robert Muir Graves
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,740 yards
Getting there
The journey to Sun Willows Golf Course begins at Tri-Cities Airport in Pasco itself, making this one of the rare municipal gems accessible within minutes of touchdown. For those driving from Seattle or Portland, the route east crosses the Cascade Range before descending into the Columbia Basin's high desert expanse - a striking transition from evergreen forests to wide-open sagebrush country and irrigated farmland. The final approach follows the Columbia River's broad sweep into Pasco, where Sun Willows sits tucked along the waterway's edge, its tree-lined fairways a verdant contrast to the surrounding arid plateau.

FAQ
Common questions about Sun Willows
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Sun Willows was designed by Robert Muir Graves.
Yes. Sun Willows is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Sun Willows is 72.
Sun Willows plays 6,740 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
Sun Willows is a 18-hole course.



