The Golf Club at Newcastle (Coal Creek Course)

The Golf Club at Newcastle (Coal Creek Course) – Played May 2015

• Rankings: None of the four lists
• Location: 15500 Six Penny Lane, Newcastle, Washington
• Year: 2001
• Architect: Bob Cupp & Fred Couples
• Course Access: Public
• Walking Rules: Carts Available

Score Card Information:

• Tournament: 7,024 yards, Par 72, 74.9 Rating/143 Slope
• Championship: 6,534 yards, Par 72, 72.6 Rating/136 Slope
• Regular: 6,011 yards, Par 72, 70.4 Rating/127 Slope
• Forward: 5,153 yards, Par 72, 71.2 Rating/126 Slope

This was my first round on a big trip to Seattle, Bandon, and Portland.  We were staying with some friends in Seattle.  This meant we had great restaurant recommendations and got to experience the city from a neighborhood standpoint.  We really liked Seattle.  It was incredibly walkable.  The weather cooperated for us and we got to experience much of what the city had to offer.

Located on the outskirts of Seattle, the Coal Creek Course of the Golf Club at Newcastle offers stunning views of the city.  I only got to see a few of these because of some cloudy conditions.  As the skies cleared I was able to catch views of both Seattle and Bellevue.  The complex features 36 holes over 350 acres and a marvelous 44,000 square foot clubhouse.  I didn’t have time to tour the whole clubhouse, but it looked phenomenal from the outside.  I also did not have time to check out the range.  No need to waste all the good shots out there.

I was lucky enough to get paired up with a wonderful father-son twosome who gave me information about the course and showed me the views.  Interestingly enough, the dad was also doing a Top 100 quest of his own.  That made for some very good conversation as the round went along.

We played the Championship tees and all distances reflect that.

Hole 1 – 589 yards – Par 5

We started off with some foggy conditions.  It rained a little the day before so I hit driver.  In some cases when it is dry the ball could run through the fairway.

From this distance it is just a layup.  There is trouble though, so it demands your full attention.

The green has a big ridge in the middle.  Putts from the other side of the ridge can be very difficult.

Hole 2 – 305 yards – Par 4 

This is a short hole by the yardage, but it plays uphill.  You can hit driver here.  Trouble lurks on the left side so favor the right.

The approach shot also plays up the hill.  Make sure to take enough club to carry the front bunker.

Hole 3 – 414 yards – Par 4 

This is a funky tee shot.  You can take it left, but you need a very long drive for that.  I took three wood at the two trees on the other side of the fairway.  I had a manageable distance left.

Here is the approach shot.  There is trouble short and right.  The green is quite large so you can play a little more club.

The photo below gives you an idea of the size of the putting surface.

Hole 4 – 137 yards – Par 3 

The first par three provides a good birdie opportunity.  You do not want to miss left in the bunkers.  Take dead aim with a short iron.

Hole 5 – 514 yards – Par 5 

This hole played long for us!  The shape of the hole calls for a draw.

The second shot, like the tee shot, plays up the hill.  This will most likely be a three shot hole for all but the biggest bombers.

The approach plays to an elevated green.  There is a bunker short that must be avoided.

As you can see from the photo below the green has multiple tiers.  Knowing which tier the flag is on is crucial to hitting your approach shot close.

Hole 6 – 438 yards – Par 4

This hole is straightforward.  It plays a little downhill so go ahead and bust the big stick out there.

This was a cool view.  Seattle and Bellevue are beyond those clouds.

The approach shot plays to a large green guarded by a couple bunkers.  The green is very large and receptive.

The photo below shows the putting surface.  There is a bit of a false front with some serious slope.  As long as you carry that the putt should be flat.

Hole 7 – 389 yards – Par 4

My playing partner let me know that this is the longest sub-400 yard par four you can play.  He was right!  I hit a decent drive, but it just went nowhere.  You can hit all you have on this tee.

The second shot plays much longer than the yardage.  There is a huge false front on this green.  Balls need to be carried at least 10 yards on the green to stay up on the flat section.  You must also avoid the creek in the front and to the immediate right side of the green.

You can see the close proximity of the creek in the shot below.  Once you carry the false front there is still some slope to negotiate on the putts.

Hole 8 – 146 yards – Par 3 

I didn’t get any shots of the eighth itself, but I did capture a nature shot.  This is apparently an awesome view when the clouds are gone.  Even so, it was beautiful.

Hole 9 – 403 yards – Par 4 

This hole played long as well.  You can see the magnificent clubhouse in the distance.  There is not much strategy on this shot.  Pound it out there.

The approach will play a little longer up the hill.

The green is quite large.  There is not too much undulation to deal with here.

Hole 10 – 204 yards – Par 3 

This hole did not play much less than the yardage despite the huge drop.  It is best to favor the right side due to the bunkers and drop off on the left.

The green is very undulating with large humps.  Good distance control from the tee will make the putting easier.

Hole 11 – 522 yards – Par 5 

This is an awkward tee shot.  Shots hit too far right will get hung up in the higher grass.  Anything that goes left will be in rough or down into an adjacent fairway.  If you can hit a fade down the center of the fairway that is the best line.

The second shot is all down the hill.  A draw will play best here as you want to favor the right side of the green.

If you decide to lay up this is what you will face.  With this pin it is a pretty easy shot.

Hole 12 – 166 yards – Par 3 

This hole plays a good bit down the hill.  It still only played about a half club short of the yardage.  The is not a lot of room to miss left on the hill because some more vegetation has grown up there.  My playing partners mentioned you used to be able to bounce it up on the green if you took that line.

Hole 13 – 399 yards – Par 4

As you can see there is a bit of a theme on this course with uphill tee shots.  You can swing away even though this on is a bit blind.

I missed the approach shot, but the green is seen below.  There isn’t too much to it.

Hole 14 – 541 yards – Par 5 

This is a definite three shot hole.  The bunkers are not really in play, but going to the right of them provides a good angle for the second shot.

The approach is long and uphill.  Rip a three wood.

More of the same for the approach shot.  Although it is blind, a well-struck shot should get you a good birdie opportunity.

I couldn’t resist taking another photo of the views.  These were definitely an added bonus to the golf.

Anything on this green should give you a good look at draining a putt.  There isn’t much break.

Hole 15 – 423 yards – Par 4 

I didn’t get a photo of the tee shot here, but it requires driver.  The approach must carry the bunkers on the left.  There is more green on the left than it appears.

As you can see from this view, shots missed right will have to negotiate the rough to get up and down.

Hole 16 – 112 yards – Par 3 

This is a fun little short hole.  There are big bunkers fronting the green.  A good wedge should give you a good look at birdie.

Hole 17 – 475 yards – Par 5 

This can definitely be reached in two.  We had a tougher time due to the wetter conditions.  Per my partners a good line is just over the left edge of the fairway about 15 yards right of the tree on the left.

While you can get home in two, you better be very comfortable with the club you are hitting.  There is trouble all around this green.

You can see here what a great view of the city you would be afforded if the clouds weren’t there.

Here is the view of the green from a third shot distance.  Obviously anything short is in trouble.

Hole 18 – 357 yards – Par 4 

We had some visitors on our way to the 18th tee.  They casually gave us their good side!

The deer must have distracted me from photographing the tee shot.  Our tees were moved up due to some maintenance so the hole played really short.  If memory serves I hit three iron.  Either way, the approach shot is similar to the 9th.  It is uphill over a bunker on the right.

You can see in this photo that the 18th shares a massive green with the 9th a la some of the great links courses overseas.

Coal Creek was a really fun course to play.  There was plenty of challenge, but it doesn’t beat you up.  While it may have been a bit pricey for what you get it was still well worth playing at least once.  As a bonus I played with two great guys who made the day very enjoyable.  I cannot wait to get back to Seattle to continue my Top 100 quest.  I hope to meet up with the guys again for a round and a beer!