Convenient, playable, challanging, the brutal rough!

peak rates, pace of play on weekends

Disregard what the previous two posters said about this golf complex. Willows Run is great place to play golf. The two 18 hole courses offer every level of golfer a challenging and rewarding golf experience. Both courses are links style and boast some of the most lush fairways in western WA. Eagles Talon has OB left on many holes, and water comes to play on at least 6 holes as well. The bottom line with this, and any links course is PLAY THE BALL DOWN! The rough is what really defines this golf course. If it's been mowed recently, no problem. If it hasn't, you're in big trouble. Weak hitters have a hard time getting out of it with anything other than a lofted 9-SW. The greens are very tricky, undulating, and have improved leaps and bounds over the past 2 years. The black tees that I usually play from are around 6700 yards long. In Seattle, that's long. If you're in the rough and have over 150 yards to the green, good luck. I'm an 8 hcp. and have shot a career best 72 on Coyote Creek, but have also been in the low 90's when the wind is howling. That's the thing I like most about this golf course. It really has a traditional links feel to it. The weekend rates are overpriced, but Willows run offers MANY discounted rates. My favorite is Monday-Thursday before 8AM for only $24. The afternoon rate on weekends also drops to $36. Willows also has an outstanding practice facility, an executive 9, and a putting course.

Customer Service

snobby, wanna' be country club staff can be annoying at times.

Flat links, practice your swing.

price, condition

Pretty much of a hoax. Its convenience is WR's only asset. Don't drive there just to experience it.

The longer course, Eagle's Talon, is poorly designed and a mess from overuse. If you must play WR, choose the shorter course, Coyote Creek - and play from the blacks. It's not as wasted, and has more interesting holes (when compared to ET).

Similar Products Used:

None

Fair twilight rates, fairly easy to get on even in good weather, good fairways

Horrible green conditions, too many short par 4's with hazards 175-200 yards from the tees, lack of character,

Willows Run is a convenient eastside golf center. With the two 18 hole courses it can be very easy to get on after work during the summer. I have played her almost once a week for the past 6 months because it is convenient. Both courses have above average fairways but their green leave much to be desired in 2001. Since the sanding/aerating of the greens they have not come back to shape. They are bumpy, inconsistent (either very hard or soft) and balls just don't seem to check up no matter how much spin you get on them. They are very difficult to putt since they are so poor. Willows is very popular for their twilight rates and for good reason. Weekend rounds during the summer cost over$50 while twilight is a respectable $24. Willows Run is not a $50 per round facility no matter what the conditions are like. Maybe $30 but not $50. They really seem to take advantage of the convenience factor as a means for charging so much for a regular weekend round. I have never paid full price and never will. There are too many courses with more character that I would rather shell out the $50 for. Good place for a twilight round.

Customer Service

customer service is ok

Similar Products Used:

range is ok but balls need to be replaced

36 quality holes; close-in location; above average conditions; challenging target golf. A very easy course to walk.

Water hazards tend to dry up, denying the course some of its character; some holes lack distinction.

Willows Run now has two 18-hole courses that are very popular. It's probably the best close-in public facility on Seattle's Eastside.

Course conditions are above average, and the layout is challenging, with water and wetlands coming into play on many holes. Greens are large, well-conditioned and, with one or two notable exceptions, reasonably contoured.

Willows Run is unique among better Northwest courses in that all 36 holes sit in a flat valley, so there is no elevation change, and trees are not a factor anywhere throughout the course. Instead the course strives for more of a "links" feel, with natural wetlands bordering many fairways and significant mounding giving defintion around the landing areas and greens. (It's a huge stretch to call this a true links course, though.)

Unfortunately, many of the ponds and wetlands dry up completely most of the year, so the character of the course is not quite fully realized. Still, this is probably the most "target golf" experiences you'll find in the Seattle area. You'll need to choose your strategy carefully on each tee and try to play to specific spots on most holes -- there are only a few holes where you can just try to blast it as far as possible down the middle.

If there's a drawback to the course, it's that there is a somewhat boring sense of sameness throughout. In fact, when they opened up the second 18, they mixed the new holes with some of the old holes to re-route the two courses, i.e., the holes are interchangeable. At times it's even hard to find your way around the course because so many of the holes look alike.

Customer Service

This is a very popular course -- even with 36 holes it can be tough to get a tee time, but it's worth the effort.

Similar Products Used:

Decent grass driving range (covered mats in wet weather); condition of the large practice green is inconsistent; chipping green is open only to men's club members; nice restaurant with a great deck; The tiny pro shop always seems too busy trying to service two courses.