Thoughts on Bear Creek in Woodinville Washington?

MilesRomney · January 5

I'm looking at joining a club on the eastside in the Seattle area. Bear Creek is close to me. Any thoughts or experience with Bear Creek?

Edited January 5 by MilesRomney

kaschreiber · January 6

Played it a couple times as a guest, my observations-

It has a reputation of being very difficult, but as long as you pick the right tees it's fine. It's narrow in spots, so if you're erratic with the driver, wanting to play up where less than driver is a good option
Practice facility is fine, but lacking. There are two practice putting greens, one so small and so sloped it's nearly unusable. The other larger and mostly flat but far from the range / rest of practice area on the other side of the clubhouse.
Staff is great
It's an "ok" course. I put ok in quotes as it's conditioning is still clear it's a private club, there's nothing wrong with it and certainly much worse courses out there, but nothing special / memorable to me personally which is what I would want out of a private membership. If given the option of 5 rounds between BC and say, Inglewood, I'll take 4 at IGC.

Get in contact with their membership coordinator and ask for a prospect round to see what you think of the course.

Inglewood, Aldarra (I know, I know), Sahalee, Snoqualmie Ridge others on the east side I'd consider prior if cost / location aren't prohibitive

truexbeliever · January 9

I’ve been a member for 8 or so years, so lots of thoughts and experiences. I’ll put thoughts below, but DM me if you have any specific questions.

Agree with kaschreiber that it has a reputation as being a difficult course, which I think is mainly deserved. There is a lot of elevation change, a lot of undulation to the greens, and very few flat putts. Course sets up well for playing a draw, with the exception of one or two holes. One of the things I really like about the course is you have to know how to play so many different shots and every club in your bag. It has absolutely made me a better golfer than I was when I joined.

Course is in great shape during the summer, esp after new irrigation system was installed a few years ago. Currently towards the end of a bunker project that will be great when it is done. They are rebuilding / resanding the bunkers and it has taken a really long time to get completed, but they seem to be doing it right. Fairways drain well during the winter, but there are some spots in the rough that become very wet this time of the year. You learn where to avoid in the winter like short left on 2.

A large part of the membership take carts, but you can definitely walk. There are three long up-hill walks from green to tee (4 to 5, 10 to 11, 14 to 15) but I walk 95% of my rounds each year. The guys I play with are pretty quick and we usually walk in around 3:45.

There is a very active men’s club if that’s your thing. In addition to the tournaments you’d expect, there are Wednesday night 9 hole match plays in the summer, “ball drop” $20 buy in games Fri/Sat/Sun, etc.

I’d disagree that the practice facility is lacking. Grass range during the summer. Short game area with a bunker where you can hit shots up to 60ish yards year round. Practice putting green is on the opposite side of the clubhouse from the range, but is on the way to the first tee. The second undulated putting green I mainly use for chipping. We also have a really good teaching pro, although you don’t need to be a member to get lessons with Erin. The driving range can flood during the winter, but what I’ve heard is that’s due to a natural spring under the range and helps control the amount of water that goes into Bear Creek.

Our staff is amazing across the board. From the pro shop to the restaurant to the grounds crew, everyone is awesome. There have been struggles in the past in F&B, but things have turned around over the past couple of years after a remodel of the clubhouse and a change in course ownership. It’s not an equity membership and the move away from American Golf has been great for the club and the membership.

Not sure if it’s relevant for you, but there are a lot of family and couple events both golf and non-golf related.

Is Bear Creek on the same level as Sahalee or Aldarra? No, but it’s also not priced the same as either of them. I also think the course itself is more interesting than Sahalee and know multiple folks who have left Bear Creek for Sahalee only to come back a few years later.