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CANTERWOOD
Golf & Country Club
PAR 4 427 YARDS
Gig Harbor, WA
253.851.1845
www.canterwoodgcc.com
When the original owner, an Oregon lumberman, wanted to build one of the toughest
golf courses in the country, renowned architect Robert Muir Graves did so—and
then some. Now in its 25th season, Canterwood Golf & Country Club has undergone
more than a few changes, most to make the course more playable for the average
member. But the spirit of Graves' work remains in the form of huge tree stumps that
tell of another time.
The 10th hole begs you to pick a route, either left or right of a stump in the middle of
the fairway—smack in the middle. It doesn't matter so much which route you choose,
although the better players will go left of the stump when the pin placement is on
the right, and vice versa. But no matter what, avoid the stump. The 10th hole is a
strong par 4, and the drive is crucial, as is picking the right tees from which to play
the course. The tee shot is over two small lakes and into a hillside, unless, of course,
you can carry it far enough to get a look at the green. Without an appropriate drive,
the second shot will be blind and more than 200 yards. And daunting. At one point,
in the initial design, there was another tree 50 yards or so beyond the stump. Graves
was asked to look at possible course modifications and, during a round of golf with
club officials, found his ball lodged right behind the second tree. Within a few days,
the tree ended up in someone's fireplace.
A major bunker/tee renovation project was completed in 2007 under the direction of
John Harbottle III. With no need to add length to a course that measured more than
7,300 yards; the course was "shortened" dramatically with a new set of forward tees.
At the same time, trees were removed to promote the growing of better turf, and brush
on the perimeters was removed. The tree at the 10th? It perseveres.
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Photograph courtesy of Canterwood Golf & Country Club
