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SUNCADIA
Prospector Course
PAR 4 410 YARDS
Cle Elum, WA
866.715.5050
www.suncadia.com
Seldom are golf holes breathtaking, as in standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon
or viewing Crater Lake for the first time. Welcome to the 10th tee at Suncadia's
Prospector Course. At first, you don't think too much about decoding the hole, figuring
out if you can indeed fly the bunkers on the left to take a shorter path to the green.
No, you want to record the moment before and after you hit the tee shot, taking in the
colossal Cascade Mountains valley in front of you. In the distance are Mount Baldy,
Domerie Peak, and glimpses of the Tumble Creek course across the Cle Elum River.
Back to the hole, the fairway is 130 feet below the tee. The vantage point suggests
to swing away and not worry where it goes, but the reality is that a decision must
be made. Can you clear the cluster of bunkers left to give you a shorter shot into
the green? Or do you play carefully toward the right and wide-open right side of the
fairway? Usually, the prevailing wind makes the decision. In your face, play safe. At
your back, go for it. Taking the shortcut is usually worth the risk, giving a much better
entrance to the hole. Shots hit right and safe require a second shot that has to flirt with
bunkers right of the green. The hole is nothing but fun, although getting to the green
doesn't suggest that the struggle is over. Putting on the Arnold Palmer-designed
Prospector Course is never without challenge.
Although Suncadia is only 80 miles from Seattle, it is a world away, with more sun
and elevation, and less rain and turmoil. Recreation opportunities abound year-round
and range from river rafting to snowshoeing. Included is another public-access golf
course, Rope Rider. This is a spectacular setting for a spectacular resort.
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Photographs courtesy of Suncadia
