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DESERT CANYON
GOLF RESORT
Desert Nine
PAR 5 690 YARDS
Orondo, WA
509.784.1234
www.desertcanyon.com
Hang on to your hat. Arguably the most photographed hole in eastern Washington,
the celebrated par 5 at Desert Canyon Golf Resort is an epic journey covering more
than 600 yards. Even without the expansive view of the mighty Columbia River below,
the sixth hole on the Desert Nine would be unrivaled.
The drive is from an elevated tee teetering on the edge of the canyon to a restricted
area that suggests—despite its length—that better players hit a three-wood. The
temptation is to keep the drive right, but there is as much trouble right as there is left.
Ahead is a quarter mile to be negotiated with big clubs and big dreams. The third
shot to the green—usually a couple hundred yards long—must avoid a sheer drop
off left and a bunker and collection area right.
It might as well be a par 6, but who is counting? The point is that Desert Canyon is a
wild ride through a massive countryside of orchards and tumbleweeds—the dream
course of the late Jack Frei, who designed and built it after successes on the west
side of the mountains with Bear Creek, Echo Falls, and McCormick Woods. While it
has a links look, the course is more target golf—more like the courses in Arizona—
although Frei made fairways, as in links golf, as wide and forgiving as he could.
Desert Canyon earned the number seven spot in Golfweek magazine's prestigious
ranking of best in the state.
With good on-site lodging, and near other top courses—Alta Lake, Bear Mountain
Ranch, and Gamble Sands—Desert Canyon can prove to be the perfect place for an
extended golf gathering.
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Photograph courtesy of Desert Canyon Golf Resort
