Hole in One! Best Places to Putt & Play in Seattle

Think golf is an activity reserved for vacations? No way. Seattle’s ripe with choices for camps, lessons, putting greens and courses that’ll help your little one take a swing at learning a new sport as well as gain self-confidence and improve his or her interpersonal skills. Whether you’ve got an Olympic hopeful or a Happy Gilmore on your hands, we’ve rounded up the best places where your mini golfer can putt with the pros!

photo: S. Massey

Where to Learn

The First Tee
Fifteen years ago the Seattle chapter of The First Tee was formed. And every year, more than 1,000 kids as young as age five participate in the program at courses all over the city including Seattle, Kent, Bellevue, Carnation and Redmond. Each 1-2 hour session includes about a dozen kids and covers everything from course etiquette to swing techniques. The First Tee supplies clubs, so you won’t need to shell out extra for equipment and you’ll have access to discounted $2 practice days if your little one wants to work on his or her backswing or lob shot between lessons.

206-762-2334
Online: thefirstteeseattle.org/club/scripts/public/public.asp

photo: Jeff Dubois

Interbay Golf Center
The Interbay Golf Center is nestled between Queen Anne and Magnolia and offers two-, three- and five-day golf camps throughout the summer for kids ages 6-16 and a free Junior Clinic from 10 a.m.-11 a.m. every Sunday year-round. There’s also a mini-golf course, two-story driving range and a cafe on the site, so you can swing by, grab a bite and check out the scene.

Pro Tip: All of the Interbay instructors conducting the Junior camps and lessons are PGA pros, so your know your kiddo’s first swing is going to be a good one! There are four additional locations, managed by Premier Golf Centers, LLC, around Seattle, too!

Interbay Golf Center
2501 15th Ave. W.
Seattle, Wa 98119
206-838-4549
Online: premiergc.com/-junior-camps-and-programs

Seattle Golf Instruction
If you think your kiddo can benefit from private lessons, check out Seattle Golf Instruction led by University of Washington Golf Instructor Corey Waggoner. Working with kids as young as five or six when they’re accompanied by a parent, Waggoner recommends that aspiring golfers start with an intro class to see how they take to swinging and putting.

206-328-3164
Online: seattlegolfinstruction.com/contact.htm

photo: bill78704 via flickr

Where to Play

Seattle
Mt. Rainier can be seen peaking over the clouds from the municipal Jefferson Park Golf Course on Beacon Hill, where 8-17 year-olds play FREE after 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. You won’t find many curves or sand traps on the executive course here: the nine holes were designed for beginners and kids.

Jefferson Park Golf Course
4101 Beacon Ave. S.
Seattle, Wa 98108
206-762-4513
Online: premiergc.com/-jefferson-park-golf-course

If you live north of downtown, try Green Lake Pitch & Putt. The quiet nine-hole course can be crowded on busy days, so try to tee off closer to opening to avoid the crowds. If you do have to wait, the kids can kill time and practice putting on the green next to the entrance. Psst… there’s plenty of room for running around to work out the wiggles before teeing off, too.

Green Lake Pitch & Putt
5701 W. Green Lake Way N.
Seattle, Wa 98103
206-632-2280.
Online: seattle.gov/Parks/athletics/golfcrse.htm#green

photo: Peter H. via Yelp

North Seattle
Instead of navigating the 18-hole option at Jackson Park Golf Course near Shoreline, start your little golfers on the nine-hole executive course. It’s full of short fairways, so less distance to walk to the green.

Pro tip: Kids ages 8-17 golf for FREE after 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays with parents in tow.

Jackson Park Golf Course
1100 N.E. 135th St.
Seattle, Wa 98125
206-363-4747
Online: premiergc.com/-jackson-park-golf-course

Eastside
Bellevue’s Crossroads Golf Course is made for beginners: its longest hole is just over 100 yards. It’s safe to bet serious golfers steer clear of the irons-only course, so you can feel free to have fun as a family and don’t have to keep score unless you want to.

15801 N.E. 15th St.
Bellevue, Wa 98008
425-452-4873
Online: bellevuepgc.com/-crossroads-par-3-course
Open: March 1-Oct. 31

photo: Kelly Doscher

Looking for More Putting Fun?

Seattle has a great selection of mini golf courses that run the gamut—from spinning windmills and crazy props to traditional putting greens. Try playing mini golf at Willows Run Miniature Golf Course or the Family Fun Center or hit a bucket of balls at the University of Washington Golf Driving Range. If you can get out of town, make time for a round of glow-in-the-dark putt-putt at Great Wolf Lodge.

Do you have a favorite spot to hit the links with your kids? Tell us in the Comments below.

— Kelly Doscher & Sara Billups