Roll on, Columbia Point

This relatively flat layout, which features mounded fairways lined by a variety of ponds, bunkers and trees, was designed by Jim Engh in an effort to appeal to public-course golfers of all skill levels.

It opened in the fall of 1997 on a rolling stretch of terrain near the Columbia River on a site formerly occupied by Sham-Na-Pum, a popular par-66 course that was scrapped to make room for Columbia Point.

Since then, the new layout, which features four sets of tees, has matured nicely and now offers one of the most straightforward and satisfying golf experiences in the area.

Most of the long holes present golfers with a chance to bomb their tee shots in an effort to set up easy approaches. But head professional Joe Creager warns against such strategy in most cases.

“The thing I’ve learned about this golf course is that it really rewards conservative play,” Creager explained. “It’s better to be in the fairway, 20 yards shorter, than have a sidehill lie in the rough.”

In addition, some strategic fairway bunkering can add to the second-shot woes of greedy big hitters.

The front nine at Columbia Point features three par-5s – all of them monsters from the back tees – and plays to a par of 37. Water comes into play on several holes, and most of the greens are huge and fast.

The back nine, which plays to a par of 35 is relatively short and lacks the character of the front. Still, the 18th – a difficult 515-yard par-5 that doglegs sharply to the left and plays to green that is well-protected by a large pond – is a memorable finishing hole that leaves you wanting to play on.