Four Itchy Feet

July 31, 2025. Yelm, Washington. Day 71 of 170

Today we played golf at Tahoma Valley Golf & Country Club, a beautiful course established in 1967. The club is located in Yelm, Washington, a city originally inhabited by the Nisqually Indian Tribe and now home to over ten thousand residents.

Yelm’s history is fascinating. It saw its first settlers, like James Longmire, in the mid-1800s, and the Northern Pacific Railroad began service in 1873. After Longmire explored Mount Rainier, he built a wagon road and a guiding station to the future national park, leading to Yelm’s establishment as the “gateway to Mount Rainier” in 1924. Notably, former Yelm teacher Fay Fuller was the first woman to ever ascend to the peak of Mount Rainier.

We arrived at the course and were promptly sent off. On our way to the first tee, Barbara, was invited to join the women’s golf league by some friendly ladies making the turn. We were joined in our round by two locals, Ben and Ryan, who were very nice and gave us plenty of tips on how to play the course.

The course itself isn’t too difficult, as there are no water hazards and I only remember seeing two bunkers, which I managed to avoid. However, it presents a tough start with two back-to-back par fives, leaving you no time to warm up. The third hole is a difficult par four, but if you get through the first three holes unscathed, things get a bit easier. The layout is unique in that it has five par fives instead of the usual four.

The course was in incredible shape, and the greens were immaculate. On our way out, we stopped at the pro shop, and the attendant explained that their new groundskeeper has been working hard on the greens—and it shows! He added that the course was purchased by its current owners last November, and they have been pouring resources into making it a world-class golf course. In my opinion, they’ve already succeeded.

The atmosphere is inviting, the golf shop is well-appointed, and the Bar and Grill offers a wide selection of food and beverages. I highly recommend planning a meal or a drink after your round—you won’t be disappointed.

We had a blast playing at Tahoma Valley Golf & Country Club. It’s about an hour’s drive from Seattle and perhaps 35 minutes from Tacoma, but it’s well worth it to leave the city bustle behind and step into this welcoming city and golf course.