Palouse Ridge: New Kid On Washington State University's Campus Expected To Boost Local Economy
After limping along with a substandard nine-hole course for longer than it cares to remember, Washington State University will welcome Palouse Ridge Golf Club, a stellar new addition to the Pullman campus, before classes resume in September.
According to Mel Taylor, WSU’s executive director of real estate and external affairs, “An 18-hole, championship-caliber golf course had long been identified by the university as a premier recreational component that would enhance WSU’s image and standing in the Pac-10.” University executives and city of Pullman officials believe the golf course, expected to rank among the nation’s top college-affiliated clubs, will spark regional growth, boost faculty retention and assist in the recruitment of talented high school golfers.
Palouse Ridge is the most visible element in WSU’s master plan to create a superior undergraduate experience for its students. The $12.3 million complex, which includes a 7,000-square-foot clubhouse and an expansive practice center with tees set aside for WSU’s golf teams and PE classes, was built entirely without state funding. The new layout occupies 315 acres of rolling land east and south of the school’s old nine-hole course.
Dr. Elson S. Floyd, president of Washington State University, is an unabashed fan of the new course. “Palouse Ridge Golf Club will be an outstanding amenity for our students, faculty and staff as well as for returning alumni and other visitors to the Pullman area,” he says. “At Washington State University, we pride ourselves on being world-class, and we are truly delighted to have a golf course that lives up to that standard.”
Taylor confirmed that the school wanted a versatile layout to serve as the home course of the Cougar men’s and women’s golf teams and also accommodate daily-fee play. “We wanted something truly distinctive, a destination course capable of hosting an NCAA championship, but also a course that could be played and enjoyed by recreational golfers at all ability levels.
“Perhaps our most important initiative,” Taylor continues, “was to ensure that the golf course blended into the environment. We didn’t want palm trees in Pullman. We wanted the golf course to be part of the Palouse.”
With that criteria in hand, the school’s search committee interviewed “several big-name designers,” according to Taylor, before deciding on John Harbottle III, the Tacoma-based architect known for his environmentally-sensitive layouts throughout California and the Pacific Northwest.
“Harbottle hit the sweet spot,” Taylor says. “He immediately grasped the fact that the new course and practice facility had implications for the economy, the environment and the university.” The stunning new facility, artfully integrated into the Palouse hills, is expected to serve as an economic driver for the region. The club, which marks the fourth attempt by the school over the past 20 years to increase the quality and capacity of its golf course, will likely draw regional research and business enterprises to Pullman and its environs. Palouse Ridge is also expected to serve as a catalyst for the development of a hotel-conference center on site.
In addition to fulfilling the university’s golf needs, Palouse Ridge will function as a prime recreational outlet for people who choose to work or retire in and around Pullman. Based on nationwide trends, city officials have pointed out for years that college communities are great places to retire. Coupled with easy access to continuing education classes and cultural outlets, the addition of a first-class golf course is expected to help attract and retain retirees. The club has already proven to be a good neighbor: Instructional programs for all ages and skill levels as well as cooperative golf programs with the City of Pullman Recreation Department and the Pullman Junior Golf Association have been established.
While the university anticipates that Palouse Ridge will soon become a magnet for traveling golfers throughout the Pacific Northwest, students, faculty and staff have not been overlooked in the club’s pricing structure. With a weekday (Monday – Thursday) green fee of $26 for students and $39 for faculty/staff, Palouse Ridge offers exceptional value-for-dollar based on the superlative quality of the layout. Area golfers also get a good deal. The weekday rate for residents (i.e., those within a 40-mile radius of the club) is under $50.
“If you put this product near a major or even a mid-sized population center, you could more than double the green fee structure,” Taylor remarked. “We feel as if we’re offering world-class golf at economy rates.”
The spectacular new course, which offers panoramic views of the Palouse hills and distant mountains from several holes, also doubles as a research center for the school’s highly regarded turfgrass program. More than 30 students in this program worked on the construction of the course. Starting this semester, students enrolled in the turfgrass curriculum will use the course as a testing ground and laboratory. Says course superintendent Todd Lupkes, “The students will be exposed to every aspect of every system involving turfgrass maintenance, including the computerized irrigation system.”
Equally thrilled by the arrival of Palouse Ridge is Walt Williams, the long-time coach of the Cougar men’s and women’s golf teams. “Even with a substandard nine-holer and no place to practice, we’ve had a phenomenal program,” he says. “The new course is already helping us quite a bit in the recruitment of top prospects to the school.”
Addressing the formidable challenge posed by Palouse Ridge, Williams believes the layout “is big enough and tough enough from the back tees to give the top players in the country a tussle. It certainly is capable of hosting a national championship. On the other hand, the bogey golfer or beginner can have a good time from the forward tees.”
While most new courses tend to showcase a “signature” hole, Williams says Palouse Ridge has so many first-rate holes it simply isn’t possible to single out just one. Or even two. The strategic nuances at each hole on this brilliantly conceived course are appealing from start to finish.
“Every tournament we’ve played over the past 10 years during my tenure as coach has been contested at someone else’s home course,” Williams says. Under NCAA rules, WSU’s nine-hole course was considered too small to host tournaments. Forced to play home matches at faraway venues during Pac-10 events, the school was perceived to be on the losing end of both revenue and recognition. Palouse Ridge should significantly boost WSU’s stature as a world-class institution.
“Not having a home course on which to host events has long been a deficiency for us,” Williams says. “Starting this fall, it’ll be nice to have a home course—and a home course advantage.”
Golf Course Contact: Bruce Perisho
General Manager, PGA
Palouse Ridge Golf Club
1260 Palouse Ridge Dr.
Pullman, WA 99163
509-335-4342
bperisho@palouseridge.com
Media Contact: Brian McCallen
860-572-7942
mccallenbmc@aol.com
