West Seattle History

West Seattle Golf Course steeped in 72 years of history...

1935

Famed architect and accomplished player Henry Chandler Egan lays out the original design for West Seattle Golf Course. Chandler Egan, 2 time US Amateur Champion, served as an apprentice to arguably the most famous architect in all of golf, Alistair Mackenzie.
Other designs by Egan include Eastmoreland, Riverside CC, Tualatin CC, Eugene CC, Oswego Lake CC, Indian Canyon GC and most notably Egan, with Alistair Mackenzie (Designer of Augusta National and Cypress Point), renovated Pebble Beach to the layout that we know today as one of the best courses in the world.

1936

Egan dies from Pneumonia and does not see West Seattle GC to its opening day.

   

 

1937 West Seattle GC is seeded.

1940 May 16th West Seattle GC is officially opened. Sports columnist Royal Brougham was the Master of Ceremonies at the Grand Opening. Mayor Langlie hit the first shot. The third foursome of the day was the featured group of accomplished players that included: Harry Givan, State Champion and Walker Cup Member shot the original course record of 67; Jack Westland, 1952 US Amateur Champion shot 71; Scotty Campbell, Canadian Champion and Walker Cup Member shot 72; and Curly Huston, Jackson Park Golf Professional rounded out the foursome.

1940 In July of that year the nines were reversed as they are seen today. A blind shot on the first hole followed by two par 3’s in the next three holes are to blame for the backup of players.

1941 Ground was broken for the clubhouse.

 

Byron Nelson played an exhibition here in 1951 with a group of accomplished players and Bayview’s own Bob Bruck caddied for the legend when he was 18 years old. 

Host Site of the 1953 USGA National Public Links Championship.

 

One of the most notable matches to be played at West Seattle was in the 1970’s when Fred Couples and Rick Fehr played head to head in the Washington State Junior Match Play Championship. West Seattle is the home of Kermit Zarley (PGA and Senior PGA Tour Member), Jim McLean (famed teacher and author) and David Farnam (6 time Seattle Amateur Champion).

Hosted the Pacific Northwest Golf Association Men’s and Senior Men’s Public Links Championship in1999.

In 2005 the USGA selected WSGC as the host site for a direct qualifier to the National Mid Am Championships.

West Seattle GC has co-hosted the Seattle Amateur for over 20 years.

                        

Course Records – Through maturing and lengthening of the course we have three eras of course records.

   

Historic

 

1940 - 1952

62 Palmer Smith 5930 Yards

 

1953 - 1995

63 Palmer Smith 6105 Yards

   

63 Grant Gribble 6400 Yards

     
   

Modern Competitive

 

1995 -

66 Brian Kim (West Seattle Amateur)

   

66 Kurt Niedermeier (Club Championship)

 

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