Par for the Palouse: Elite Public Golfing in Moscow & Pullman

U of I Visual Productions

The fertile countryside of the Palouse region, which includes Moscow, Idaho, and Pullman, Washington, is celebrated for its unique beauty and prolific crop production.

But it’s also prized by bikers, hikers and even outdoor athletes aiming for birdies and eagles.

“The Palouse is an outstanding destination for golfers, with a strong concentration of highquality courses,” says Michael Wagner, head pro at Moscow’s Vandal Golf Course, an 18-hole public course owned and operated by the University of Idaho. “The landscape is defined by sweeping, rolling hills that appear green or gold depending on the season, and the terrain creates constant elevation changes, with flat lines being the exception rather than the norm.”

History in Moscow

Vandal Golf Course opened in 1936 and was built in part to provide employment during the Great Depression, Wagner says. In 2018, the university made significant improvements to bring the facility to collegiate standards, and today, it’s considered one of the region’s premier golf courses.

“What I enjoy most is how tight and demanding the layout is,” Wagner says. “It rewards good golf and penalizes mistakes immediately, keeping you focused throughout the round.”

Vandal Golf Course features a restaurant, bar and an indoor golf simulator. And as the home course for the University of Idaho men’s and women’s golf teams, the facility takes instruction very seriously. In addition to private lessons for golfers of all skill levels, Operation 36, a method that teaches golf in reverse, is a big deal.

“We have one of the leading Operation 36 player development programs in the country,” Wagner says. As an Operation 36 Master Coach, Wagner’s work has been recognized by Golf Digest as Best in State. He also won the
2023 Player Development Award from the regional PGA section.

Pullman Play

From Moscow, it’s a 15-minute drive to another exceptional course in the region, Palouse Ridge Golf Club in Pullman. This public 18-hole championship facility is owned by Washington State University and home to the Cougar men’s and women’s college golf teams. So, while Palouse Ridge has similarities to Vandal Golf Course, it’s also much newer with a contrasting design.

“The course opened in 2008, and it has an inland link style feel, meaning it’s not seaside true,” says Jeremy Wexler, Palouse Ridge’s director of golf. “The course is stamped into the rolling hills. It’s wide open without many trees. It hits all skill-set levels, and it’s a great tournament course, particularly when it comes to the finish.”

Palouse Ridge has a restaurant and bar and offers lessons.

“We do a lot of events and tournaments,” Wexler says. “The course sits up high with panoramic views of Oregon’s Blue Mountains and Idaho’s Moscow Mountain and Paradise Ridge. It’s just a really picturesque place to play.”

Palouse Ridge Golf Club

More Options

Golfing on the Palouse generally runs from mid-March to mid November. In the offseason, Airway Hills Golf Center has simulators and winter leagues to keep swings from getting rusty.

“It’s a good place to go in inclement weather,” Wexler says.

There’s also a 350-yard driving range, a short par 3 course with artificial greens and 36 holes of mini golf. “It’s a great spot for families who don’t necessarily want to be out on the golf course,” Wagner says.

And though it’s private, The Elks, the fraternal service organization, has a golf course on the Palouse worth mentioning.

“Moscow Elks Lodge No. 249 is a fun nine-hole track,” Wexler says. “It has some doglegs, and it’s a tighter course with a little bit of elevation and trees.”

The Elks Golf Course is important to the local community because it provides a dedicated social hub for its members. “It offers a quieter, more exclusive environment than the public university courses,” Wagner says.

Both Wagner and Wexler have been playing golf for a good chunk of their lives.

“One of the things that I love is you can take up golf at any age, leave it and come back,” Wexler says. And the Palouse provides the ideal backdrop for this enduring passion.

“Golf is a great way to get outdoors, and it’s an excellent low-impact workout if you walk the course,” Wagner says. “It’s a lifelong pursuit that constantly offers something new to learn.”