NW Golf Report’s spotlight of Sage Hills Golf Club and RV Resort in Warden, Washington.
On April 23rd, 2023, NW Golf Report’s Sean Packer visited Sage Hills Golf Club and RV Resort for the first time. Sage Hills is located just 15 miles south of Moses Lake, in the heart of the Columbia Basin. Situated amidst the sand and sagebrush sits an oasis of lush green fairways and mature trees.
New Ownership at Sage Hills Golf Club and RV Resort
The property is under the new ownership of Levi Venn. Venn is a Washington native, business owner and golfer who knows his way around a course as a former collegiate player. With a name like Levi, it comes as no surprise that Venn has tackled work at Sage Hills with a blue-collar, hands-on approach. A full clubhouse remodel, a brand new kitchen for The Grill at Sage Hills, freshly installed turf on prior troublesome spots and irrigation updates are just some of the investments Venn has already put into the property in the first four months of 2023.
NW Golf Report’s Day at Sage Hills
NW Golf Report is devoted to covering tournament golf and Sage Hills Golf Club is primed to return to hosting tournament golf in Central Washington. The golf course is playable for all and perfect for a casual round (the course is dog-friendly) during a stay-and-play package. At 6,500 yards (with room to extend some tee boxes for more length), Sage Hills offers more than enough distance to also play host to tournament golf.
NW Golf Report’s Sean Packer found Sage Hills to be in great condition. The turf is strong and healthy. The ball bounced in fairways and coming over Western Washington I found it to be a blast to drive golf carts down each fairway. No puddles or mud balls in the Columbia Basin. Being early in Spring, the course was not yet a vibrant green but as the afternoon sun shined on Sage Hills during my visit, it was obvious the turf will transform into a lush green over the coming weeks.
The course featured 18 smooth-putting surfaces. Cups were freshly cut and balls rolled end over end across greens in stark contrast to the bobbling and bouncing treks putts can take during winter and spring in Seattle. Greens were running at 9 to 9.5 on the stimpmeter. The putting surfaces appear so healthy that I expect the stimpmeter number to only rise as the growing season continues. The fleet of new golf carts enhanced the experience and I squeezed in a fun 30 holes on the day which included taking a lunch break to eat a Boagie Hoagie at The Grill.
Recent Course Upgrades
The crew at Sage Hills has worked to improve troublesome spots on the greens. Newly installed turf sits on corners of greens on holes such as the 3rd and 18th. This spring, ponds on the course are filling up for the first time in memory as the irrigation lines and the main water source reflect the hard work of the course’s crew.
Challenging Holes
Sage Hills has four holes that really pose a challenge to all players. The dogleg left a 407-yard first hole requiring a straight drive and a meticulous approach to a well-framed green. The 8th hole is a long 464-yard par 4 doglegging slightly to the right as it gently rises to the green. The final two holes at Sage Hills present a significant challenge to finish off a good round. The par 3 17th is an uphill 209-yard hole where anything short of the green will have a hard time bouncing up onto the putting surface. Only perfect tee shots are rewarded on the 17th. At 613 yards, the 18th is the course’s longest hole. A fun downhill tee shot presenting an opportunity to hit a player’s longest drive of the day is followed by an uphill second shot and an uphill third shot to a green situated next to the clubhouse. A true three-shot par 5, the 18th tests not only a player’s power but the ability to solidly strike approach shots on uneven lies.
Variety of Shots
The five par 3’s at Sage Hills measure distances of 185, 133, 149, 176 and 209 yards. The par 3’s test all clubs in the bag with wedges and short irons for shots on the 4th and 10th holes while many players may even use a wood to reach the green at the long 17th hole.
RV Resort
The RV Resort at Sage Hills features 51 big rig RV sites perfect for golfers, hunters, fishermen and those just wanting to explore the Columbia Basin. Stay-and-play packages allow for unlimited golf with a cart included.
The Grill at Sage Hills
The Grill at Sage Hills opened on March 31, 2023. A completely new kitchen and a fully rethought menu highlight the experience at the grill. Sightlines have been opened up from the restaurant to allow for enhanced views of the golf course which include watching golfers tackle the course’s sloping ninth green.
More Images from NW Golf Report’s Spring Day at Sage Hills
Explore Sage Hills at sagehillsgolf.com
NW Golf Report would like to thank the new ownership of Sage Hills Golf Club and RV Resort for their partnership. Can’t wait to return and enjoy everything Sage Hills has to offer.
