Built in 1931, the Highland Golf Course in Cosmopolis is the oldest golf course in Grays Harbor County. What started out as a nine-hole course became 18 holes with the addition of the new front nine, built in the early 1990s.
This straightforward golf course is perfect for those looking to refine their skills on the links or learn to play. To warm up before your round, a driving range and putting green await you. With a par of just 70 and a total distance of 6,112 yards, the course’s 18 holes run parallel to each other, separated by enough trees to keep the majority of your shanked shots on your own hole. The front nine, which is the new addition, is designed to be more modern. With larger, more undulated greens and two par 5 holes, as well as three par 3 holes, the 35 par front nine has fairways are on the narrow side and very few obstacles. Don’t construe the simple layout as easy though, as the often over-saturated and sometimes under-saturated fairways can get those bogeys adding up.
The back nine of the Highland Golf Course is the older, more historical side. Built in 1931, before the modern style of courses and mainstream appeal of golf, the back nine has smaller, flatter greens. Combined with the narrow fairways and trees, the back nine can prove to be challenging for linksmen more used to the newer style of courses. With just one par 5 and 2 par 3s, the final nine holes of Highland can once again be bogey-inducing.
The most iconic hole on the course is the 16th hole, which used to be the 9th hole when the course was only 9 holes. Teeing off over a 100-yard canyon, the fairway leads you toward not only the clubhouse but also the 10,000 square foot Cooney Mansion. Built in 1908, this mansion has seen its fair share of golf.
Around 25,000 rounds of golf are played at the Highland Golf Course, keeping it busy enough to require an early morning, weekend tee time. With just two bunkers over 18 holes and no permanent water hazards, golfing here is a perfect way to spend a day in Cosmopolis.