Broadmoor Golf Course

Lake Washington's water level dropped nine feet when the Montlake Cut was opened in 1917. When the water decreased, new land appeared. Some of this land became the Broadmoor golf course. Since its opening in 1924, the course has hosted many important tournaments, including multiple Seattle Opens and Pac-10 Championships, as well as golf legends such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicolas, and Seattle's very own Fred Couples. 

The Montlake Cut was built to connect Lake Washington and Lake Union, thus creating a new passage for boats to connect the city. When it was finished, the canal not only boosted the economy of the businesses running along the sides of the lake but also helped to stop the flooding of the Duwamish River. However, one other thing was caused by the brand new canal, a nine-foot drop in the Lake Washington water level. This nine-foot drop created much new land surrounding the lake, some of which would become the Broadmoor Golf Course. 

Several years after the lowering of the lake, the Broadmoor Golf Course's construction began. Designed by A. Vernon "Mac" Macan, one of the leading golf course architects of the time, the course would not be finished and opened until 1924. Macan had designed many golf courses before Broadmoor, including the courses Inglewood, Overlake and Fircrest, and many others throughout the Western United States and Canada. Macan designed the course in a classic Woodlands look, with twisting fairways and deep rough on either side defended by towering trees. The course is dotted with many sand traps, and the greens are quick and sloped. Initially, the course's front and back nines were reversed, meaning that golfers used to start on what is now the 10th hole. The now 10th hole also went through extensive renovations when the green was moved to make space for what is not the parking lot. The 10th hole also went through a renovation in 2022 when the fairway was flattened out.

Broadmoor opened on April 16, 1927, when the club president, Sam Hedges, hit the first drive the course had ever seen. Hedges took hit his steel shaft and partially wood head and hit a 220-yard drive right down the center of the fairway. The ball he hit remains in the clubhouse to this day. Opening day followed with many competitions for both men and women, including a long drive. There was also talk of the new $100,000 clubhouse that was underway. It would open just over a year later.

Overall, the course is par 70, playing at 6433 yards from the back. The signature hole is number 18, a long par five that goes towards the clubhouse with Lake Washington wetlands running up the ride side. 

Broadmoor has hosted many significant tournaments and featured many famous players throughout the year, including four Seattle Opens in 1964, 1962, 1961, and 1945. The most notable of which was the 1962 Seattle Open which featured players like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nickolas, and Tony Lema. The tournament was ultimately won by Jack Nickolas, who went on to be arguably the greatest player of all time. Nickolas won the tournament by two strokes ahead of runner-up Tony Lema who shot a 29 on the front on the final day of the tournament in one last effort. 

Broadmoor has also hosted the US Women's Amateur in both 1974 and 1984, the Pac-10 Men's championship in 1979, 1989, and 1999, and most recently, the Pac-10 Women's championship in 2007. Both University of Washington Men's and Women's teams (Members of the now Pac-12) continue to practice on the course.

Other golf greats to have challenged the course are Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Nancy Lopez, Babe Zaharias, Betsy Rawls, and Seattle legend Freddy Couples, who set the course record of 59. 

Fred Couples shot the 11 under course record in 2015 after ending on an amazing stretch where he birdied 13, 15, 16, and eagled 18. Couples was quoted after saying, "I had no idea I was nine under (entering the 18th hole), but it was a really good day. I hit the ball really well, and you don't shoot 59 very often from any tees."

Fred Couples was born in Seattle on October 3, 1959. Couples attended O'Dea Highschool, where he golfed, eventually earning a scholarship to the University of Houston to play golf. After college, he joined the PGA tour, where he won 15 times, including most notably the Masters in 1992. He also became the number one ranked golfer in the world in his career and is now a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. 

HISTORY OF BROADMOOR GOLF CLUB, Broadmoor Golf Club. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://broadmoorgolfclub.com/history/.

Broadmoor Golf Club, Seattle, Wikipedia. March 21st 2021. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broadmoor_Golf_Club,_Seattle.

Hansen, Scott. After shooting 59 at Broadmoor, Fred Couples says game is in good shape for Boeing Classic, Seattle Times. August 20th 2015. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/golf/after-shooting-59-at-broadmoor-fred-couples-says-game-is-in-good-shape-for-boeing-classic-2/.

Ott, Jennifer. Montlake Cut (Seattle), Historylink.org. December 30th 2012. Accessed April 21st 2022. https://www.historylink.org/file /10221.