Meadow Park Golf Course is a 27-hole golf course situated at 7108 Lakewood Drive West in Tacoma, Washington, operated by Parks Tacoma. The course features an 18-hole Championship course with a par of 71 and 6,164 yards and a nine-hole executive course known as the Williams Nine. For an 18-hole round reserved online, the cost of green fees on a weekday is $44, while juniors play for only $22 daily.
It was founded on November 14, 1915, and hence, it is the oldest golf course in Tacoma which is open for the general public to play on. It has been performing that task for over a hundred years now.
What to know before you go
These are the details that decide whether your visit goes smoothly.
| The practical question | The answer at Meadow Park |
|---|---|
| Where it is | 7108 Lakewood Drive West, Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County |
| Who runs it | Parks Tacoma, the city park district, which bought the course in 1961 |
| How many holes | 27 in total, an 18-hole Championship course plus the nine-hole Williams Nine |
| What a round costs | $44 online on a weekday, $47 at the counter, and $22 for juniors |
| How to book | Online up to two weeks ahead, which is also the cheapest way |
| Phone | 253-473-3033 |
| Catches you should know | The course does not take cash, and carts are first come, first served |
| Who it suits | Beginners, juniors, seniors and anyone who wants a real round under $50 |
Older than nearly every public course in the state
The opening year is clearly stated and should be noted: November 14, 1915. John Ball drew up the original nine holes, and Meadow Park was the first course opened to the public in Tacoma.
There is no doubt that you’ll find 1917 to be the opening year in several golf course websites. However, the history provided by the parks district itself states 1915 as the year of the opening of the original nine holes. Hence, either way, the golf course predated everything else that was available to the public.
The golf course remained privately owned for its first few decades. Parks Tacoma took possession of the property in 1961, one year following the destruction of the original clubhouse by a fire. It was replaced by the combination of army barracks; this was an obvious statement about municipal budgeting in American golf.
That history explains the course you play today. This was never a resort layout or a real estate project. It was built to give a city somewhere to play, and the pricing has never drifted from that.
Two courses on one site
Most people searching for this course do not realize there are two of them, and the smaller one is the reason a lot of families come here.
| Which course | Par | Length | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship 18 | 71 | About 6,164 yards from the back | The full round, with five tee sets down to 3,852 yards |
| Williams Nine | 30 | 1,631 yards from the back | An executive layout of six par 3s and three short par 4s |
Williams Nine is truly a short course. Its longest hole is 277 yards, while three holes are less than 155 yards. This way, it becomes one of the best courses in the South Sound to take your kids or beginners to the green course without turning their games into torture.
Also, Williams Nine is a site where you can play footgolf, which costs $18.50 for a round. If it is something you have never heard of before, the game is just like it sounds – soccer ball, the same holes, and a wide cup to fit it.
What it costs to play
These are the April through September rates published by Parks Tacoma, and the pattern running through all of them is that booking online is cheaper than turning up.
| What you are booking | Weekday | Weekend | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 holes, booked online | $44 | $47 | The cheapest way to play the full course |
| 18 holes, at the counter | $47 | $50 | You pay a few dollars for not planning ahead |
| 9 holes on the Championship | $28 online | $28 online | Counter rates run $30 weekday and $33 weekend |
| Junior rate, 18 holes | $22 | $22 | Flat all week, which is unusually generous |
| Twilight after 4pm | $28 online | $31 online | Counter twilight is $33 either day |
| Williams Nine | $17.50 online | $17.50 online | Counter rate is $19.50, juniors pay $13.50 |
| FootGolf on the Williams Nine | $18.50 | $18.50 | Same holes, different ball entirely |
That’s what the junior rate is all about. At $22 for an 18-hole game whenever you choose, including Saturdays, this rate is one of the most affordable full rounds for any junior golfer in the Puget Sound area.
What may surprise you: they don’t take cash at this place. Use a card.
The booking ladder, and why it matters
Meadow Park operates four separate booking counters according to what category you belong to and how you plan to reserve. Knowing your booking window can make or break whether you get that weekend morning time slot.
| How you are booking | How far ahead | What this means in practice |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Up to two weeks | The earliest window and the cheapest rates, so start here |
| Punch card holders, by phone | Up to one week | A regulars’ perk, but it opens later than online booking |
| Youth on course, by phone | Up to three days | Call the shop rather than trying to book this online |
| Calling the golf shop | 72 hours | The shortest window, and effectively a last-minute option |
Two weeks are indeed very short for any deadline, and hence, should you want any particular Saturday morning in the month of July, simply mark it in your calendar when that particular week comes along. Refunds for canceled reservations made within 24 hours are indeed justified, though no shows are allowed to make reservations online only.
The course itself
The Championship 18 plays par 71 at about 6,164 yards from the black tees, rated 69.4 with a slope of 119. The scorecard totals 6,136, so published yardages differ slightly depending on where you look, which is normal for a course of this age.
This is not a long golf course and it does not pretend to be. What it has is tree-lined corridors, a decent variety of doglegs and a routing that has had more than a century to settle into the land. The longest holes are the par-5 7th at 526 yards and the 16th at 461, with the 3rd at 433 being the stiffest of the par 4s.
The nine ends in different shapes too. The front is par 35, the back par 36, with four par 3s and three par 5s across the round. with four par 3s and three par 5s across the round.
Picking your tees
Five tee sets is a lot for a municipal course, and Parks Tacoma frames them around playing forward rather than playing long.
| Tee set | Yardage | Rating | Who it genuinely suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 6,164 | 69.4 | Low handicaps, though it is short for a modern back tee |
| Blue | 5,790 | 67.6 | The comfortable choice for most regular players |
| White | 5,134 | 64.7 | Higher handicaps, seniors, and anyone wanting a quick round |
| Red | 4,405 | 62.1 | Beginners and juniors moving up from the Williams Nine |
| Gold | 3,852 | 60.2 | The family set, and a genuinely good idea for first-timers |
A gold tee at 3,852 yards exists for a reason. A course that charges a junior $22 and sets a tee box at under 4,000 yards is telling you exactly who it wants on the property.
What players say, including the weak spot
The review record is worth reading honestly, because the pattern is clear and it is not entirely flattering.
| What is being rated | Score | What it reflects |
|---|---|---|
| Value | 4.5 | The highest category, and the reason people keep coming back |
| Layout | 4.4 | A century-old routing that still holds up |
| Friendliness | 4.2 | Staff come up positively in reviews |
| Amenities | 4.2 | Range, putting green, chipping area and a bar and grill |
| Pace of play | 3.5 | Slow rounds are a recurring complaint |
| Conditions | 3.2 | The weakest score by some distance |
The average rating of the course is 3.8 out of 5, with around 97 percent of those giving reviews still recommending the course, which is quite an interesting combination. There are no claims about the turf being perfect. There are claims about the turf not having to be perfect at $44 price.
If conditioning is your priority, this is definitely not the course you should choose in Pierce County. If you are looking for a 100 year old course, cheap green fees, and inexpensive round of golf, the ratings will make more sense.
FootGolf, juniors and what the money does
Meadow Park has been identified as a location for the First Tee South Puget Sound. Being a municipal golf course, the earnings are channeled back to the Tacoma park system and not a private management or development firm. The money earned in this place goes directly to funding programs for kids.
This is apparent in how things are arranged in this place. A $13.50 price for junior on the Williams Nine, individual and group lessons from the instruction professionals, five sets of tees on the large course and a 9-hole facility where the longest hole measures 277 yards indicate this clearly.
The following are the regulations which are necessary to be familiar with if one is going to bring in kids. The driver of the cart should be aged 16 years and above and have a valid driver’s license accompanied by an adult. Those who are going to rent should be 18 years old or should be accompanied by an adult.
Final take
Meadow Park Golf Course is what a municipal golf course should be like, and it has been doing just that since 1915. You will find that the quality of the golf does not even warrant a mention on anyone’s “best of” list, and the poor condition of the course comes up in almost any criticism.
Go online instead of in person for booking, play the blue or white tees except where you have a very good reason not to, bring a card as you will not be taking money, and grab yourself a twilight slot if it suits your schedule. If you are taking a beginner golfer out, use the Williams Nine until they are ready to play the big course from the gold tees.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Meadow Park Golf Course?
At 7108 Lakewood Drive West in Tacoma, Washington, in Pierce County. The street name causes some confusion, since Lakewood Drive sits near the boundary with the city of Lakewood, but the course itself is Tacoma and is run by Parks Tacoma. The number is 253-473-3033.
How much does it cost to play Meadow Park?
Eighteen holes booked online costs $44 on a weekday and $47 at the weekend, rising to $47 and $50 if you pay at the counter. Juniors pay a flat $22. Twilight after 4pm starts at $28 online, and the nine-hole Williams Nine is $17.50 online.
How far in advance can you book a tee time at Meadow Park?
Online booking opens two weeks ahead and carries the best rates. Punch card holders can call one week out, youth on course bookings are taken three days ahead by phone, and general call-in tee times are limited to 72 hours. Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund.
How old is Meadow Park Golf Course?
The first nine holes opened on November 14, 1915, making it more than 110 years old and the first course in Tacoma open to the public. Some listings give 1917, which likely refers to the completion of the full layout. Parks Tacoma bought the course in 1961.
Who designed Meadow Park Golf Course?
John Ball laid out the original course. Parks Tacoma credits him on its own course pages, and golf databases list him as the architect. The layout has been in South Tacoma for over a century.
What is the Williams Nine at Meadow Park?
A nine-hole executive course on the same site, playing par 30 at 1,631 yards. It is six par 3s and three short par 4s, with the longest hole 277 yards. Green fees start at $17.50 booked online and $13.50 for juniors, and it also hosts FootGolf.
Can you play FootGolf at Meadow Park?
Yes, on the Williams Nine, at $18.50 a round. FootGolf uses a soccer ball and oversized cups on the same nine holes, which makes it a reasonable option for a mixed group where not everyone plays golf.
Is Meadow Park Golf Course hard?
Not especially. It plays par 71 at about 6,164 yards from the black tees with a rating of 69.4 and a slope of 119, which is modest by modern standards. The challenge comes from tree-lined corridors and doglegs rather than from length, and there are five tee sets running down to 3,852 yards.
Does Meadow Park accept cash?
No. The course is cashless, so bring a credit or debit card. Carts are also first come, first served with limited availability and must be returned by 8pm, so do not assume one will be waiting if you turn up late in the day.
Is Meadow Park good for beginners?
It is one of the better options in the South Sound for new golfers. The Williams Nine is short enough to finish comfortably, the Championship course has a gold tee at 3,852 yards, juniors pay $22 for 18 holes or $13.50 for nine, and the professionals offer both group and individual lessons.
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