Fort Steilacoom Golf Course

Few public courses in the South Puget Sound carry as much history beneath their fairways as this one. Fort Steilacoom takes its name from one of the earliest U.S. Army posts in the Pacific Northwest, established in 1849 on these very grounds. The land eventually became Western State Hospital, and the golf course — a public, walking-friendly layout operated by Pierce County — sits within that same expansive property, giving it an unusual, open character quite unlike a typical municipal.

Lakewood sits just southwest of Tacoma, in the lowland corridor between Puget Sound and the foothills of the Cascades. The climate is classically Western Washington: mild, grey, and damp through much of the year, with the course staying green and playable year-round. Mature trees, open meadow ground, and occasional views toward the surrounding hills define the setting.

For locals, Fort Steilacoom is the kind of course that builds a following through accessibility and atmosphere rather than difficulty. It rewards regular play, suits all skill levels, and offers an honest round of golf on genuinely storied ground.