Lake Wilderness Golf Course

About This Course: Maple Valley’s city course under the firs

Lake Wilderness Golf Course is the City of Maple Valley’s public eighteen, a par 70 on Witte Road SE where big native fir trees line short, narrow fairways. It first opened to the public in 1929, it plays 5,395 yards from the back tees, and regular 2026 green fees start at $32. If you care more about hitting fairways than hitting it far, this is an honest test.

A new clubhouse, The Cedar House, is due to open in fall 2026. Until then the restaurant is closed and parking is tight, but the golf is open and tee times book online.

Lake Wilderness Golf Course Fast Facts

Course Overview

Ray Coleman designed Lake Wilderness, and the course opened to the public in 1929. American Golf owned and ran it until November 2006, when the Maple Valley City Council voted to buy it for about $4 million. The Covington Reporter described the purchase as a way to keep a little over 100 acres of open space from becoming housing. Premier Golf took over operations in May 2007. Since 2018 the city has contracted with CourseCo to manage the course and restaurant, and it renewed that agreement in 2023. The clubhouse the city is now replacing dates from 1974.

The card is short and busy: five par 3s, three par 5s and ten par 4s, with par 34 on the front and 36 on the back. The par 4s run from 241 to 377 yards from the Gold tees, so the driver rarely has to come out, but the fairways are narrow and the firs are close. Homes line parts of the course, and the local rules give stance and swing relief from homeowner fences and netting while asking you to stay out of yards. The course also has ponds, and its own wildlife page lists osprey, deer, otters and ring necked ducks. At 5,395 yards with a men’s slope of 119, Lake Wilderness suits newer golfers, seniors and anyone who wants a quick round that still punishes a wild tee shot.

Hole by Hole Highlights

Yardages are from the Gold tees. Handicap ranks are the men’s handicap on the course scorecard.

• Hole 3, 216 yards, par 3: The first par 3 ranks fifth on the handicap. Take enough club to reach the middle of the green.
• Hole 4, 505 yards, par 5: The longest hole on the course and the third hardest. Plan it as a three shot hole.
• Hole 5, 241 yards, par 4: The shortest par 4. A layup to your favorite full wedge distance is usually the smarter play.
• Hole 8, 235 yards, par 3: The longest par 3 and the number one handicap hole. Bogey here is not a bad score.
• Hole 10, 414 yards, par 5: The shortest par 5 and the best chance to reach a green in two. White stakes between the 10th and 14th fairways mark out of bounds for this hole only.
• Hole 12, 377 yards, par 4: The longest par 4 on the card and the second handicap hole.
• Hole 16, 112 yards, par 3: The shortest hole on the course and the easiest by handicap. A real chance to pick up a stroke.
• Hole 18, 314 yards, par 4: A short closer that rewards a controlled tee shot over a big one.

Amenities and Practice

The pro shop sells equipment, apparel and accessories, and it rents golf clubs and pull carts. Power carts are $22 per seat for 18 holes and $14 per seat for 9, tax included, and you must be 18 to rent one. During construction the City of Maple Valley has said the pro shop is working from a temporary spot by the first tee.

The course website does not advertise a public driving range. Its membership perks mention access to a practice facility, so call ahead if a warm up matters to you. For a full range session nearby, Maplewood Golf Course in Renton has a covered, lit and heated range. Spark Golf runs casual 9 hole social leagues here, and the men’s, senior men’s, ladies and weekend women’s clubs each run their own schedules. Ask the pro shop about lessons.

Food and Drink

The restaurant is closed until fall 2026 while the new clubhouse is built. The city’s plan for the new two story building includes a restaurant and bar, a patio, two golf simulators and a banquet hall. Until then, bring water and a snack; outside alcohol, personal coolers and glass containers are not allowed.

Plan Your Visit

Rates, Tee Times and Local Tips

The 2026 in season rates run March 1 through October 31. Weekdays, 18 holes are $41 and 9 holes are $32. Weekends, 18 holes are $46 and 9 holes are $36. Twilight starts at 3 p.m. at $32 on weekdays and $36 on weekends. Seniors 55 and over pay $32 for 18 and $26 for 9 on weekdays, $36 and $30 on weekends. Juniors 17 and under pay $22 on weekdays and $24 on weekends, when junior play starts at 1 p.m. Youth on Course is offered daily starting at 1 p.m. Only the in season sheet is posted, so check the Lake Wilderness course rates page before a November visit.

Book through Lake Wilderness’s online tee time system or call the pro shop at 425-432-9405. Posted hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Groups are capped at four players, every player checks in at the pro shop, and while construction continues parking is limited, so carpool if you can.

Make a day of it in Maple Valley: walk the beach and trails at Lake Wilderness Park, which connects to the Lake Wilderness Arboretum. For a second course, Riverbend Golf Complex in Kent is a short drive west.

How to Score Here

• Leave the driver in the bag on the short par 4s. A hybrid in the fairway beats a driver in the firs.
• Make your birdies on hole 10, the 414 yard par 5, and hole 16, the 112 yard par 3.
• Respect the long par 3s. Holes 3 and 8 both play over 215 yards, and hole 8 is the hardest hole on the course.
• Play the tee that fits. The Black and Silver tees shorten the course to 5,070 and 4,653 yards.

Final Word

Lake Wilderness is a fair priced city course where accuracy wins, with nearly a century of golf behind it and a new clubhouse about to open.