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Royal City Golf Course: walk-on golf with Saddle Mountain views
Royal City Golf Course in Royal City is a regulation nine that plays across rolling ground with wide open skies and big basin scenery. The pace is relaxed, the lines are straightforward, and the round asks you to control speed on fast greens while managing sidehill lies.
Royal City Golf Course Fast Facts
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Feature |
Detail |
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Location |
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Address or parking directions |
13702 S. Dodson Rd., Royal City, WA 99357 |
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Holes and par |
9 holes, Par 36 |
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Total yardage (back tees) |
3106 yds |
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Tee sets |
Two tee positions, alternate tees for the back nine |
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Terrain |
Hilly, open basin setting |
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Practice facilities |
Driving range, practice putting green |
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Hours and seasonality |
Open all year |
Course Overview
Royal City Golf Course sits in the heart of Eastern Washington farm country, with the Saddle Mountains to the south and Frenchman Hills to the north. The routing moves over hilly ground, so you will see uneven stances and some uphill and downhill approaches. Greens are described as average in size and fast, which places a premium on speed control rather than pure line.
Alternate tees create fresh looks on your second loop. Those different angles change how you pick targets into fairways and greens, and they can turn a comfortable line into a shot that runs more with, or across, the slope. Plan your approaches to finish below the hole when possible, let the ball release on firmer, faster putting surfaces, and favor landing zones that leave a level stance.
Hole-by-Hole Highlights
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Expect sidehill lies off several tees. Aim for the high side of fairways to hold position on slopes.
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On uphill approaches, take one more club and play for the front portion. Fast greens make back pins feel longer.
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Downhill par 4s reward a controlled tee shot. Keep it in the short grass to avoid a flyer into quick greens.
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Into-the-slope chips are your friend. Use the hill as a backstop rather than flying shots to tight pins.
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On holes with back-nine alternate tees, note how the angle shifts the preferred miss. Safe sides change with the tee box.
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Long par 4s play easier with a positional drive. Choose the flattest landing area even if it leaves a longer iron.
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When greens are running, putt defensively from above the hole. A stress-free two-putt beats racing one by.
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Use the practice green read before you start. It mirrors the pace you will see on course.
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When fairways tilt, start the ball on the slopeโs high edge and let it work back.
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If you are between clubs, favor more loft into firm greens to land softer and control release.
Amenities & Practice
There is a driving range for full-swing warmups and a practice putting green to dial in pace before the first tee. The setting is casual and built for walk-ups, so you can roll in, loosen up, and get moving without a lot of pre-round logistics.
Food & Beverage
Bring your own snacks and beverages. Make sure you pack out what you bring in.
Rates / Booking / Local Tips
Royal City Golf Course does not require tee times, which makes it a convenient stop for spur-of-the-moment rounds. The course is open year-round, so plan for seasonal conditions and give yourself extra time in winter months. If you want eighteen, play the second loop from the alternate tees for new angles and a slightly different set of decisions.
How to Score Here
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Treat every uphill approach as a three-shot puzzle, club up, play the safe side, and trust a two-putt on fast greens at Royal City Golf Course.
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From uneven stances, match ball position to the slope, then choose a shape that rides the hill rather than fights it.
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Lag putting is a priority. Practice long putts on the green before the round, then leave approaches under the hole.
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On the second loop, adjust targets to the alternate tee angles, especially where slopes can kick the ball toward trouble.
Final Word
Royal City Golf Course keeps things simple, inviting you to walk on, enjoy the views, and test your touch on fast, honest greens.
This course is one of many featured in the Washington Golf Directory. Your guide to Washington State public golf courses, local driving ranges, and weekend-worthy golf getaways. Whether youโre playing nine before work or planning a road trip across the state, weโre here to help you explore more golf, one course at a time.
- About the Author
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Explore Washington State has been covering the real Washington for more than a decade. State parks, small towns, back roads, rest stops, and the people who make this place worth exploring. What started as a hyperlocal project covering individual communities grew into a full media project with more than 340 podcast episodes, a weekly newsletter with 3,800 subscribers, and coverage of all 146 Washington State Parks. The content here comes from people who have actually been to these places: locals, regulars, and lifelong Washington residents who care more about getting it right than getting clicks.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Explore Washington State has been covering the real Washington for more than a decade. State parks, small towns, back roads, rest stops, and the people who make this place worth exploring. What started as a hyperlocal project covering individual communities grew into a full media project with more than 340 podcast episodes, a weekly newsletter with 3,800 subscribers, and coverage of all 146 Washington State Parks. The content here comes from people who have actually been to these places: locals, regulars, and lifelong Washington residents who care more about getting it right than getting clicks.