b'QUICK NINEContinued from page 28manicured fairways.saucer-sized greens. The 479-yard Highlands is also lovely, set amongpar-5 fourth offers more mystery for a Nantucket-shingled homes with Pacificfirst-time visitor: a blind second shot Ocean vistas. Each hole containsto reveal the holes locale. character, skirting a tree downhill onYou can take your drive over the the 240-yard first, playing the anglesbushes, but dont cut it too much, on the 358-yard third, and droppinga white-bearded duffer told me as precipitously downhill on the 91-yardI approached the seventh tee. Go fifth. After finishing up on the 199-yardahead and play through; Im just par-3 ninth, I could have easily playedwaiting for the boys behind you to this nine again, given the interestingcatch up.layout that takes under two hours toId teed off at 7:50, which meant walk. I think Patti would have playedthe grizzled fellow must have teed off again, too, but a happy hour at Publicat sunrise, revealing what I assumed Coast Brewing Company in Cannonwas another virtue of this triumvirate: Beach took precedence.the option to play early and pay later. I assume most 9-hole courses existI hit my fade around the marsh then because of land restrictions. Afterscurried on in less than an hour to theThese are ideal courses for not-so-skilled players. playing Manzanita, Highlands, andend, leaving plenty of time for an early Seaside, Im impressed their ownersbreakfast rendezvous at the Osprey have staunchly maintained these set-upsCaf followed by another walk along on land that developers would love tothe yawning beach. call their own. Founded 101 years ago,As a devotee of golf course design, Seaside Golf Course offers a perfectI often wonder what would have example of optimal real estate adjacenthappened had Prestwick Golf Clubs to town that shadows the Necanicumoriginal 12-hole layout outdueled St. River within steps of the beach. Andrews 18. (The latter number is a Like the best older courses,reduction from the original 22 holes SEASIDES idiosyncrasies require athat filled the former sheep pasture.) course map. Take the par-5 435-yardThese musings led me to consider first hole. Unless you know to come inthe 9-hole track. There are close from the far right, youll find the greento 130 such layouts in Washington entirely blocked by a mature big-leafand Oregon alone. Each provides maple, as I did. The quirks dont endan opportunity to get in some shots there, as the river dictates plenty ofwithout cutting deeply into the day. In carries and routing that demandsthe arbitrary selection of St. Andrews precise short irons to the teacup18, nine holes fit in just fine, too.And then theres the 19th hole at Iggys in Seaside.30 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2025'