Landscapes Unlimited finishes projects at Sahalee Country Club

Golf course developer and construction company Landscapes Unlimited recently completed enhancement projects at the private Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Washington, 30 minutes east of Seattle.

In collaboration with Rees Jones, Inc., Landscapes Unlimited worked on the nine-hole North, South and East courses, primarily shaping and strategically moving select bunkers to enhance playability for low and high handicappers alike.

The company implemented the first phase of the Rees Jones, Inc. Golf Course Master Plan focused primarily on the bunkers, including improvements to the shapes, sizes, locations and depths, and the installation of new drainage, modern liners and bunker sand, all contributing to bunkers built for efficient maintenance and longer life spans.

The modifications will also benefit players at the 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, to held at the club.

“It has been a pleasure working with Landscapes Unlimited on the renovation at Sahalee Country Club,” Jones said. “Its craftsmanship is first class and the final results are quite stunning.”

“Sahalee is a Pacific Northwest treasure,” Landscapes Unlimited chief development officer Jake Riekstins said. “Any time there’s an opportunity to smartly add modern infrastructure to a storied golf course while achieving a golden age style, the results are ‘wow’ experiences for different generations.”    

In addition to hosting the upcoming 2024 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, the 27-hole Sahalee is famous for hosting the 1998 PGA Championship, 2002 WGC-NEC Invitational, 2010 U.S. Senior Open and 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, as well as the Sahalee Players Championship.

“Landscapes Unlimited is the ultimate construction teammate,” said Charlie Schauwecker, director of agronomy at Sahalee, which is a Chinookan word for High Heavenly Ground.  “The Landscapes corporate and on-site teams meld blocking-and-tacking technical work, creativity and practicality to make great golf courses even better.”

Sahalee opened in 1969, its three nines designed by Ted Robinson and renovated by Jones from 1996 to 1998. The first head professional was Paul Runyan, who won 29 times on the PGA TOUR, including the 1934 and 1938 PGA Championship, The three nine-hole courses range from 5,712 to 7,003 yards. Heavily forested, tall evergreen trees frame fairways laid over rolling topography ideally suited for golf. Strategically placed bunkers and water hazards often create daring moments.