The Palouse: A Natural Wonder With An Abundance Of Post-Round Activities
Tucked away in the southeast corner of Washington State, the Palouse is a majestic region of rolling hills and rich farmlands that stretch for hundreds of miles. The picturesque silt dunes that characterize the Palouse were created during the last Ice Age, when wind and snow deposited thick layers of volcanic sediment and glacial till in the area. Over time, a composite soil of exceptional depth and fertility was created among the roller-coaster landforms. Level land is a rarity here. As landscape photographers can attest, the Palouse offers a near-perfect combination of topography, weather and crops, including a patchwork quilt of wheat, lentils and dry peas.
Sculpted into this one-of-kind landscape is Palouse Ridge Golf Club, which at first glance appears airlifted into the undulating hills. Surrounding the course and its pine-dotted ridges are rolling farms that change in color from bright green to golden amber to the textured browns of autumn.
While native prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems in the U.S., the golf course was routed to preserve a significant riparian corridor that gives players a feel for what the pre-agriculture Palouse once looked like. Flanking the right side of the third, fourth and fifth holes, this 30-foot-tall hedgerow, a scrub mix of alder, hawthorn and native fescue grasses, shelters a wide variety of wildlife. Hawks (both redtail and harrier) glide overhead. Coyotes, raccoons and badgers are commonly seen in and around the corridor. In addition, a pair of ponds and low-lying wetlands attract waterfowl to the course.
Following the round, golfers as well as non-golfers traveling in their company can explore a wide range of cultural, recreational and sightseeing options in and around Pullman.
The Palouse Scenic Byway radiates out to the region’s rural towns and magnificent rolling hills. Among the points of interest is Steptoe Butte State Park off Highway 195 north of Pullman. Visitors can drive or hike 3.1 miles to the top of the 3,618-foot-high butte for a stunning panorama of the Palouse.
Closer to Pullman off Highway 27 is Kamiak Butte County Park, which covers 298 acres and is home to more than 130 bird species, 170 plant species and numerous mammals, including resident moose. From the summit of the 3,641-foot butte, Oregon’s Blue Mountains loom into view.
For active-minded visitors, the trails and pathways of Pullman link the downtown area, Washington State University, residential areas and the neighboring town of Moscow, Idaho. The Pullman Parks and Recreation trail system encompasses nearly eight miles of paths, including the recently completed Downtown Riverwalk. These pathways also connect to the Bill Chipman Palouse Trail, a seven-mile byway that connects Pullman and Moscow via beautiful rolling hills. The trails are ideal for walkers, runners and cyclists.
For a truly memorable adventure, the Palouse is convenient to two of the world’s most renowned white-water rivers. Hells Canyon on the Snake River and the legendary Salmon River, the two deepest river gorges in North America, lie due south of Pullman. White-water rafting trips on both rivers as well as thrilling Hells Canyon jet boat tours are available. For more casual excursions, Boyer Park and Marina, a full-service dock and marina located 20 miles west of Pullman, offers easy access to the Snake River, where swimming, fishing and water sports are popular.
Brick masonry buildings built from 1905 to 1940 into the hillsides of the Palouse are a campus highlight at Washington State University in Pullman, the state’s only land-grant university. WSU’s eclectic architecture reflects various revivalist styles, from Georgian to Classical. A must-see is the Lewis Alumni Centre, originally built in the 1920’s as a barn and later renovated and remodeled. In the school’s Food Quality Building is Ferdinand’s Dairy Bar, where the ice cream is rich and delectable. Within the same building is the WSU Creamery, which produces award-winning Cougar Gold cheese, a nutty white cheddar packed in a can (a tradition since World War II).
Sporting events at WSU, notably football and basketball games, are major occasions. For ticket information and schedules for WSU Cougar Pacific-10 Conference athletics, call 800-GO-COUGS.
Natural history buffs gravitate to Conner Museum on the WSU campus. The museum contains the largest public collection of birds and mammals in the Pacific Northwest. On display are mounted moose, caribou, bison, deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, cougars, and more than 700 other species.
Culture is alive and well in and around Pullman. The WSU Music Department presents or co-sponsors over 200 concerts and recitals yearly. Performances at the school’s 400-seat recital hall include madrigal singing, march and stage bands, chamber music and jazz performers.
The Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum in Pullman, with 12,000 seats, is one of the largest performing arts centers in the Inland Northwest. Top-name rock, jazz and country-western stars along with ballet and opera companies, symphonies and soloists perform throughout the year. In addition, the Regional Theatre of the Palouse presents an annual summer musical at the Coliseum.
For an extra-special side-trip, head to Big Meadow Creek Alpacas, located 20 miles east of Pullman in Troy, Idaho. The farm specializes in lustrous Suri Alpaca, the “Mercedes” of alpacas. A variety of alpaca products, from throws, capes and sweaters to plush, handmade teddy bears are available.
For more information about activities and events in the region, contact the Pullman Chamber of Commerce at (800) 365-6948; www.pullmanchamber.com.
Golf Course Contact: Bruce Perisho
General Manager, PGA
Palouse Ridge Golf Club
1260 Palouse Ridge Dr.
Pullman, WA 99163
509-335-4342
bperisho@palouseridge.com
Media Contact: Brian McCallen
860-572-7942
mccallenbmc@aol.com
