via GoogleGamble Sands
Gamble Sands is the Pacific Northwest's bucket-list desert escape. David McLay Kidd's wide-open, Columbia River–view spread now totaling 7 courses in our catalog, $$$ pricing, a long drive from SEA, best played April through October.
David McLay Kidd's 'fun, wide, forgiving' PNW counterpoint to his punishing early work, now 50 holes (Sands + Scarecrow + QuickSands) after Scarecrow's 2025 opening earned Golf Digest Best New Public of 2025. Overlooks the Columbia River and Cascades.
What are the top golf courses in Gamble Sands?
7 courses
Gamble Sands has 7 courses in Scramble's catalog, anchored by Gamble Sands - Sands Course, Gamble Sands - Scarecrow, and QuickSands. Multiple of these are nationally ranked. Each plays as a destination-quality round on its own. All three play within a normal trip itinerary out of the same lodging base.
$$$Gamble Sands - Sands Course
David McLay Kidd (2014)
$$$Gamble Sands - Scarecrow
David McLay Kidd (2025)
QuickSands
David McLay Kidd (2019)
$$Desert Canyon Golf Resort
Jack Frei & Rick Fehr (1993)
$$Bear Mountain Ranch Golf Course
Robert Yount & Don Barth (2005)
$Alta Lake Golf Resort
$Lake Chelan Golf Course
Photos by Google
How much does a 3-round Gamble Sands golf trip cost?
A 3-round, 4-golfer trip to Gamble Sands runs about $1,072 per person with mid-range ($$) lodging. That covers 3 peak-season green fees, lodging at roughly two golfers per room, and a daily food + ground-transit allowance. Flights are excluded since they depend on your home airport. Adjust the round count, group size, or tier on the trip calculator to see how the number moves. See the full breakdown →
Where is Gamble Sands and how do I get there?
Gamble Sands sits in Washington. The closest major airport is Spokane (GEG), which serves as the primary hub for most visitors. Most groups fly into GEG, rent one or two SUVs, and base out of a single resort or hotel for the entire trip.
What's the best month for golf in Gamble Sands?
The strongest months for golf in Gamble Sands are Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, based on 20-year playability scores combining temperature and precipitation. Gamble Sands averages a 35°F high in January and a 81°F high in July, so playable conditions cluster in the shoulder months. Book early in those windows. Rates and tee-time inventory tighten as the season firms up.
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Gamble Sands data is part of Scramble's catalog of 128 destinations and 971 independently researched courses. Weather data from 20 years of Open-Meteo; awards compiled from Golf Digest, Golfweek, and state-level rankings.
Published June 2026. Updated when the data or Scramble’s recommendations change.