Willows Run History

Willows Run Golf Complex, situated in the heart of the Sammamish River Valley, is a fertile lowland area between the cities of Redmond, Woodinville, and Kirkland with views of Mt. Rainier to the south. Willows Run is a sanctuary in the midst of a well-developed region that represents the best of the Northwest—a natural retreat with easy access to the urban centers of Bellevue and Seattle. The river valley with its adjacent tree-lined neighborhoods is home to various agricultural uses, wineries, restaurants, playfields, business parks and the Microsoft campus just up the hill.

The Sammamish River passes alongside the two 18 hole courses at Willows Run as it flows from Lake Sammamish to Lake Washington. The river is home to several runs of salmon and trout and its natural setting attracts a variety of birds and mammals, including Canadian geese, ducks and Great Blue Herons. During a round at Willows Run, golfers may see Bald Eagles soaring above the valley or beavers frolicing near the river.

Willows Run Golf Complex is easily accessible from I-405, 2.5 miles to the west, and SR 520, 2.5 miles to the south.

Willows Run Golf Complex is an exceptional example of responsible land management and is even more impressive when considering the common practices of most golf courses. Prior to golf course development, the Willows Run site was formerly a corn farm, and essentially a monoculture environment that did not support diverse habitat of any kind. In addition, it is located in the North Lake Washington/Sammamish Watershed, in the heart of the most significant Chinook habitat in the world. The step forward towards Salmon-Safe certification was a significant action going beyond regulations to adopt.