The fourth generation in his family to operate the Snohomish Golf Course, Ben Richards happily carries on the legacy started when his great-grandfather, Gordon, and grandfather, Dave, built the course almost 60 years ago. It is a legacy full of tradition and innovation that Ben’s father, Steve, has now passed on to him.
“My grandfather's goal was to be the best value golf course in the county," said Ben. "And I really strive to keep that going. Golf has always provided value to the community in that it gives people from 3-years-old to 103-years-old something fun to do and keeps them physically active.”
The course, which opened in 1967, was built on an old dairy farm and was a much different experience than what golfers see today. “It feels like you're playing a course carved through a forest," shared Ben. "But when they bought the property back in the sixties, there were no trees out here." Ben explained how they purchased over 10,000 trees, all about two inches long, put them in the back of a pickup truck, and planted them all over the course. Now they're all between 70 and 100 feet tall.”
Growing up, Ben played the course with his father and grandfather, and he still remembers the last time they played the course together before his grandfather passed away.
“My dad had gotten my granddad a new set of clubs about two years before, but he had not physically been able to play,” said Ben. “We finally got him out to play one day and we’d been playing the course all day, but when we were on the 17th hole, my grandad looked at us and said that his driver felt and sounded so funny. He pulled the driver out and hit, and we realized that it still had plastic wrapping on it! He had never taken it off. That is one of my favorite memories because we just all had such a good laugh, and it was his last time getting a full round of golf.”
From the beginning, the course provided people with a place to gather with old friends, meet new ones, and continue to hone their golfing skills. Private and group lessons are available year-round for youth through seniors. The course also offers both men’s and women’s clubs, facilitating friendly competition as well as new relationships.
The women’s club meets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and has exclusive tee times, weekly competitions, and several special events and tournaments throughout the year. The men's club offers daily competition as well as around 10 to 15 tournaments a year that you can play in.
"The men have a daily game, so if you don't have a group of golfers that you normally play with," said Ben. "Or you're looking to get into a new group, you can just show up and walk out and play with them. It's a really great way to get into the game and explore more of the competitive side.”
The Richards men have also all had a passion for sharing their love of the game with children in the community. Snohomish Golf Course participates in the Youth On Course program, which allows kids to play for $5, and is in the process of developing a new program set to launch this spring, which would allow kids more access to course play.
“If we want this game to continue to grow and be great for future generations, we have to get the kids out there on the course,” shared Ben. “We support a lot of the local high school and junior golf programs. We have both the Glacier Peak High School and Snohomish High School golf teams that play here in the spring, as well as about half a dozen other junior tournaments we host every year.”
Since Ben grew up around the golf course and played with his family, he has seen many changes and advancements over the years, including the integration of technology - and the difference it makes on the course.
“When we first opened, we didn't even have a golf cart," he said. "Now, we have Toptracer on our driving range, so every shot you hit is tracked and it tells you the yardages and all the data." Another new addition is that all 80 of the golf carts have GPS units and systems, telling you how far you are from every hole, where you're at on the course, and where you need to go.
Guests at the course also enjoy easy access to the pro shop, where they can buy equipment, clothing and accessories, as well as the opportunity to have refreshments at Dave’s Dawghouse. The course’s café is named after Ben’s grandfather, who was a huge UW fan, and offers a variety of drink, snack, and meal options.
With all the advancements and additions over the last sixty years, one thing at the course has stayed the same - the desire to provide exceptional and affordable golf experiences to the people of Snohomish and surrounding counties.
“My favorite aspect is that we're providing people with their daily fun," shared Ben. We are their entertainment. People are coming up here to have a good time and it’s our job to make sure that they are having that good time and they're getting everything they want out of the day.”
Snohomish Golf Course is located at 7805 147th Avenue SE in Snohomish. For more information and to check tee times and fees, visit www.snohomishgolfcourse.com or call 360-568-2676. You can also follow @snohomishgolfcourse on Facebook or Instagram to stay up to date on special events.
If we want this game to continue to grow and be great for future generations, we have to get the kids out there on the course
My grandfather's goal was to be the best value course in the county. I really strive to keep that going.