Green Lake Pitch & Putt — Local services in Seattle

I'm very torn about this review. Green Lake Pitch & Putt was a Seattle staple and has provided so many great memories over the years.

This past year, they remodeled and with that there are some changes that work well, and changes that don't work well.

The pros; They seem to really care about the quality of the course and tend to the grass and shrubs. very kind staff and welcoming. clean bathroom.

The cons; The new price point makes what was an affordable outing, much less affordable. My partner and I would often pop in for a round, but the pricing is so much higher, we likely plan out in advance our visits due to the pricing. With the pricetag, I see myself visiting a couple times a season, rather than 10-20 times in a season. For an extra $1, I can go play 9 holes at Interbay. Some of the charm of what made the old design so great is now missing. They took out what used to be the cute benches (with slots for your clubs) and now have cheap and flimsy plastic benches. They've added flimsy plastic hole markers that don't fit the space. Their effort to add their style, IMO, falls flat. For example, they added new signage to each hole, but is like a plastic print out and the signs are already peeling off. I would love to see someone paint hole signs with the style they were going for.

The neutral; They now serve alcohol, albeit pricey, which limits you from bringing outside beverages. A waiver now must be signed to play, even if you only have to do it once a season I'm just not a fan of this. It's giving off QR code vibes at a restaurant. The clubhouse remodel is devoid of the charm and cozy feeling of what used to be and is a sterile white.

Some of this critiques may just be personal opinions on style and can see this coming off as someone complaining about changes, which may be true. However, the pricing was really disappointing to see a Seattle legacy establishment lose both on style and pricing out a fun date or family outing.

I waited a week to write this review because this place was so special to me. It is disappointing to see such a shift in the experience and really hope they can find a way to turn it around through the constructive feedback from other recent reviews. Its clear the owners care. I am rooting they find what works well for them and...

Moon Golf for the Price of a Country Club

If you’ve ever dreamed of playing golf on the surface of the moon—craters, dust, and no atmosphere—Green Lake Pitch & Putt is your dream come true! The greens (and I use that term loosely) are now more of a moonscape than a putting surface. Bring a wedge, a shovel, and a good sense of humor.

Under new ownership, they’ve really pulled out all the stops—like aeration, care, and charm. The classic, quirky clubhouse has been bulldozed into a trendy monstrosity featuring the finest Amazon Basics lawn furniture this side of a fraternity tailgate. Can’t wait to see how that plastic holds up in Seattle rain. (Spoiler: not well.)

Prices have skyrocketed into orbit. A six-pack of Rainier used to be $6 at a gas station. Now it's $6 for one can. But don’t even think about BYOB—they’ve cracked down. Because nothing says “community” like jacking up prices and banning the one thing that made the experience tolerable.

When I asked about the crater-greens, the response was: “Nature will take its course.” Inspirational. I guess erosion is the new lawn care strategy?

The new owners seem less interested in maintaining a beloved local course and more interested in squeezing dollars out of loyal players who’ve supported this place for years. If this is “upscale,” I can’t wait for their next move—charging for divots by the square inch.

In short: bring moon boots, leave your beer, lower your expectations, and pour one out (somewhere else) for the Green Lake Pitch & Putt we...

My partner and I have been coming to Pitch & Putt for a few years now, and it's always been one of our favorite little Greenlake activities. It has always been a fun, low-key way to spend an afternoon in the Seattle area.

We were excited to check it out again after the recent reopening under new ownership, but our latest visit didn’t quite live up to the usual vibe. The greens were noticeably muddy, the new tee boxes felt awkwardly placed (some weren’t level, so the ball wouldn’t stay put), and overall, it just felt a bit off from what we’ve come to expect.

To be fair, I’ve seen the new ownership post on social media about the challenges they’re facing and how they’re doing their best to get things back in shape. While I appreciate the transparency and totally get that some things just take time, especially with spring weather being unpredictable. Nevertheless, it was still a bit of a letdown.

Prices have also gone up, which I understand (everything seems to be getting more expensive lately) it does make you compare it more critically to other local spots offering similar experiences for less, and sometimes with better maintained courses.

That said, I’m still hopeful! I really want to see this place thrive under the new team, and I’ll definitely be back later in the season to see how things progress.

I’ll plan to update this review once the course has had a bit more time to grow...