Work at the former North Shore course included tree removal, rebuilding bunkers, redesigning several holes and installing a new irrigation system
By Laura Hyde |
Cedar Irons Golf Club in Tacoma, Washington, formerly known as North Shore, will reopen on 1 May 2026 following a $7.5 million redesign led by golf course architect Dan Hixson.
The renovation began in November 2024 with the installation of new irrigation to replace the club's 40-year-old system. Work then turned to improving playability, which Hixson has aimed to do via tree removal, selective pruning and clearing away vegetation. This work also helps to restore natural sightlines, the course’s natural flow and improve turf conditions on the 6,109-yard layout.
“The property had wonderful bones, but over time it had become tight and overgrown,” said Hixson. “It’s really kind of magical when a course like Cedar Irons is opened up. It creates a better playing experience with improved sightlines, more strategic options, and a layout that’s enjoyable for everyday golfers while still challenging for better players.”
Hixson’s redesign at Cedar Irons focused on restoring playability (Photo: Cedar Irons Golf Club)
The routing is unchanged but there are a few tweaks that have been made to improve playability and enhance the course’s architectural character. The seventeenth has been reworked from a par three to a four; the second, previously a 347-yard par four, has been extended to more than 400 yards; the third was shortened from a par five to a four; and the fifth has been extended from a par four to a five.
The project has seen tees rebuilt and expanded, fairways widened, every bunker rebuilt and all green complexes either reconstructed or recontoured.
“With Cedar Irons, we wanted a course that wouldn’t be your typical public experience,” said Hixson. “We added some quirk into the course, built greens that are a little more interesting, and rebuilt every bunker to add some challenge, and yet keep it very playable. We want Cedar Irons to be the best-conditioned, most playable public course in the area, and a place where golfers fall in love with the game and then become golfers for life.”
The renovated back nine opened for play in 2025, while work on the front nine, which included completely rebuilding greens on the first, second, third and sixth holes, was completed in April 2026.