A longtime community fixture, the Westwood Golf Course was almost lost to another housing development. Through the efforts of the philanthropic owner, the course was preserved but was in desperate need of a refresh and a reimagining. Our vision, in collaboration with Graham Baba Architects, is to create a destination that connects visitors with the natural world in an urban context, provides the community with a place to gather by adding a bar and restaurant, and sets the stage for nine holes of enjoyable golf for all ages.

Our team worked closely with Graham Baba Architects to determine the site’s master plan, considering building orientation, circulation, parking, as well as improving the golf course itself with better circulation and reorganizing the first tee and practice area. Previously engulfed in asphalt, our goal is to create an immersive experience as soon as you enter the Westwood Golf property, drawing inspiration from Yakima’s ecological zones by reducing paving, adding plenty of shading, layering native plants, and creating an approach that feels like a pleasant meander. We added ramps to avoid the need for elevators or stairs and incorporated mounds and other landforms to give the site some experiential diversity and lend depth to the entry experience. Weathering steel walls and edges, together with natural basalt boulders, define the landform, providing the foreground to the building and evoking the native landscape.

With this site receiving, on average, only eight inches of rain per year, our emphasis was on native species like basin wild rye, bluebunch wheatgrass, shrubby penstemon, globemallow, and the native prickly pear cactus. These were selected to improve habitat, add interest and color, showcase the beauty of these natives, and for their suitability to the climate. Oaks, Ponderosa Pines, and Quaking Aspens provide shade for the parking areas. All stormwater is collected and infiltrated on the site.