Tacoma’s public‑golf landscape is about to change in a big, meaningful way. After nearly two years of construction, renovation, and architectural re‑imagining, the former North Shore Golf Course is stepping confidently into its next chapter under a new name: Cedar Irons Golf Club. Backed by a $7.5 million investment, guided by acclaimed Pacific Northwest architect Dan Hixson, and supported by ownership from the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the course officially reopens all 18 holes to the public on Friday, May 1.
For a region with deep golf roots and a passionate playing community, this is more than a renovation. It’s a revival.
A Vision Rooted in Restoration and Playability
When Hixson first walked the property, he saw what many longtime Tacoma golfers already knew: the course had great bones but had slowly lost its identity. Overgrown vegetation had narrowed fairways, choked airflow, and obscured the natural beauty of the land. The irrigation system—more than four decades old—struggled to meet modern conditioning standards. The layout, once beloved, had become less playable and less visually compelling.
Hixson’s renovation set out to reverse that trend. His approach was not to reinvent the course but to reveal it.
He opened playing corridors, restored long‑lost sightlines, and reintroduced the natural movement of the land. The result is a layout that feels more strategic, more inviting, and more in tune with the Pacific Northwest environment. As Hixson put it, “The property had wonderful bones, but over time it had become tight and overgrown. It’s really kind of magical when a course like Cedar Irons is opened up.”
That sense of magic is now woven into every hole.
Cedar Irons Golf Club: A Course Rebuilt From the Ground Up
While the routing remains familiar, nearly every element of the course has been touched, refined, or rebuilt. Tee boxes have been expanded and leveled to create more consistent starting points. Fairways are wider and more forgiving, encouraging players to think creatively rather than simply trying to survive tight corridors. Every bunker on the property has been reconstructed, giving the course a cleaner, more intentional look.
The greens—always the soul of any renovation—received the most attention. All 18 complexes were either rebuilt or recontoured, with several holes receiving entirely new green designs. The front nine, in particular, showcases dramatic updates. Holes 1, 2, 3, and 6 feature completely rebuilt greens, each offering new angles, new slopes, and new scoring opportunities.
The renovation also introduced meaningful changes to par and yardage. The 17th hole, once a par 3, now plays as a par 4, stretching the back nine from a par 35 to a par 36. On the front side, the former 347‑yard second hole now exceeds 400 yards, the par‑5 third has been shortened into a par 4, and the fifth hole has been converted from a par 4 into a par 5. These adjustments bring the course to 6,109 yards, a par‑72 that balances challenge with accessibility.
Beyond the playing surfaces, the infrastructure received a major upgrade. The new irrigation system—long overdue—ensures consistent turf quality and more sustainable water management. Improved drainage and increased sunlight exposure have already transformed the course’s conditioning. Walking the course is easier, the turf is healthier, and the overall experience is smoother for golfers of all skill levels.
A Practice Facility Designed for Modern Golfers
Cedar Irons Golf Club didn’t stop at the course itself. The practice facility has been reimagined to meet today’s players’ expectations. New targets, a revamped chipping green, covered hitting stalls, a grass teeing area, and an outdoor matted section create a versatile space for warm‑ups, lessons, and dedicated practice sessions.
For a public course aiming to become a community hub, investing in the practice area shows a commitment to player development and accessibility.
A New Name With Deep Regional Roots
With the renovation comes a new identity—Cedar Irons—a name chosen to reflect both the natural landscape and the character of the redesigned course. Towering cedar trees remain a defining feature of the property, anchoring the course in the Pacific Northwest’s rugged beauty. The “Irons” portion of the name speaks to the style of play the course now rewards: thoughtful shotmaking, strategic choices, and the artistry of golf rather than sheer power.
For the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the name carries cultural and environmental significance. “Cedar Irons represents stewardship of this land and a commitment to creating a welcoming place for the community to gather,” said Kyle Eley, Chief Operating Officer of the Puyallup Tribe. “This renovation restores the beauty of the property while creating a golf experience that can be enjoyed by longtime Tacoma golfers and those discovering the game for the first time.”
The name is both a tribute to the land and a promise to the community.
Honoring the Past While Embracing the Future
Cedar Irons is not a departure from North Shore’s legacy—it’s an evolution. The course feels familiar enough for longtime players to recognize its spirit, yet fresh enough to inspire new excitement. Hixson’s design introduces subtle quirks, more interesting greens, and rebuilt bunkers that add character without overwhelming the everyday golfer.
“We wanted a course that wouldn’t be your typical public experience,” Hixson said. “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.”
That balance—playable yet compelling, strategic yet welcoming—is what positions Cedar Irons to become one of the region’s standout public golf experiences.
A New Standard for Tacoma Public Golf
With its May 1 reopening, Cedar Irons Golf Club steps confidently into its new role as a revitalized, modern, community‑focused golf destination. The course is now better conditioned, more enjoyable to walk, more visually engaging, and more strategically rewarding. It’s a place where beginners can learn, where seasoned players can test their skills, and where Tacoma’s golf community can gather for decades to come.
Cedar Irons isn’t just reopening—it’s redefining what public golf in Tacoma can be.
