Tam O’Shanter: show patience on this gem

This is the third in a series of columns focusing on golfing opportunities for Bellevue residents from the eyes of a true amateur. Previously reviewed courses include the Golf Club at Newcastle and Willows Run. This week’s course: Tam O’Shanter Golf and Country Club.

All giants must fall and all good things come to the end.

This much Issaquah sports reporter Kevin Endejan now knows after our latest outing, this time at the hidden gem that is Tam O’Shanter Golf and Country Club.

Much like the New England Patriots, who cruised into the Super Bowl with a 19-0 record, only to be knocked off their perch by the New York Giants, I’m sure Kevin felt confident as we pulled into the parking lot of the course nestled near Lake Sammamish in Bellevue. After all, how couldn’t he be feeling confident? He had beat me on both our previous outings.

But much like the underdog Giants, it was I who claimed superiority this day. Kevin will have to settle for his 2-1 record after his 120-129 defeat at my hands (yes, I told you, we’re amateurs).

A challenging 5854 yard, nine-hole course awaited us in Tam O’Shanter, home of the Interlake High School golf teams.

When playing the full 18, golfers first play from the white tees and aim for the white flags; on the second go-round, it’s time to tee off from the reds and aim for the red flag. We thought playing each hole twice meant it’d be easier.

We were wrong.

As it states on the Tam O’Shanter Web site, it can be “one tough course.”

The par-71 course is lined with trees. This made things especially difficult, as Kevin and I both posses what can be described only as “ample slices.”

Which made things even more difficult. Both Kevin and I made our introductions to the trees during the day.

The course also can be difficult mentally. There truly is a lot going on - houses also line the course, so you may see residents going about their day, or the grounds crew maintaining the course.

The course changes elevation quite a bit, more so than the previous courses we had played. There were many times where we were shooting with the ball above or below us on the hills.

This course necessitates golfers show more patience and more strategy than I’ve typically seen, which I fully account for our high scores, and not the reality that we are horrible golfers.

Bottom line: if you like to “grip it and rip it” you might find yourself in some trouble on this course.

Joel Willits is the sports reporter for the Bellevue Reporter. He can be reached at 425-453-4270 ext. 5060 or at jwillits@reporternewspapers.com.