Cedar Irons Unveiled
Renovated public course in Tacoma now open
Cedar Irons Golf Club – formerly known as North Shore – began a new era for Tacoma public golf with the unveiling of the fully renovated historic course. All 18 holes of the 6,109-yard, par-72 championship course re-opened to the public on May 1, following a nearly two-year, $7.5 million project led by acclaimed Pacific Northwest golf course architect Dan Hixson.
Owned by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians and managed by Columbia Hospitality, the new Cedar Irons has undergone significant upgrades, including a much-needed, state-of-the-art irrigation system and a more open, strategic, and playable layout that revitalizes a beloved Tacoma golf course while catering to golfers of all abilities. The project began in November 2024. The renovated back nine reopened to the public in 2025; the front nine renovation was completed in April.
The former irrigation system was more than 40 years old. Meanwhile, the course had gradually become crowded with vegetation, narrowing the fairways and reducing playability. Hixson’s renovation reestablishes clear playing corridors, opens views across the property, and restores the course’s natural flow.
“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.”
The course follows a similar routing to the original. But the renovation focused on improving playability while enhancing architectural character. Tee boxes have been revitalized and expanded, fairways have been widened to encourage creativity off the tee, every bunker has been completely rebuilt, and all 18 green complexes have been either reconstructed or recontoured and refined. Tree removal and selective pruning have restored natural sightlines and improved turf conditions by allowing more sunlight and airflow across the course.
The renovation also features several redesigned holes. That includes the 17th hole, which had been reworked from a par 3 to a par 4, stretching the back nine from a par 35 to a par 36. The front nine features completely rebuilt greens on holes 1, 2, 3, and 6. Hole No. 2, once a 347-yard par 4, was stretched to more than 400 yards. The par-5 third hole was shortened to a par 4, and the fifth hole was converted from a par 4 to a par 5.
The course’s practice facility is also much improved, including new targets, revamped chipping green, new covered hitting stalls, grass teeing ground, and an outdoor matted area.
The new name for the course reflects both the Pacific Northwest landscape and the character of the renovated layout. Towering cedar trees remain a defining feature of the property, framing holes and anchoring the course firmly in the region’s natural environment. At the same time, the “Irons” reference highlights a course that rewards thoughtful shot-making and strategic play.
Together, the name represents a course rooted in the land and designed to celebrate the artistry of the game.
“For the Puyallup Tribe, 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 our longtime golfers and also those discovering the game for the first time.”
The result is a course that feels both refreshed and familiar – honoring the legacy of North Shore while delivering a modern playing experience that reflects the natural character of the Pacific Northwest.
“With Cedar Irons, 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 yet keep it very playable.”