Thirty-nine counties comprise Washington, the most populous of which is predictably the urban King, while Garfield – embedded in the southeast corner of the state – is the least.
Adjacent to the latter is Columbia County, the second-least inhabited, in which lies the single-stoplight town of Dayton.
Given its geography, it’s a town that built itself on industries like dairy farming and horse racing all while not far from the coveted vineyards in and around Walla Walla.
But since 1910, those among Dayton’s sub-2,500 population have also been well familiar with golf, on a course built with originally just three holes.
Touchet Valley Golf Course is now a 9-hole facility that runs along its eponymous river, in the shadows of beige and deep green grassy hills that look as if they could be a Windows XP background. Positioned near Dayton’s fairgrounds, Touchet’s land was once a dairy farm. A horse racetrack that lay dormant since 2012 still encircles some of the property, too. When viewed from above, Touchet Valley and Dayton do just appear as their own oasis in an otherwise arid zone.
“We call it our ‘quiet diamond,’” says Shane Laib, 30-year Dayton resident and the economic development coordinator for Port of Columbia. “It’s a gem that’s been undiscovered.”
Ubiquitous or not throughout its 116 years, Touchet Valley officially opened its 2026 season on April 1 and cut a ribbon for the occasion. There was no need for golfers to scramble for tee times, because simply checking in at the restaurant without one is all that’s necessary to play the nine holes. In the winter months, when the restaurant is closed, a handy QR code sits posted near the first tee for patrons to scan.
Touchet has a patchwork staff. Much of the ground maintenance is credited to Sean Cassidy, who formerly fronted Dayton Chemical. A perfectionist who spent his career selling chemicals to local farmers, Cassidy proved to be a natural in the service of a golf course.
“Our greens, I swear, look so beautiful,” says Claudia Nysoe, a member of Touchet Valley’s board of directors. “Sean gets down on his hands and knees and babies these things.”
The groundskeeping is not unique to Cassidy. Illustrating local care this spring, a willing crew ranging from local high schoolers to septuagenarians planted an assortment of 300 trees and shrubs on the grounds. Additionally, following local fundraising efforts that garnered $1 million, a new irrigation system was installed, for the thirsty sunbaked track that at one time was manually watered with hoses.
Throughout Touchet’s recent gains, Nysoe, who is also the Ladies Club president, has given plenty of consideration toward youth and women’s golf, also. Recently, she successfully persuaded a semi-retired golf coach to host a free instructional clinic, attendees of which were several girls and women completely new to the game.
“We got a good amount of women that attended and introduced them to the sport,” Nysoe said. “As a result, my Wednesday Ladies League grew by three members. I know that doesn't sound like a lot, but for here, it was pretty good.”
Touchet Valley has long served junior golf in a generally high capacity, hosting clinics for over two decades, at which golf clubs are available for borrowing. Each clinic sends a message that the size of one’s town is no hamper to a lifelong relationship with the game.
“It’s all community,” Nysoe says of such outings. “It’s giving back and trying to grow this sport and show people there’s something you can learn in little old Dayton, and take it all over the world.”
Touchet Valley even made an appearance at the Spokane Golf Show in February, offering up playing packages to the golf enthusiasts of the Northwest. Noting the course’s proximity to others in Walla Walla and elsewhere nearby, Laib makes sure to advertise trips to Dayton in any relevant golf adventure.
“It's been a good way for us to network with other small courses or surrounding courses,” Laib explains. “Just to get the word out and find out how they're doing things, and what is working for them.”
Both Laib and Nysoe are proud to represent what has been a revitalized smalltown community in recent years. Key fixtures in town, like the Weinhart Hotel, have been renovated. While not a local business, a Dollar General recently opened in Dayton, too, alleviating a need for locals to travel well outside town for some goods.
"If we keep building this community the way we like to see it move forward, it's just going to get better and better,” Laib said. "The golf course is just another jewel in that crown of what this community truly is.”
Of the community support extended in her direction, Nysoe says, “It's gratifying to take a look at what the course was five years ago – weeds, dead spots, dirt; and to see what it is now, and to see what a group of people can do, has been beautiful. It really has.”