Meadow Park Golf Course named a top course in the country with award-winning staff

Parks Tacoma’s Meadow Park Golf Course is being recognized nationally for its outreach programs introducing new players of all ages and abilities to the game of golf. 

For the fourth year in a row, the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) presented Meadow Park with the Top 50 Ranges: Public Facilities award, which recognizes facilities that introduce new players while retaining and inspiring their current clients. 

“Meadow Park’s player development programming, customer engagement and community outreach are all vital to growing this game and maintaining a sustainable business,” said Erik Haag, the golf and business operations supervisor at Meadow Park. 

Overseeing that work earned Haag one of the top honors the Professional Golf Association (PGA) can bestow. At the Western Washington Chapter PGA Annual Awards ceremony in November, Haag was presented with the PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award. The PGA says recipients are chosen who possess “outstanding qualities of leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the Association and the game of golf.” 

Meadow Parks’ PGA Jr League saw continued growth in 2024 with 263 participants, making it the second-largest program in the Pacific Northwest and number 14 in the country. This success earned the golf course the 2024 PGA Junior League Game Changer Award, given to only the top 25 junior programs in the country. 

Player Development Coordinator Mitch Girard is behind much of the youth program’s success. He was likewise recognized by the Western Washington chapter of PGA in November for his “extraordinary and exemplary contributions and achievements.” Girard was presented with both the PGA Youth Player Development Award, which celebrates youth player development and meaningful impact through the introduction and participation in the game, and PGA Player Development Award for game leadership and commitment in the player development arena. 

As a public golf course Meadow Park offers a variety of low-barrier entry points designed to attract first time players. Glow Golf, which returned in 2023 after a long hiatus, is specifically designed to be a fun and low-pressure recreation opportunity that focuses on entertainment. Stalls at the driving range with Toptracer technology are also available for drop-in and group reservations, providing a relaxing environment to compete with friends, play virtual courses, and relax on couches with food and beverage from Foley’s Bar and Grill. 

The upcoming No Pin Open Golf Tournament on February 22 is another opportunity for golf amateurs to test the waters and try their hand in a no-pressure game focused on fun first. 

Whether someone is holding a club for the first time or a regular on the links, Meadow Park offers activities, clinics and coaching for all experience levels. Find more information or book a tee-time online at MeadowParkGolf.com.