Course of the week: China Creek Course at Newcastle

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Telephone: 425-793-4653

Par, yardage: Par 70 (this summer only, 71 next year), tournament tees (gold) 6,416 yards, championship tees (blue) 5,886, regular (white) 5,356, red (forward) 4,566.

Rating, slope: Gold, 71.4 (what an expert would shoot this summer), 126 (113 is standard course); blue, 68.8, 123; white, 66.0, 117; red 62.5, 108; women, whites, 70.7, 123; reds, 66.1, 112.

Greens fees: $90 plus tax.

Comments: Absolutely manicured. Back nine opened last summer and some holes on front nine were completed last year. ... Some real birdie opportunities for typical golfer. ... Not as tough as sister course Coal Creek (from whites, 117 slope rating vs. 122 at Coal Creek) and $60 cheaper. ... Not as many great views of Seattle but still plenty of skyline views plus nice view of Cougar Mountain Regional Wildlife Park on front nine. ... Negatives are homes on some holes and residential construction noise. ... No. 6 will be par-4, but now it's a par-3 with a pond because of residential construction. ... No. 8 is one of state's longest holes at 609 yards from the tips. ... No. 2 is a wonderful par-3 followed by an interesting short par-4 (293 yards from whites) with blind tee shot.

Times rating: 4 balls (5 balls is best, 2 is average)