Jackson Park Golf Course covers 161 acres (0.65 sq km), includes a conventional 18 hole golf course (“the driest public course in the City of Seattle”), a short “Executive 9” course, a putting green, several ponds, some power lines, and, from a few very special places, views of Link Light Rail. There is a driving range, a Pro Shop, and a cafe.
The forested areas are typical Puget Sound lowland with second growth trees and varying densities of blackberries. Some forested areas, however, are truly open forest with very little undergrowth. Many of the open forests are bounded by a thin “wall” of foliage created by the outer branches of the trees. A step or two past this thin layer will lead to nice open woods. The fairways offer unconstrained travel, greens and sand traps notwithstanding.
Note: Samples of the map are provided here for educational purposes only; the map shown here is not kept up-to-date. The course shown is a Beginner/Intermediate course, and actual controls do not exist in the terrain.
The purpose of providing these navigational and physical ratings below is to provide greater context for how challenging an orienteering course at this venue might be. For example, an advanced-level course at a local city park will be easier to complete than an advanced-level course in the mountains.