The front nine of Sudden Valley is relatively open and flat and borders the shores of Lake Whatcom. Fairway landing areas are relatively generous and the greens are large.
However, the back nine follows a ridge uphill with narrow evergreen-fringed fairways and smaller greens that have more character.
Sudden Valley is considered a true masterpiece, stressing finesse and accuracy with water hazards on fourteen of the eighteen holes and some forty-seven bunkers sprinkled throughout the course.