Mary Macs named best golf course restaurant in the NW

Golf Northwest magazine rated Mary Mac’s restaurant at McCormick Woods as the best golf restaurant in the Pacific Northwest in its July issue.

The monthly magazine, which currently prints 30,000 copies, had a survey to which readers were asked to respond.

The first question was to find out which golf course in the Northwest has the best golf course restaurant.

Mary Mac’s finished tied with The Lodge on Hidden Lakes Golf Resort in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The survey sampled opinion from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.

Mary Mac’s partners with McCormick Woods, an 18-hole championship public golf course.

McCormick Woods opened for play in 1987 and has become one of the best known and most respected courses in the northwest, having been ranked the No. 5 golf course in Washington by Golf Digest in 1997

The golf course restaurant survey required readers to make a selection and mail it in to the magazine, which is located in Seattle.

Publisher John Tipping said about 600 to 700 people responded to the survey.

“There was no incentive for them to do this,” Tipping said. “Nothing could be manipulated to win. The people took the time to stick a stamp on the envelope to respond.”

Shawn Cucciardi — who along with Jeff Mehlert will officially be co-owners of Mary Mac’s in 10 days — said the timing couldn’t have been better.

Asked what he thought was the reason for Mary Mac’s popularity, Cucciardi didn’t hesitate with an answer.

“Without question, No. 1 is the quality food and the quality staff,” Cucciardi said. “We have just great people here.”

One of those people he credits is executive chef Bruce Bonholzer.

He also believes the view looking over the putting green and north lake adds ambiance to the restaurant.

What makes Cucciardi happy is that people involved with Mary Mac’s had nothing to do with the survey.

“(The survey) wasn’t shared by any particular view,” he said. “It just asked the average golfer to give an opinion.”

Cucciardi said the success of the restaurant in previous ownership will make for an easy transition with Mehlert.

“This is an award-winning restaurant,” he said. “There’s nothing you want to change. But we will listen to our customers to meet their needs.”

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