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From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Chambers Bay
University Place, WA 98467
253-460-4653
Pricing: $151 - $199
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Located an hour south of Seattle, Chambers Bay is one of few pure "linksland" courses in the U.S. The course was designed by Robert Trent Jones II, and opened in 2007, and has already been awarded the 2010 U.S. Amateur, and the 2015 U.S. Open, unprecedented selections in terms of course age by the U.S.G.A. The course is routed over a stretch of rolling, sandy land straight on Chambers Bay with the Puget Sound in the background. It has a real natural feel to it with dunes, native grasses, elevation changes, with the holes framed by the sandy waste areas, with the Olympic Mountains out to the west. It's a walking only course, and not a bad walk at all, in fact very enjoyable to walk for a change. The course is actually a muni, owned by Pierce County, but it's everything a typical muni isn't. It was the location of the Steilacoom Indian Tribe's quarry and has been used as a paper mill, railroad yard, wastewater treatment plan, and other industrial type uses, but it's now found it's true calling. It's a steep price, but one great memory. Would play this course as often as possible if I lived in the area.
Published by: pate
Posted by: befowler
Dec 15th, 2011
I like Chambers Bay more every time I play it, and winter is the best time, with lower green fees, firm and dry conditions, and fewer players. It is remarkably accessible, with almost no forced carries and extremely wide fairways. The course gets better with age and your knowledge of how to play the slopes around the greens. There are also the Open-inspired improvements, which include a new green on No. 4 and soon-to-be-new greens on Nos. 1, 7 and 13. The fescue is filling out, the greens are rolling better, and the views have always been sensational.
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Dec 3rd, 2010
Played the course in 38 degrees and no wind on 11/28/10. Course was in perfect condition three days after snow. Greens gave me fits all day - they were very fast. Impossible to fire at the flags - I had to play to spots on the green and when I missed I was in trouble. The staff was super nice - both the pro shop and the starter - could not ask for a better experience. The walk is hilly, but not that bad - I was never really out of breat and I don''t work out. I played all the Bandon courses and this is right up with them for a links golf experience.
Posted by: DanielleM
Jun 28th, 2010
Chambers Bay is a very challenging but fair course. First, get a caddie. Only if you have played it many times would I suggest no caddie. It will be worth the money for the knowledge and also this is a long walk (no carts). The course is real fescue grass, completely different than anything in the US. So practice your bump and run with a eight iron and practice keeping shots low and out of the wind. So, the greens have huge slopes, but are fair, you just have to be firm. They will be around 8-9 on the stimp. Most holes you can run the ball up into the green rather than hit it high and see the huge bounce into a trap. Likewise the fairways are hard and fast, you have to expect lots of rollout.True links golf is very different so you need to learn it's ways rather than fight the course. It's hard to lose a ball, but pick ther right tees. If you are 5-10 handicap, use the tan tees. Scratch to 4, use the navy, everyone else the white or the blue Do not go back to the black tee unless you are a plus, you will not enjoy the beating you take. It's a wonderful course, and a chance to place like you are at the British Open.
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Posted by: McCallan
Jun 5th, 2010
The course is not very mature, run by a local municipality, and has some pretty rough areas. If you are used to immaculate courses, Chamber's Bay would be a let down. It certainly was no Bandon which everyone was originally trying to compare it to. That said, I did enjoy my round there and thought that the design was very challenging. I've probably said this 100 times to people, but I am not going back until they get the greens in order though. No excuse to charge that much and be told that the greens are a little shaggy. In our group of 4, no one made a putt over 8 feet the entire day. Near the end of the round, I was purposefully playing away from the greens so that I didn't end up with a putt over 20 feet. I don't like having to smash downhill putts to get them to the hole. None of us could adjust at all the entire day. I look forward to hearing that the greens are running at least over 10. (We were told they were almost a 10 when we set out, played more like a 7!!!)
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Posted by: Ciarin
Jun 22nd, 2009
Fantastic course and experience, a must play, it's now one of the top courses I've ever played anywhere. Take a caddie, enjoy a true links experience without leaving this country. Great conditions, pace of play was good, overall superb, I'm sure as it gets better known, and with the US Open coming, it will get more expensive and crowded.
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