Chambers Bay opened with significant fanfare in 2007, touting an incredible waterfront location, municipal ownership and true links-style golf built out of an abandoned quarry just south of Tacoma, WA. It was immediately awarded the 2015 US Open (famously choked away by Dustin Johnson, and won by Jordan Speith), and garnered some serious criticism in the process. Gary Player called it "the worst golf course I might've ever seen in the 63 years as a professional golfer". Ouch.
There's lots of reasons why Chambers Bay earned a bad rap that weekend in June 2015. Getting on and off the course was a nightmare for fans, and so was navigating the course itself. The weather was bad. The fine fescue greens could not thrive against the native poa annua, resulting in a grainey, mixed putting surface that more likely resembles your local muni than a tour quality green. The list goes on...
But, a lot has changed at Chambers since that 2015 US Open. The greens have been re-done and allowed to transition to a full poa annua surface. The surrounding fescues have fully grown in and now add more greenery to the landscape. They've made it easier and more logical to navigate the property. Slowly but surely, Chambers Bay has evolved into one of America's finest links courses, and a true rival to its costal Oregon neighbors.
How did this happen? As they say, time heals all wounds, and with Chambers Bay, that time has allowed its natural environment to settle into the shape it was molded into. It's been quoted that Robert Trent Jones, Jr. moved over 1.4 million cubic feet worth of dirt for the effect of creating a natural dunes environment similar to what you would see in Scotland or Ireland. The results are stunning.
The routing bobs and weaves through the dunes and ocean, up and down the large quarry slope to create dramatic vistas and scenery that give the course a sense of place and occasion. It's walking only, so even with a caddy, you'll need to be prepared to hoof it over 5 miles, and up at least 500ft in elevation. At the highest point in the course, the par-3 ninth hole plays downhill by possibly over 100ft, and gives a true perspective on just how much slope there is on this course.
Trent Jones Jr. does a masterful job of creating large, undulated fairways with large (often unforseen) swails that can send your ball in any direction, but a well shaped teeshot tends to be properly rewarded. The highlight of this design is the driveable 281 yard 12th hole. Playing directly uphill with a narrow fairway protected by a large dune on the left, a well struck drive will chase up towards the punchbowl green, leaving a chance for eagle if the ball catches the slope to the left of the green. Any other shot will end up in proverbial jail. At Chambers, just like true links golf, keeping the ball close to the ground is paramount, and may luck ever be in your favor.
Upon walking up the 18th green, it's clear that Chambers Bay has found its footing as a premier example of links golf at its purest. A wild, thrilling ride for 18 holes that leaves you wanting for more, and in awe of your experience. It's a true gem that exemplifies how great golf on America's West Coast can be.
SPOLIER RATING: 9.2