On the drive down from the lower mainland I had my wipers on full for the entire 2 1/2 hours, with rain in the forecast for the entire weekend (not surprising for the last week of November). I had accepted that my round on Saturday morning would be in less-than-ideal conditions. After my experience at Bear Mountain a few weeks before, I was unsure of whether I would get to play a full 18 holes. To much surprise I woke up to clear blue skies. By the time I reached the golf course the clouds had rolled in, but the rain never fell.
Aside from construction on a few holes, the course was in great shape. Even with the recent down pour, the greens rolled quick, drawing attention to the courses outstanding drainage. The course played reasonably tough considering how calm the wind was; typically a factor on coastal courses. Now to the course!...
At nearly 500 yds, the par 4 first is likely one of the most difficult holes on the course. It plays towards Puget Sound, and consequently, directly into the wind. The generous fairway narrows from the right, and the drive must be well struck to reach the top of the hill and allow a clear view of the green on the approach. The second shot is deceiving, as the large dune on the right, along with righthand bunkers, encourage the player to favor the left.
Approach to the 1st
In actual fact, the safe play is right, as a deep depression and shaved bank guard the left. With the local knowledge of a playing partner I took aim at the greenside bunker to the right, and thought my 3-iron had found its target. To my surprise, the contours directed my shot to the hole. The resulting 3 was one of the best (albeit lucky) opening birdies.
The second is a relatively straight forward, short par 4. A large waste area on the left demands a lay up to a wide fairway, leaving a short iron approach. The scenic approach plays to a narrow sloping green; a good hole that is neither easy, nor overly difficult.
Hole 3 is the first par 3, and a beauty at that. It is a short hole, surrounded by bunkers and mounds. Even after my fortunes on the first hole, it was not until I played the 3rd that I realized how links-y Chambers plays. If you play to the right spots, you can miss the green by half a mile and still end up on the dance floor. Of course, if you play to the wrong spots you can end up shoulder deep, digging sand castles. No doubt the pros will be taking full advantage of this when the US Open rolls through town.
#4 is the first par 5, and can play quite short if the tees are up. While the tee shot plays slightly downhill, the second/third play steeply uphill, providing the most significant defense of the hole.
4th tee
As always, the severity of the slope is not captured in the picture, but it gives an idea. The layup is simple, baiting the player to attack with the second if a drive is well positioned. While the green appears small, the fairway around the left side funnels approaches, rewarding an aggressive approach. However, the bunker to the right is deeper than it appears, likely resulting in a blind bunker shot. Despite the danger, it is a birdie hole... probably one that the USGA will convert to a long par 4 for the US Open.
The par 4 fifth plays back down the hill to a wide fairway that pinches around 300 yds. The real danger lies in the approach, which plays uphill, over a small bunker directly infront of the green that runs front to back. The only aid is the wind in your face. The slopes on either side of the green encourage a low run-up shot around the front bunker. As the local gentleman in our group mentioned, "Chambers plays as a links; when in doubt, keep the ball on the ground". Indeed, the land is well contoured.
Hole 6 was one of my favorites, but I don't really know why.. it just fit my eye. A mid-length par 4 that doglegs to the right around large mounds, it leaves an approach to a large green, with bunkers and sand dunes on all sides.
The 7th had a temporary green, in addition to the newly opened permanent green. It is a brute of a par 4, playing over 500 yds, with an uphill approach. The large waste bunker to the right provides a viable short cut if one wants to roll the dice will their lie. Aptly named "hump back" the approach plays over 2 distinct humps in the middle of the fairway.
Approach to 7
The flagstick is just barely visible over the steep incline, and the entire bank is closely mown. As a result, any approach short of the green will roll back about 75 yds, leaving a blind pitch. Although 7 is a par 4, I thought it played every bit as tough as the 4th (a par 5).
Hole 8 also had a temporary green, making the long par 5 into a short par 4. Since the hole played so different from how it should, I will not comment further.
The 9th hole was perhaps the biggest let down of the afternoon. Due to the shortened 8th, the regulation tees atop the hill behind the permanent 8th green were not in use. As a result, the postcard par 3 ninth played south from a make-shift tee area on the practice facility, rather than east towards Puget Sound. It was actually still a good hole, and disappointing only because I knew how great the hole usually plays.
While 9 was a slight let down, the 10th hole didn't disappoint. The straight away par 4 plays back toward Puget Sound, and is lined on either side by dramatic dunes.
10th tee
From the fairway, the approach is quite simple. However, from the left or right, a number of obstacles come into play. The approach to #10 is one of my favorite I have ever played.
Approach to #10
The green is sheltered by large dunes, and is deceptively narrow; the slope on the right hides a greenside bunker. While the right might appear to be the safe approach, the slope from the left hand dune funnels shots onto the green. These contours also reward running shots, if need be.
Hole 11 is another long par 4 of nearly 500 yds. The tee shot plays over a dune-like mound to a generous fairway. The difficulty is in the approach. The green is built into a hill falling right to left, with the entire complex around the green closely mown. Anything left will fall 10 ft below the surface of the green, while shots to the right will roll nicely towards the flag (unless the shot is played too far right, which which case it may run right across the green and down the hill). This will be an interesting hole to watch in the US Open, where even some of the best golfers will make big numbers.
The 12th is a quirky hole, unlike any others on the course. Ironically, it may be the most links-like of them all. This short hole is within reach for many golfers, playing uphill between dunes. As the shortest par 4 on the course, it also has the largest green, containing 3 or 4 distinct portions. With its (lack of) length and large green, a birdie putt is all but guaranteed. However, the endless mounds and slopes ensure that no gimmes will be surrendered.
12th green
The 13th is another short par 5, which will likely be converted to a 4 for the US Open. While the fairway is easy to hit, a well positioned drive will run an extra 10 or 20 yds. The primary defense is a small green which runs off to the right. A large waste bunker along the right side makes the hole pleasing to the eye.
14 is another dramatic downhill par 4, which doglegs around an expansive waste bunker. There will be a fair number of 300 yard irons hit from this tee when the USGA gets the course firm for the US open. The approach is similar to the 2nd hole (albeit from a slightly different angle), with the green hanging over the left-hand waste bunker.
Which brings us to 15, the postcard hole at Chambers Bay (if only one). The lone tree on the west side of the golf course stands between the green and the coastline. While this pretty little downhill par 3 was just over 140 yds. from the tee, a new tee box stretches it to well over 200; something I find quite unnecessary. Depending on the pin location this hole is no bargain, luckily for me an accessible pin and well struck gap wedge led to one of my favorite birdies.
The signature par 3 - 15th
Hole 16 is almost a mirror image of #14 from the tee, in that it plays around a large waste area on the right. As well, the approach favors a shot played to the left (in contrast to a shot to the right on #14). Like much of the course, the contours encourage a shot played along the ground to the safe side of the green.
If the 15th is the signature hole, #17 would be the runner-up. The last of 4 stunning par 3s is guarded by deep bunkers left and right, as well as a multi-tiered green. It is aptly named "derailed", after the adjacent railroad track (not to mention it's ability to spoil a low round).
#17
The finishing hole is a good risk/reward par 5. A well struck drive will allow many to reach in 2, but an off line tee shot will force a lay up; made more difficult by a newly added, massively deep bunker that sits in the middle of the fairway. A lay-up finding this bunker will force a sideways pitch-out. Needless to say, for as many birdies as this hole may surrender, there will be just as many huge numbers. A dramatic multi-tiered green provides one last obstacle on this intriguing layout.
After reviewing my write-up, I noticed that I forgot to mention one more unique characteristic of the golf course. Unlike most North American courses, the greens are the same grass as the fairways. This of course is a more links-like feature that is common overseas. While it makes the greens look slower, they were actually quite firm and fast, and rolled true every time.
Chambers is a one of a kind combination of links course contouring and western bunkering, resulting in one of my favorite public courses. It's certainly well worth the stop if you're in town!
'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!
The Golfing Canuck
'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!
The Golfing Canuck
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