Chambers Bay

Yes, the title of my blog suggests that my focus is on the best golf courses in Canada. True. However, as my mission statement describes, I want to play the best/most noteworthy courses around the world; obviously including those immediately south of the border. As far as west coast golf courses just south of the Canada/U.S. border, not many get more attention than Chambers Bay. Within a year of its opening, Chambers was named the host of the 2015 U.S. Open, in addition to the 2010 U.S. Amateur it was awarded. Needless to say, it was well deserving of a visit!

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

Bear Mountain - Mountain Course

Opened in 2003, the Mountain course at Bear Mountain was the first of two Nicklaus designs (followed by the Valley course), and drew a great deal of attention to the Vancouver Island resort. In 2010 it hosted the Telus Skins game, which included Villegas, Couples, Poulter, Goosen and Weir. Despite the reputation this gave Bear Mountain, I was less than thrilled with the preparation for this event. Why, you might ask?

In 2009 I made the 12 hour drive (plus 1.5 hour ferry) to Victoria; the trip on which I first played Jasper Park Lodge. I had my round at Bear Mountain booked, and was anticipating my day on the soon-to-be-famous Mountain course. When I arrived at the pro shop I was informed that the Mountain course was closed in preparation for the Telus Skins game, and that I had been booked on the newly opened Valley course. A touch disappointing to say the least. While I was pleasantly surprised at how good the Valley course was, I still felt somewhat robbed. I promised myself to return ASAP to play the round I rightly deserved.

Just over 3 years (to the day) has passed since the day I was denied my round on the Mountain course. Today I made certain I was booked on the Mountain!

But that's only where the story begins. I reached the top of Bear Mountain this morning in pouring rain, only a few degrees above freezing. Being the hardy Canadian I consider myself, I didn't hesitate to head to the driving range wearing only a golf shirt and shorts. I did so alone. After about 15 minutes, another gentleman (in full rain/cold attire) came out to the range, approached me, and said "you must be from Alberta, son". I can't recall ever being so proud of my province... good work Albertans!

Not surprisingly, the course was quite open. I followed a twosome, with no one in sight behind me. As the rains came, I played the downhill par 5 first; a 540 yd dogleg left which played shorter than its yardage even with a soggy fairway.

Approach to the 1st



A pond short of the green discourages an attack with the second shot, but the mown bank left of the green funnels shots to the right if one chooses to do so. An approach finding the deep bunker to the left leaves a blind shot to a green sloping away.

The second is a short uphill par 4. A creek runs up the right side, and a tee shot that drifts too far left leaves a blind approach over a subtle incline. The green is relatively large and flat, except for a collection area on the front right that cuts about 15 ft into the green.

Hole 3 is a slightly longer version of hole 2; only that the hill now guards the right, and 2 bunkers on the left side mirror the creek on the previous hole.

The fourth is a nice par 3 of just under 200 yards. The green sits about 12 ft. about the mown area and bunkers short.

Par 3 fourth

The rocks to the left shelter a few feet of green, as well as a collection area which extends just beyond the tall tree beside the green.

As i reached the 5th tee, fog started to roll over the golf course.. If the rain and cold weren't enough. The fifth is a long par 4; nearly 500 yds. A pond in the fairway is out of reach from the tee, and should be easily carried on the second shot. However, it presents an issue if the tee shot doesn't find the fairway, in that it prevents a pitch-out from being advanced within 180 yds from the green.

Fog over the 5th



Hole 6 is a mid-length par 4, with an uphill tee shot and downhill approach. When i got up to my tee ball the rain subsided. I was ahead of the fog for a moment. My approach shot to the 6th would be the first of only 4 shots I hit under good conditions.

Approach to 6



The approach to the large, gently sloping green is quite simple if the tee shot has been well positioned (a recurring theme). The only real danger is the deep bunker to the left, which is easy to avoid from the fairway.

#7 is the second par 3; a short uphill hole which was hardly visible as I headed back into the fog. It's a fairly straight forward hole, but makes good use of the hilly terrain.

Par 3 seventh



By the time I reached the 8th, the golf course was hardly visible. I passed by the 8th hole, stopping only to snap a few pictures.

8th hole enveloped in fog

The original 9th hole was under construction, with the 10th playing as the 9th (11th as the 10th, etc). The famous 19th hole then became the 14th, with 15-18 playing as usual.. but back to the golf.

The 9th (original 10th) is a beautiful dogleg left around a rock outcropping; a short uphill hole. The gap between this hole and #8, due to the contruction, allowed me to get ahead of the fog for a moment. My tee shot and approach were the 2nd and 3rd shots I played in good conditions, respectively. As you can see, the fog was creeping back in.

9th (10th) tee

Like almost every par 4, the approach is quite simple (and short) if the tee shot is well positioned. The only danger is if you bail out to the right to avoid the hill, and find the deep right hand bunker.

As you drive up the hill by the green, the next hole comes into view; the signature island green par 3. Despite all the misfortunes I've had in my two trips to Bear Mountain, I can thank the good Lord for the 10 minute window to play the 10th (11th) hole. The tee shot on the par 3 would be the 4th and final shot I hit in rain/fog free conditions.

For a hole of just under 150 yds, the green is actually quite big. I found it to be one of the less daunting island green I've played.. but maybe that just naturally happens after you've played a few of them, and the initial intimidation of hitting to an island wears off. Nonetheless, it is a stunning little area of the golf course, surrounded on 3 sides by a stadium-like bowl. As you can see, the fog was fast approaching.

By the time I reached the next tee, the golf course was almost completely out of sight. I waited for about an hour, as i drove ahead looking for a hole with enough visibility to hit a few shots. The opportunity never came. After two trips up Bear Mountain, much of the Mountain course has still eluded me.

The 13 tee; my memory of the back 9

The first stretch of holes was enough to wet my appetitie...I will return!


'Til next time, keep your stick on the ice!

The Golfing Canuck