Playing Chambers Bay next week...

Playing Chambers Bay next week for the first time with a buddy. So pumped!!

Any tips for anyone who has played out there? Is it worth getting a caddie? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Right on! I've been playing Chambers 2/3 times a year since its opening year. I love Chambers and I hope you have a great time....enjoy the walk and scenery! As for tips, spend a good amount of time chipping and putting. The greens are tough to read and everything breaks towards the water. Pay attention to the pin placement and how you can play your approach because you will most times will not aim directly at the pin...use the mounds to your advantage. I haven't played since they re-open with updated greens so can't say anything on that other than I heard they are kind of slow but maybe that's not the case anymore. As for caddie, if you have the money I recommend it for sure. It will boost your playing experience there. Have fun! Let me know what you think of the new greens. I will be playing there mid September.

Played there back in June. Thew new greens are in excellent shape. completely agree about the chipping and putting. To me it's a second shot golf course as the greens have lots of movement and there are some places you can absolutely not go if you want to play well there. With or without a caddy, the walk is pretty demanding. Except for a few holes, you are pretty much going uphill or downhill most of the time. If you plan to hit some balls beforehand, give yourself a little extra time as they have a shuttle service to get you from the pro shop to the range if they are using the lower one and then to the first tee. It's only 5 mins or so for each max but still. Have fun!

Seconded on the extra time to warm up because of the shuttle. The first time I played there I had a shortened warm up routine because the we didn't plan around the shuttle.

-When you can, play keeping the ball low to play the ground contours of the fairways and greens with bump and run shots.

-Chambers Bay Instagram has tips on how to play certain holes.

-And this cool digital yardage guide

https://envisage.golf/chambersbay/

Have fun. I play there this Friday.

Definitely worth getting a caddy.

Chambers is very hilly with lots of bunkers and having a caddy will vastly enhance your round IMHO.

Last time I played there we had two excellent caddies. At the 17th my buddy and I offered up $100 as a KP to the two caddies and an additional $50 for each of them who got inside the two of us. Probably the easiest money they ever made.

> @Golfnuck said:

> Definitely worth getting a caddy.

>

> Chambers is very hilly with lots of bunkers and having a caddy will vastly enhance your round IMHO.

>

> Last time I played there we had two excellent caddies. At the 17th my buddy and I offered up $100 as a KP to the two caddies and an additional $50 for each of them who got inside the two of us. Probably the easiest money they ever made.

I'm thinking caddy is the way to go as well considering I'm not sure the next time I would get back up to the PNW area and want to make the most of my experience. What does it typically cost? It's all tip based correct? Asking because I literally have no idea

> @ztaubsauce said:

> > @Golfnuck said:

> > Definitely worth getting a caddy.

> >

> > Chambers is very hilly with lots of bunkers and having a caddy will vastly enhance your round IMHO.

> >

> > Last time I played there we had two excellent caddies. At the 17th my buddy and I offered up $100 as a KP to the two caddies and an additional $50 for each of them who got inside the two of us. Probably the easiest money they ever made.

>

> I'm thinking caddy is the way to go as well considering I'm not sure the next time I would get back up to the PNW area and want to make the most of my experience. What does it typically cost? It's all tip based correct? Asking because I literally have no idea

I do not recall paying anything at reception so I believe it is paid directly to the caddie. This is consistent with other courses that I have utilized caddies.

Sorry but I do not recall what I paid but I think it was over $100 (not including their "winnings" at the 17th hole).

EDIT - Just went onto the Chambers Bay website and here is what they say:

All caddie payments are to be paid directly to the caddie. Our caddies average $100+ per bag, per round. We encourage our guests to base the payment on the service provided and ultimately, the amount of any gratuity is determined at the sole discretion of the guest. The average caddie payment should be for a job well done.

Thanks @Golfnuck that is helpful! Will post some pics of the round back in here afterwards. Thanks everyone!

I did not take a caddy but there was one in our group. Even though he was not my caddy he still made the round that much better to the point that I tossed him a $20.

Tips: You're gonna be in the sand a lot, (there's that much of it) if you can practice some sand shots pre-round to get a feel for it do so.

Trust distances from range finder/caddy/sprinkler. The scale of the place plays tricks on you and has you second-guessing yardages all day, hit the number, even if it seems wrong.

> @ztaubsauce said:

> Thanks @Golfnuck that is helpful! Will post some pics of the round back in here afterwards. Thanks everyone!

How did it go!?

Im playing there Sept 14 and 15 looking forward to it

> @"James the Hogan Fan" said:

> I did not take a caddy but there was one in our group. Even though he was not my caddy he still made the round that much better to the point that I tossed him a $20.

>

> Tips: **You're gonna be in the sand a lot**, (there's that much of it) if you can practice some sand shots pre-round to get a feel for it do so.

>

> Trust distances from range finder/caddy/sprinkler. The scale of the place plays tricks on you and has you second-guessing yardages all day, hit the number, even if it seems wrong.

So true about being in the sand.

I would never have lasted the whole round if I had to rake my own bunkers !!!!!!!!

Also completely agree that if you are going to employ a caddie you should listen to his/her advice.

By the 18th my caddie had figured out my snap hook tendencies.

So he suggested that perhaps the safe play for me is to snap hook it over to the first fairway and play my second shot from there.

Of course no proud 30 handicapper would do that .... so I tried to play into the 18th fairway only to get it into the first fairway bunker. Second shot was into the second fairway bunker and so on.

It was amazing!! My buddy and I had a blast! Amazing conditions, perfect weather (75 and zero clouds) and the staff was great. Didn't end up having a caddy, but we were paired with a single who had played there a ton and provided us with a lot of great course knowledge. Front 9 played well, but fatigue set in on the back 9 (especially after being at a Bachelor party all weekend). Hope to get back there sometime soon again. Highly recommend!!

I’ve played 2x in the past month. Caddie definitely isn’t necessary but I HIGHLY recommend using one of the course pull carts. I walked almost 12 miles the first round and only missed 1 fair way. It’s definitely an experience played once in good weather and once in the rain. An amazing course for sure.

> @bnp144 said:

> I’ve played 2x in the past month. Caddie definitely isn’t necessary but I HIGHLY recommend using one of the course pull carts. I walked almost 12 miles the first round and only missed 1 fair way. It’s definitely an experience played once in good weather and once in the rain. An amazing course for sure. !

>

Great photos!!! I’ll be there at the end of September. Looking forward to it. How much are pull carts? Do they have regular carts? My wife will be playing with me.

The Chambers Bay website states that power carts are only allowed if the player has an ADA disability & the Director of Golf approves their use.

( Even if a power cart is allowed, the player must pay for the cart, a caddie to drive the cart as well as the caddie fee & tip. )

> @ztaubsauce said:

> It was amazing!! My buddy and I had a blast! Amazing conditions, perfect weather (75 and zero clouds) and the staff was great. Didn't end up having a caddy, but we were paired with a single who had played there a ton and provided us with a lot of great course knowledge. Front 9 played well, but fatigue set in on the back 9 (especially after being at a Bachelor party all weekend). Hope to get back there sometime soon again. Highly recommend!!

Right on! How did the greens roll?

> @sandiegonative said:

> > @bnp144 said:

> > I’ve played 2x in the past month. Caddie definitely isn’t necessary but I HIGHLY recommend using one of the course pull carts. I walked almost 12 miles the first round and only missed 1 fair way. It’s definitely an experience played once in good weather and once in the rain. An amazing course for sure. !

> >

>

> Great photos!!! I’ll be there at the end of September. Looking forward to it. How much are pull carts? Do they have regular carts? My wife will be playing with me.

Pull carts are complimentary.

> @sway162 said:

> Pull carts are complimentary.

Thanks Sway162. You free Friday, September 27th at 2pm?