Chambers Bay trip report

[Oregonianman]

I played Chambers for the first time yesterday, April 16, 2023. We don’t seem to have a Chambers mega thread, so please feel free to pile onto this one. 
 

The good:

 

• despite absolutely pouring rain, the course was in great shape. I saw one or two bits of standing water, but nothing that impaired play. Bunker sand wasn’t unreasonably heavy. 
• staff were super friendly and helpful. 
   
• the course is great. As a mid handicapper who has made multiple trips to Bandon, I’d put it somewhere between BD and PD in terms of challenge and course design. The views are extraordinary on every hole. 
   
• there are a few subtle reminders of the 2015 open, including a ground plaque on 18 showing where Spieth made his final approach shot. It’s neat history. 

 

 

The bad:

 

• pace of play was terrible, and it wasn’t because the course was busy. One foursome held up play for us and two groups in front of us. We ended up playing a 5:15 17-hole round, waiting 5+ minutes on every shot. Marshals never did anything.  If the marshals had sped them up or if they’d allowed other groups to play through, we’d have finished on time. 
   
• greens were very bumpy. It’s spring, but I’d still expect better conditions. 
   
• the 15th green is still closed. The website said we’d get a $75 bounce back pass to play again, which was repeated in our day-before welcome email. Instead we were given a $99 pass, which is only a ~25% discount from the state golf assn rate. I’m unlikely to use it anyway, but it’s still annoying that the message on the website and email is out of date. 
   

on balance, I don’t think I’d make a special trip to play here again. As a Portlander, the drive to Bandon isn’t so much worse that I can justify Chambers instead. But if I were a king county resident, paying the discounted rate, I’d be here much more often. 

[doc52]

15 minutes ago, Oregonianman said:

I played Chambers for the first time yesterday, April 16, 2023. We don’t seem to have a Chambers mega thread, so please feel free to pile onto this one. 
 

The good:

 

• despite absolutely pouring rain, the course was in great shape. I saw one or two bits of standing water, but nothing that impaired play. Bunker sand wasn’t unreasonably heavy. 
• staff were super friendly and helpful. 
   
• the course is great. As a mid handicapper who has made multiple trips to Bandon, I’d put it somewhere between BD and PD in terms of challenge and course design. The views are extraordinary on every hole. 
   
• there are a few subtle reminders of the 2015 open, including a ground plaque on 18 showing where Spieth made his final approach shot. It’s neat history. 

 

 

The bad:

 

• pace of play was terrible, and it wasn’t because the course was busy. One foursome held up play for us and two groups in front of us. We ended up playing a 5:15 17-hole round, waiting 5+ minutes on every shot. Marshals never did anything.  If the marshals had sped them up or if they’d allowed other groups to play through, we’d have finished on time. 
   
• greens were very bumpy. It’s spring, but I’d still expect better conditions. 
   
• the 15th green is still closed. The website said we’d get a $75 bounce back pass to play again, which was repeated in our day-before welcome email. Instead we were given a $99 pass, which is only a ~25% discount from the state golf assn rate. I’m unlikely to use it anyway, but it’s still annoying that the message on the website and email is out of date. 
   

on balance, I don’t think I’d make a special trip to play here again. As a Portlander, the drive to Bandon isn’t so much worse that I can justify Chambers instead. But if I were a king county resident, paying the discounted rate, I’d be here much more often. 

 

I heard the 15th was still closed due to the way the new green reacted to the most recent snow storm.

 

Played there a few months ago and didn't have any issues with the greens. They probably haven't aerated or cut/rolled them recently due to all the rain.

[italianstallion]

Appreciate the trip report and details. Any rumblings on when the 15th green will be open again? Playing in June at the end of our Bandon trip. Won’t cancel because of it but it’s interesting there’s been a lack of updates from the course on it. 

[Oregonianman]

4 minutes ago, italianstallion said:

Appreciate the trip report and details. Any rumblings on when the 15th green will be open again? Playing in June at the end of our Bandon trip. Won’t cancel because of it but it’s interesting there’s been a lack of updates from the course on it. 

Nothing definitive, but the pro shop folks said they’re pretty close. I’d be very surprised if it’s still closed in June. 

[kaschreiber]

5 minutes ago, Oregonianman said:

Nothing definitive, but the pro shop folks said they’re pretty close. I’d be very surprised if it’s still closed in June. 

I had a bit of a back and forth with the super on twitter and short answer is they just don't know. So much of it is dependent on weather and how well the new green can take after basically having to be rebuilt (from what I could gather). 

 

I've seen pace of play be an issue out there as well and typically my only complaint. It is odd as there are on course marshalls, either shuttling you up from 3 green to 4 tee or walking the course. I feel like marshalls on course now just hope their mere presence is enough as I don't ever really see them ask groups to speed up / skip a hole. 

 

Either way, between that and Gamble, it's pretty clear why they're ranked 1a and 1b for best courses in the state depending on the list you see. I have my first trip to Wine Valley in ~1 month and have heard that it's in the same conversation, but between Gamble and Chambers I feel Chambers is a better course, Gamble is more fun. 

[doc52]

1 hour ago, kaschreiber said:

I had a bit of a back and forth with the super on twitter and short answer is they just don't know. So much of it is dependent on weather and how well the new green can take after basically having to be rebuilt (from what I could gather). 

 

I've seen pace of play be an issue out there as well and typically my only complaint. It is odd as there are on course marshalls, either shuttling you up from 3 green to 4 tee or walking the course. I feel like marshalls on course now just hope their mere presence is enough as I don't ever really see them ask groups to speed up / skip a hole. 

 

Either way, between that and Gamble, it's pretty clear why they're ranked 1a and 1b for best courses in the state depending on the list you see. I have my first trip to Wine Valley in ~1 month and have heard that it's in the same conversation, but between Gamble and Chambers I feel Chambers is a better course, Gamble is more fun. 

They should be open by June, they have a few tournaments scheduled before then. Playing Wine Valley next month as well, looking forward to comparing to Chambers.

[Oregonianman]

1 hour ago, kaschreiber said:

I have my first trip to Wine Valley in ~1 month and have heard that it's in the same conversation, but between Gamble and Chambers I feel Chambers is a better course, Gamble is more fun. 

You’re going to love Wine Valley, and you’re picking a great time of year to play it. My personal rank would be Gamble, Wine, Chambers, but I’m also probably not the key audience for Chambers. I wish Gamble and Wine were closer to me!

[So_Cal]

3 hours ago, Oregonianman said:

I played Chambers for the first time yesterday, April 16, 2023. We don’t seem to have a Chambers mega thread, so please feel free to pile onto this one. 
 

The good:

 

• despite absolutely pouring rain, the course was in great shape. I saw one or two bits of standing water, but nothing that impaired play. Bunker sand wasn’t unreasonably heavy. 
• staff were super friendly and helpful. 
   
• the course is great. As a mid handicapper who has made multiple trips to Bandon, I’d put it somewhere between BD and PD in terms of challenge and course design. The views are extraordinary on every hole. 
   
• there are a few subtle reminders of the 2015 open, including a ground plaque on 18 showing where Spieth made his final approach shot. It’s neat history. 

 

 

The bad:

 

• pace of play was terrible, and it wasn’t because the course was busy. One foursome held up play for us and two groups in front of us. We ended up playing a 5:15 17-hole round, waiting 5+ minutes on every shot. Marshals never did anything.  If the marshals had sped them up or if they’d allowed other groups to play through, we’d have finished on time. 
   
• greens were very bumpy. It’s spring, but I’d still expect better conditions. 
   
• the 15th green is still closed. The website said we’d get a $75 bounce back pass to play again, which was repeated in our day-before welcome email. Instead we were given a $99 pass, which is only a ~25% discount from the state golf assn rate. I’m unlikely to use it anyway, but it’s still annoying that the message on the website and email is out of date. 
   

on balance, I don’t think I’d make a special trip to play here again. As a Portlander, the drive to Bandon isn’t so much worse that I can justify Chambers instead. But if I were a king county resident, paying the discounted rate, I’d be here much more often. 

Thanks for sharing your experience with us.  I always liked chambers because it was the course you could play without getting muddy in the winter.  Surprised they got snow this year?  Don’t remember that in my Seattle years.  
 

Wish they would restore some of the features of the original course.  Should get another Open too.  Such a beautiful place and NW fans will show up big time.  

[kaschreiber]

17 hours ago, doc52 said:

They should be open by June, they have a few tournaments scheduled before then. Playing Wine Valley next month as well, looking forward to comparing to Chambers.

When will you be there? We're hitting Apple Tree on our way over from the east side on 5/19 and have 54 holes over Sat / Sun 5/20-21 

[kaschreiber]

17 hours ago, Oregonianman said:

You’re going to love Wine Valley, and you’re picking a great time of year to play it. My personal rank would be Gamble, Wine, Chambers, but I’m also probably not the key audience for Chambers. I wish Gamble and Wine were closer to me!

Can't wait. It's the course I haven't yet played in WA that I want to get on most and have yet to hear a single bad thing about it. If Walla Walla were any closer, it would be a no brainer to get there more often. Now it's just the slow wait for the next month. 

[doc52]

1 hour ago, kaschreiber said:

When will you be there? We're hitting Apple Tree on our way over from the east side on 5/19 and have 54 holes over Sat / Sun 5/20-21 

Playing there 5/11 on the way up to Coeur D'Alene for a guys trip. Also playing the Coeur D'Alene Resort Course on 5/14 on the way back.

[spud3]

Consider hitting Palouse Ridge in Pullman on the trip.  Great course.

 

And yes, WV is outstanding and I really wish it were closer to PDX.  Chambers is more demanding, physically and strategically, but WV is more fun.

[Bumbershoot]

On 4/18/2023 at 10:25 AM, doc52 said:

Playing there 5/11 on the way up to Coeur D'Alene for a guys trip. Also playing the Coeur D'Alene Resort Course on 5/14 on the way back.

Another really good course is Circling Raven, about 25 miles south of Coeur d'Alene.  I think it's one of better courses in the region.

[scotee]

26 minutes ago, Bumbershoot said:

Another really good course is Circling Raven, about 25 miles south of Coeur d'Alene.  I think it's one of better courses in the region.

 

CR is one of the nicest golf properties I've seen. Great course with great vistas. Love Wine Valley too.  I am only 45 min from Palouse Ridge. It is good too but much steeper terrain than WV.  I played Chambers Bay the first year it opened and was at the Open in 2015.  That is a real hike!

[doc52]

49 minutes ago, Bumbershoot said:

Another really good course is Circling Raven, about 25 miles south of Coeur d'Alene.  I think it's one of better courses in the region.

I wanted to play Circling Raven on Friday, but we'll have a larger group that day and they decided to play a muni up there instead.

[Oregonianman]

On 4/25/2023 at 8:59 AM, doc52 said:

I wanted to play Circling Raven on Friday, but we'll have a larger group that day and they decided to play a muni up there instead.

Leave them behind and play CR instead. It’s better than the resort course and better than any muni in the area. 

[kaschreiber]

On 4/25/2023 at 8:08 AM, Bumbershoot said:

Another really good course is Circling Raven, about 25 miles south of Coeur d'Alene.  I think it's one of better courses in the region.

100% agreed. Coeur d'Alene gets all the love in the area, but Circling Raven beats it hands down imo

[italianstallion]

Update on the 15th green

 

[Kasparov05]

Thats great news!

 

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Headed up there in a month for my first Northwest golf experience, can't wait! Any caddy recs?

[doc52]

22 hours ago, FuzzyKnuckles said:

Headed up there in a month for my first Northwest golf experience, can't wait! Any caddy recs?

The two caddies I've had there weren't great.

[doc52]

On 4/29/2023 at 8:34 AM, Oregonianman said:

Leave them behind and play CR instead. It’s better than the resort course and better than any muni in the area. 

Ended up playing Friday at The Links in Post Falls (muni) instead of Circling Raven. The course was in better shape than I thought it would be and I aced hole #17, a 176 par 3.

 

The Resort Course was fun and we were the first group to go out, but really enjoyed Wine Valley. Will definitely head back to play WV.

[aiyyer]

Played Chambers earlier this week. Greens were micropunched and sanded. Just a sensational course. 

[italianstallion]

On 7/29/2023 at 12:02 AM, aiyyer said:

Played Chambers earlier this week. Greens were micropunched and sanded. Just a sensational course. 

It certainly doesn’t get old. We played 36 at Chambers on a sun drenched day in June after 4 days of brutal Bandon conditions and it was one of my favorite golf days of my life. Being anywhere near the Pacific Northwest and not making a visit to Chambers is doing yourself a disservice. Everyone who worked there was also very personable as well. 

Edited August 12, 2023 by italianstallion