Chambers Bay Update

[TMBob]

Looking for one

These next few months is when I wonder on down to CB to play....only rate I can afford. I have not been down there for about 20 months and at that time I played it, the fescue was being let to grow to define the fairways and this was before the US Am 2010.

I know that some construction has been underway to the a few of the courses issues for the 2015 US Open or at least I heard it was planned, but I am sorta out of the loop and before I go down that way at a cost of about $95 for a round of golf, I was wondering who has played there lately.

How are the greens? Has the course been open during this cold spell? Is there any temp green due to construction on 1, 7, and 13? I can call the club house, but I would rather hear it from a WRX'er first hand.

Clue me in as I would love to catch on of these cool crisp sunny days here soon.

Thanks

[TheMackDaddy]

Also would like to hear this..

[Thrillhouse]

I thought it had been 30 degrees in seattle every day lately?

[TheMackDaddy]

I havent been checking but I would say low 40's... It hasn't been raining alot near me which is a surprise. We still get our golf in even when its high 30's and raining!!

[Hambone1]

It's been low to mid 30's with no rain. Frosty delays on most courses. Friend of mine played it a few days ago, I'll ask him today and report back

[lmm4]

Played CB about a week and half ago. Still using a temp green on #1, but I think that's the only one. In general, the greens are in pretty bad shape. In fact, they seem worse than they were 2 years ago -- basically some wispy fescue on wet sand. Seemed to exaggerate the fescue characteristics -- very fast downhill, very slow uphill -- and did not roll very true.

Other than that, the course seemed in good shape. Actually, excellent shape for the PNW this time of year. No idea why they are adding a pot bunker in the middle of 18 fairway about 100 yards out, but expect to run into quite a bit of heavy machinery/labor on that hole.

They are giving out transferable vouchers for a $50 weekday round with a full price round, so you might want to try to find someone with an extra (for example, the guys paying in front of you). At that price, it's definitely worth it.

[flaun]

Man, I really like 15 of the holes on that course, but the greens have just been a disaster! I've played it twice (2009 & March 2011) and both times the greens were worse than the local goat track 9 holer. I am not exaggerating! They would be better off just putting a hole in the middle of the fairway because that grass holds up better than what's on the greens now. A lot of potential for that course. I hope the US Open doesn't destroy the future of the place if they can't get the greens ready.

[jnlx460]

I played it close to when the amateur was there in August of last year. The greens were perfect.

I normally play Chambers during the cheaper months also, but we wanted to see how good they could get it.

The greens were running good that day and it made the course quite a bit harder. With the undulations of most of the greens there, some shots were impossible to get close.

Played the home course yesterday which have similar greens and they were the slowest I've seen them. Frost delay hindered the mowing I'm sure.

[FormerClubPro]

Its the only course in the NW where you could wear white pants and shoes in the winter and not have a speck of mud on them. I accomplished this last december lol

[TheMackDaddy]

Also heard from a freind that the course was in decent shape, aside from the greens which were awful as usual. He played there 3 days ago, so thats very recent...

[douggolf4]

Here's some updates on the course renovations.... [url="http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50506.0.html"]http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,50506.0.html[/url]

[Fornesto]

last time I was there was about a month ago and they were doing Open construction on hole #1 so we got the $50 return voucher. I think the greens fee is down from 95 for wa resident to something lower. The course is amazing its basically a giant sandbox so the drainage there is top notch. Weather here has been chilly but not frosty so playing golf is still quite pleasant!

[NWgolfer19]

[quote name='Nerg Golf' timestamp='1324498146' post='3971931']
Its the only course in the NW where you could wear white pants and shoes in the winter and not have a speck of mud on them. I accomplished this last december lol
[/quote]


I disagree. I played Pacific and Bandon Dunes yesterday and the only spec I had was from wiping my ball off on my pants before a putt!

[10-footer]

Played there last week and have played there several times in December. Greens are in horrible shape with temps on #1 & #13 (actually better than the regular greens) and several John Deere earth movers parked on the course. There is a lot of land being pushed around by the USGA. I hope they figure it out by 2015 but seriously, the greens are worse now than when they opened. Sand, moss, and more sand. If you make or miss a putt, it could be due to a push cart track or footprint in the sand. Bad.

[flip_rome]

Anyone play there recently? We are suppose to play there on the 25th... Curious about the conditions.

[DeNinny]

[quote name='flip_rome' timestamp='1329202148' post='4282133']
Anyone play there recently? We are suppose to play there on the 25th... Curious about the conditions.
[/quote]

I'm interested in conditions too...playing this Fri Feb 17th...should I cancel?

[flip_rome]

DeNinny let me know how it goes Friday.....

[DeNinny]

[quote name='flip_rome' timestamp='1329378148' post='4297691']
DeNinny let me know how it goes Friday.....
[/quote]

I didn't go Fri. I called the shop and they still had two temp greens (playable as regular greens). I didn't want my first time there to be on temp greens so I passed.

[RainShadow]

Smart to pass. We played it 3 weeks ago and it was hideous.

[flip_rome]

[quote name='RainShadow' timestamp='1329798980' post='4338361']
Smart to pass. We played it 3 weeks ago and it was hideous.
[/quote]

Was it really wet? Terrible greens?

[ninothing]

i was eyeing a trip out to CB in the summer - what is the current condition of the course and is it completely unrecoverable between now and then?

[jnlx460]

Played it last Thursday. I love Chambers, but the greens for the most part were pretty bad.

The temporaries on 7 and 13 were the best greens on the course. These temps weren't sitting in the middle of the fairway either. Tucked in fairly close to waste bunkers. 3 out of the 4 guys ahead of us must've been GolfWrxers. 280 carry over the waste bunkers on #7. 3 of them went for the green and 3 of them were in the waste bunker. One joker hit 3 wood! He was easily 50 yards from reaching the green! Forgot to eat his Wheaties????

Word has it that the 7th green complex won't be ready until next year.

Other than the greens being bad which is to be expected this time of year the course was in great shape. Bounce and roll in the fairways this time of year? Especially after a heavy dose of rain leading up to the day I played. Amazing stuff.

Not like they're giving rounds away out there right now, but definitely worth it.

A guy in my group that was there for the 1st time said he loved it. He's been to Bandon a bunch of times and said the quality of the greens this time of year didn't surprise him.

[ayotte2]

You will never see standing water on that course. I sure hope the greens get sorted out. The unique thing about Chambers is the Fescue greens. If it wasn't for that, there would not be a US Open there in 2015.

The course is a manmade masterpiece IMO.

[RainShadow]

[quote name='flip_rome' timestamp='1329809441' post='4339249']
[quote name='RainShadow' timestamp='1329798980' post='4338361']
Smart to pass. We played it 3 weeks ago and it was hideous.
[/quote]

Was it really wet? Terrible greens?
[/quote]

Greens were mostly sand and moss, Pathetic. As another stated, you will never see standing water on this course ( except maybe on the lower range after a HEAVY rain)
It's just a shame about the greens, since it is otherwise a very good, challenging course.
I just won't pay their prices with the greens how they are.

[krantzda]

Anyone play out there recently? I am headed to Seattle in early August and wanted to add this course to the list. Will it be in good shape?

Thx

[ninothing]

I am playing there the weekend after 4th of July. Very interested to hear how the course is progressing too!

[portland]

I have a tee time booked on July 16th, what kind of shape is CB in?

[ninothing]

Played CB last Sunday - perfect weather conditions (only 5-10 mph wind). Very cool course, will make for an interesting US Open. Long course with some longer walks between holes (well documented). Only temp green is #7 - a caddie at the club house said it was recently hyroseeded and will take another 6-8wks. Greens still have some work to do in terms of filling in. They are still puttable but variable speed is something we struggled with a lot in our group.

[ninothing]

a few other pics from our round.

[mwmgolfx]

Nice pictures. I played Chambers on Thursday and twice on Friday (36). Agree with you about greens. Probably weakest point on course. But they've changed the greens superintendent with one from Bandon area as well as added a new agronomy manager also from Bandon complex.

Really have improved greens on #1 and #4 from a playability point of view. Shots now stay on green, especially one where you could hit the right side of the green and end up in the middle of the18th fairway.

From discussions with staff and my caddie, During the open, they will present a tremendous number of challenges to players. They're talking about having different pars each day. have added a number of additional tees on several holes so they can play them as par 5s or 4s. Hole 14 could have a downhill carry of 315 yards to fairway from one new tee. New bunkers on 18, including one 12 feet deep in the middle of the fairway about 130 yards from the green. (called "Davis bunker").

Fairways are hard and run and run and run.

My only real criticism is that the course plays slow and slower. Figure on 5 hours+ to play. They say 4:40 is expected but figure on 5 hours. And that's very true. Played one round in 3:45 and the other two were 5:15. But it's an awesome experience and quite the challenge.