Chambers Bay Update

[ninothing]

[quote name='myronm' timestamp='1342111494' post='5262826']
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.
[/quote]


No idea how you played in 3:45 (but congrats). We had a Pebble Beach like 5:30+ round. There is a lot of trouble to find and the routing can take it out of you. I played in a twosome and had a clubhouse pairing 3rd join us. There were several times that I was fairly certain he wouldn't be able to finish. Notably the uphill par 5 8th.

[ucla92]

Playing Chambers Bay on August 23. Have the conditions improved? As mentioned in the other posts the greens seem to be the problem. Are they similar the greens at Bandon? Thanks

[NoobGolfer]

[quote name='ucla92' timestamp='1343844187' post='5390856']
Playing Chambers Bay on August 23. Have the conditions improved? As mentioned in the other posts the greens seem to be the problem. Are they similar the greens at Bandon? Thanks
[/quote]

How was it, ucla92?

I am playing there on Sept. 1st for the 1st time. Really looking forward to it!

[Mile High Fin]

I'm playing (for first time) on Monday 1/21/2013, and it should be about 45 degrees and partly cloudy (no rain).

I'm from Colorado, so it's my only chance to play it while I'm in town.

Are conditions pretty good for winter?

[TMBob]

[quote name='Mile High Fin' timestamp='1358439033' post='6246243']
I'm playing (for first time) on Monday 1/21/2013, and it should be about 45 degrees and partly cloudy (no rain).

I'm from Colorado, so it's my only chance to play it while I'm in town.

Are conditions pretty good for winter?
[/quote]

I might be out there also...watching that day weather wise

[theD1]

[quote name='Mile High Fin' timestamp='1358439033' post='6246243']
I'm playing (for first time) on Monday 1/21/2013, and it should be about 45 degrees and partly cloudy (no rain).

I'm from Colorado, so it's my only chance to play it while I'm in town.

Are conditions pretty good for winter?
[/quote]

Just played on Friday and it was unbelievable. Course is in great shape and is simply like nothing else I've ever played. If you're playing for the first time, definitely recommend getting a caddy, I'd never played with one before, but Nick was full of useful info, local insight, and probably saved me 5 strokes easy. Pretty sure I have a coupon for $50 green fees through Feb. if anyone wants it.

Here are a few pics:

[attachment=1497053:chambers1.jpg]

View down the "Elephant Graveyard" on 12
[attachment=1497055:chambers2.jpg]

Tee Shot on 15
[attachment=1497057:chambers3.jpg]

Nick the Caddie = Awesome
[attachment=1497059:chambers4.jpg]

[Seattle_Maslow]

I played Chambers today and it was the slowest round I've ever experienced, well over 6 hours. I was a single (they were supposedly too full for my buddy to come, argh) and they sent me off in the middle of a tournament at 9:06 a.m. The group before me (8:55), cleared the first green at 9:22, nearly 30 minutes to play the hole. I mentioned this to the player assistant and he said he would see what he could do. Three holes took an hour and they then took me to the back 9 to play (which I did in an hour and 40 minutes) and I then paired with a twosome to play the front, which took three hours and 20 minutes. There were four groups waiting on the box at 9. Today was an unexpectedly glorious day for February in Seattle, but man, oh man, it was excruciating.

[TMBob]

Was there Friday, 2/15....awesome day with no huge issues with slow play....sure, it was a 5 hour round, but flat out there are places on this course that will create slow play instantly. The course plays so different then any other course in the area, that most have no clue just how to handle these conditions.

I will also add that I still cannot see a US Open Championship being payed on this course 2 years from now. It is clear that Fescue greens will never live up to US Open type conditions here in the greater Seattle area. I say that the greens have gotten worst then better since my last trip out there which was 2 years ago.

For public play, the greens can be tolerated because of the layout, and scenery, but never for the countries Open Championship. I will believe it when I see it.

[Seattle_Maslow]

[quote name='TMBob' timestamp='1361085121' post='6443833']
Was there Friday, 2/15....awesome day with no huge issues with slow play....sure, it was a 5 hour round, but flat out there are places on this course that will create slow play instantly. The course plays so different then any other course in the area, that most have no clue just how to handle these conditions.

I will also add that I still cannot see a US Open Championship being payed on this course 2 years from now. It is clear that Fescue greens will never live up to US Open type conditions here in the greater Seattle area. I say that the greens have gotten worst then better since my last trip out there which was 2 years ago.

For public play, the greens can be tolerated because of the layout, and scenery, but never for the countries Open Championship. I will believe it when I see it.
[/quote]

Completely agree. It's gorgeous, but needs some TLC to be ready for prime time.

[twixster888]

[quote name='Seattle_Maslow' timestamp='1361079244' post='6443655']
I played Chambers today and it was the slowest round I've ever experienced, well over 6 hours. I was a single (they were supposedly too full for my buddy to come, argh) and they sent me off in the middle of a tournament at 9:06 a.m. The group before me (8:55), cleared the first green at 9:22, nearly 30 minutes to play the hole. I mentioned this to the player assistant and he said he would see what he could do. Three holes took an hour and they then took me to the back 9 to play (which I did in an hour and 40 minutes) and I then paired with a twosome to play the front, which took three hours and 20 minutes. There were four groups waiting on the box at 9. Today was an unexpectedly glorious day for February in Seattle, but man, oh man, it was excruciating.
[/quote]

what do you expect playing as a single at a world class course? singles should always be joined up at the start. can't stand singles and doubles expecting to plow through the course. S&D don't have right of way.

[TMBob]

Was there today

Here are some thoughts and changes

The picture of Nick the Caddie standing next to the Rolex Clock...well, that clock does not work right now...crazy!
Also, we played hole 1 from right even and next to the Rolex Clock....it was a Par 5.

Heard that there will be a different tee box for the Par 3 Ninth Hole...it will be to the right of Hole 8 and down below...230 yards up hill with little sight of the putting surface. Great back stop behind the hole, but a Par 3 with two totally different tee locations? One straight down hill and one straight up hill....hmmm.

Greens...I heard were punch recently...light punch. Sowed little effect to the punch. Heard that they were lighting before the punch, maybe to fast with those slopes and fescue grass were maybe a 10 today. Fair speed.

1st green was totally overrun by 50 cent piece sized wide blade grass spots.....these will not be going away to soon and no fun to putt on from a close distance.

Greens 4 and 13 which were both closed at a point and time were some of the worst out there. Sodded areas were overrun by Poa so you had areas that sodded with mainly Pao, and other areas that were mainly Fescue. Remember, these were greens that were close...one would like that they would be some of the best on the course.

Poa is overtaking the tee's also.

I still can see a US open being played on these greens...they putt OK for us am, but I just cannot see TW in a post interview no making some sort of reference about the greens along with everyone else. These boys putt on perfect 10's more often then not and I just cannot see them putts on these without some serious comments.

Next concern for a US Open Championship is No Clubhouse and no ground breaking...someone please tell me what course hosted a US Open Championship were there was no clubhouse on the site for the players? No locker rooms, and no showers.

Did Bethpage Black have a Clubhouse? No Clubhouse, No Open....again, I just do not see this happening that way.

Course is fun, different and fairly priced for Pierce County Residents....overpriced for everyone else.

[TheMackDaddy]

[quote name='TMBob' timestamp='1369019177' post='7066828']
Was there today

Here are some thoughts and changes

The picture of Nick the Caddie standing next to the Rolex Clock...well, that clock does not work right now...crazy!
Also, we played hole 1 from right even and next to the Rolex Clock....it was a Par 5.

Heard that there will be a different tee box for the Par 3 Ninth Hole...it will be to the right of Hole 8 and down below...230 yards up hill with little sight of the putting surface. Great back stop behind the hole, but a Par 3 with two totally different tee locations? One straight down hill and one straight up hill....hmmm.

Greens...I heard were punch recently...light punch. Sowed little effect to the punch. Heard that they were lighting before the punch, maybe to fast with those slopes and fescue grass were maybe a 10 today. Fair speed.

1st green was totally overrun by 50 cent piece sized wide blade grass spots.....these will not be going away to soon and no fun to putt on from a close distance.

Greens 4 and 13 which were both closed at a point and time were some of the worst out there. Sodded areas were overrun by Poa so you had areas that sodded with mainly Pao, and other areas that were mainly Fescue. Remember, these were greens that were close...one would like that they would be some of the best on the course.

Poa is overtaking the tee's also.

I still can see a US open being played on these greens...they putt OK for us am, but I just cannot see TW in a post interview no making some sort of reference about the greens along with everyone else. These boys putt on perfect 10's more often then not and I just cannot see them putts on these without some serious comments.

Next concern for a US Open Championship is No Clubhouse and no ground breaking...someone please tell me what course hosted a US Open Championship were there was no clubhouse on the site for the players? No locker rooms, and no showers.

Did Bethpage Black have a Clubhouse? No Clubhouse, No Open....again, I just do not see this happening that way.

Course is fun, different and fairly priced for Pierce County Residents....overpriced for everyone else.
[/quote]
My thoughts exactly! Rumor is they may bring in cruise ships for people to stay. With limited hotels in the area, hosting the US's most attended sporting event will be a difficult task for chambers.
And I don't care how sloped the greens are I love lightning greens!

[danimal]

I played twilight a couple of weeks ago. Loved the course and look forward to watching the US Open there.

[mlesser]

I played there two weeks ago (Sept 12th) and I will say I love the views of this course and honestly do like playing it as I have played it a few times now being that I live in Colorado and don't get up in the area all that much. However, they have a lot of work to do in terms of greens. Hole 1 was a complete joke and they are redoing a few others so they have to hope that they actually work out this time as I think they have now done a few holes over a few times already. As the poster said earlier I can just hear the pro's just throw this place under the bus if the greens do not get much, much better.