Chambers Bay/Gamble Sands

Over the weekend I was able to finally knock a big course off the bucket list.  Chambers Bay had been on since the US Open in 2015.  While I know some of the pros did not like, I loved the look/layout.  It did not disappoint.   I met up with a friend of mine who was traveling there.  Had an 8:40 tee time.  Club house was nice and guys running it were super friendly.  They shuttle down the hill to the practice area, snack shack, bathrooms and #1&#10.  Practice area was good, practice green was similar speed to the front 9, but the back 9 putted differently once the sun came out (or I just putted worse).  Conditions could have been a little better, seems like 2 types of grass on the greens, which made them a tad bumpy, but they did put pretty true.  Layout is what you would expect.  Place the shot down the correct side of a fairway.  Leaving shots that you can get over all of the sand/vegetation and distraction (so scenic).  While on the course we saw, osprey, coyote, seals, porpoise and killer whales.  Puget Sound views are pretty memorable.  We played the combos which was just under 6200 yards.  We had two singles with us, one is a member (yes it is public, but they sell seasonal memberships).  He was a huge help.  Shot 41/48 as an 18 handicap.  Felt good to me.  Tough walk (no carts at all) but really was easier than I was expecting.  

Spent the rest of that day and the next in Leavenworth, which is a bavarian village in the Cascades.  My brother in law lives there so got some family time in before heading to Gamble Sands.  Gamble was ranked 14 public facility in North America recently by Golf magazine (Chambers was 37).  It is on a desert plateau high above the Columbia River.  Was very interesting how different the landscape was compared to Chambers Bay.  Course was in great shape.  Was over 100 degrees, but was told it is very walkable.  Ended up with a Caddy (course mix up), but he was very helpful.  I was a single and was put into a group of 3 friends, 2 in a cart, the other with a caddy as well.  Chambers bay is laid out in a tighter space, you can see from end to end because it changes elevation so much.  Gamble Sands is 1 hole at a time.  Just a vast canvas to lay out the course.  Thought the greens condition were better, but slightly tougher to read.  Just missed a lot of putts, a little luck could have saved me 5 strokes.  Played almost 6700 yards from the tee box they wanted to play.  I tend to like to be just over 6000.  Course is a higher elevation and the ball did travel further but a few yards for sure.  Also much drier air seemed to help as well.  Was 42/45 so pretty pleased with that as well.  

They have a 14 hole par 3 that just opened in May.  Really fun layout.  Longest hole was like 140 yards.  Had been punched a few weeks ago, but putted fine.  Would guess it is similar to the cradle at Pinehurst.  Lots of sand, crazy greens, meant to be fun for sure.   Perfectly conditioned.  Was 9 over.  Actually had 2 double bogeys, if you went into the sand, some real tough shots to get out.   Managed to play the entire 50 holes with 1 ball.  Would recommend both places and really, most people seemed to play both.

I will see if I can figure out how to post pictures from the trip.