Chambers Bay Golf Course, Public links-style golf course in University Place, Washington, United States
Chambers Bay is a links-style golf course in University Place, Washington, set on rolling dunes along Puget Sound with views toward the Olympic Mountains. The layout spreads over roughly 100 hectares (250 acres) of sandy terrain covered in fine fescue grass.
Pierce County bought the former sand-and-gravel quarry for $33 million in 1992, and County Executive John Ladenburg pushed through its conversion into a golf course, which opened on June 23, 2007, at a cost of $20.7 million. It hosted the U.S. Amateur in 2010 and the U.S. Open in 2015, won by Jordan Spieth.
Chambers Bay is a links-style course, but its Scottish inspiration is a design choice rather than an inherited tradition: every firm that entered the county's design competition submitted a British links plan. The single tree, a Douglas fir behind the 15th green, is a deliberate contrast to the open, treeless fairways. Walking is required, with caddies optional and carts only for players with medical conditions or disabilities.
Walking is required as carts are not permitted, so comfortable shoes and fitness are helpful. Five different tee positions range from roughly 1600 to 2300 meters (5250 to 7585 yards), suiting different skill levels.
Elevation shifts reach about 60 meters (200 feet), creating shots that rise and fall across different levels. Remnants of old quarry machinery and rail tracks are visible along several holes, reminders of the former gravel operation.
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