Played Washington's Newest Layout *UPDATE W/ PICS*

[JDerion]

I've heard a lot of good things about Chambers Bay already. I'm sure it's going to make all the Best New Course lists, not that such things mean that much. It looks like a lot of fun, so have a great time.

[Seamus]

Well? 

LOL!

I've heard a lot of good things about Chambers Bay already. I'm sure it's going to make all the Best New Course lists, not that such things mean that much. It looks like a lot of fun, so have a great time.

OK here goes.I'm trying to be very objective, I was afforded to the opportunity to be objective because I didn't have to pay the 150 dollars, having said that I think if I did pay I would have been sadly unimpressed.

What defines a links course? Is it that it is built hard by the sea and shaped by wind and grazing animals, is it severely undulating greens, I'm not sure, but what I think we have here is a golf course built in a former rock quarry near a body of water calling itself a links course. I thought the walking only thing would be really cool, after about the 5th hole I was drained as I felt I was walking uphill the entire time, seriously uphill, and it wasn't in fact until we reached the 12th hole that the marshal said that was the last uphill hole 

Beautiful course in a very beautiful setting, but one of the few times I would say that a course needs carts, by their own admission (I asked) they do not draw an older crowd and I'm sure it is because they cannot walk this course.

US Open...I don't see it, Uisce hit the nail on the head just from the few pics on their web page, space, where to fit 50,000 people, after seeing the course I agree, we'd be standing in sand and dunes all day.

If you play and the sticker shock doesn't scare you away, bring your most comfortable pair of shoes (I didn't and I think I'm gonna lose a nail) and you better be in shape 'cuz it's a workout.

I gotta remember to turn the date off. This is the 1st and 18th view from clubhouse, note the elevation, cuz you'll be walking up it for the next 2 1/2  hours.


Must be 5 straight away 406 yard par 4.


Still 5 taken from the tee. Beautiful camera shot.


The "Quarry" the wise guy in the group said he was waiting for Mr. Slate to come by, check WIKI if unsure of that reference.


9th hole par 3 144 yards severely downhill.


Close up same hole, I hit a 9 iron long and left, I think you can see that the green was wicked undulating as most of them were, I told the guys just before I hit I can't get this within 20 feet...2 feet tap in par...one of the few highlights.


Bags in carts on greens sped up play, kinda  . It's allowed 'cuz they are "Riksha" models.


It's a beautiful course, in a beautiful setting but 150 bones, not for me, like I've said before there are much better and much cheaper around here.

I hope MFAWG plays it next month so you can get his take.

[JDerion]

You can argue all day about what makes a course a links, but one thing that is pretty universally accepted is that it has to play firm, fast, and with the ability to run the ball. So was it firm around the greens or did you have to fly the ball into holes?

Also, were there uphill holes too? I hate courses that insist on making you climb so that you can hit the downhill shot all day.

[Seamus]

You can argue all day about what makes a course a links, but one thing that is pretty universally accepted is that it has to play firm, fast, and with the ability to run the ball. So was it firm around the greens or did you have to fly the ball into holes?

It was all that, very firm, very fast, even with the greens having been sanded in the last 3-4 weeks. Of the 14 non par 3 holes I'm guessing 7-10 of them you could have played a bump and run shot from 100 yards in, in fact I distinctly remember putting from 10 yards off on 3 holes.

Also, were there uphill holes too? I hate courses that insist on making you climb so that you can hit the downhill shot all day.

Uphill shots? Oh yeah...more than you can imagine, nothing blind unless you were in a wrong spot.

[Spanky]

But did you enjoy the round? Any time you get to play for free is a good time but was it fun?

[Uisce Beatha]

It definitely looks young in your photos as compared to the ones on the site.  I imagine it's going to take 2-3 years to grow into itself.

I agree with Blader's assessment about links being primarily defined by the ability to play the ball down.  This means more than just being able to run the ball up on approaches.  It also means having multiple options in doing so.  So many wannabee links courses give you a shaved false front giving you a shot if your drive is in just the right position.  They call this good and break out a big "LINKS COURSE" stamp.   

I love being able to stand 140 yards out from the green and try to figure out exactly which of the half-dozen available options I'm going to give a whirl.  That happens very infrequently in the U.S. and never in Utah.  I'm sure some of the A++ designs out there afford you the opportunity but I believe they're few and far between.

Most links courses are not strenuously uphill nor are do they have big drop-offs as shown in your photo.  Seems that might be the quarry history coming into play.  You can only move so much earth.  Which is another point, links courses are built on links land.  Generally there's not much in the way of pushing dirt around to create the course.  The course was already there for millennia and then some day a guy came along and noticed it.

All in all, appears to be a very nice course.  It might not be pure links but we takes what we can get, doesn't we?   

[Seamus]

But did you enjoy the round? Any time you get to play for free is a good time but was it fun?

Absolutely, good group of guys, we all get along great, it was my buddy's 50th birthday so we were on him all day. Yeah don't get me wrong I had a great time except for one small detail, weatherman said it was going to be 67 and sunny, I did not believe trust him and wore black pants.

I was sweating and dripping in places people should not sweat and drip in.

Post round pic, we were all dead dog tired.

I agree with Blader's assessment about links being primarily defined by the ability to play the ball down.

Blader and JDerion are one in the same, wow.

I love being able to stand 140 yards out from the green and try to figure out exactly which of the half-dozen available options I'm going to give a whirl.

I think you just might like this course then, I tried things I haven't tried in years, up to and including the 5 wood from the fringe and an 8 iron knock down from 100 yards.

All in all, appears to be a very nice course.

Very nice...tough walk though.

When you say nice course though (open question to anyone who reads this) does price ever factor into the equation?

[dystopia]

I agree with Blader's assessment about links being primarily defined by the ability to play the ball down.

Blader and JDerion are one in the same, wow.

...Redfoot, Bugs Marylin, The Barbershop in Skokie...

...KOBAYASHI PORCELEIN...






Dammit, I knew it! 

[Spanky]

When you say nice course though (open question to anyone who reads this) does price ever factor into the equation?

When I think of a nice course the first thing I ask myself is would I play it again or more importantly the desire to play it again. I have to want to play a course again for me to even consider it a "nice" course. Only after that do I consider the cost. Then it goes back to the desire thing again.

[Uisce Beatha]

[ The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. ]

Karma.   

[Uisce Beatha]

When you say nice course though (open question to anyone who reads this) does price ever factor into the equation?

Not in my assessment of the course.  A nice course is a nice course. 

Price is definitely a factor as to whether or not I'll play it again.  Pebble Beach is a nice course but you won't catch me on it again for $475.

[Uisce Beatha]

Blader is many people.  JDerion is but a few. 

I don't know if these facts are mutual exclusive. 

[stroh]