Hole 1 (Puget Sound) – The first hole at Chambers Bay sets the tone for the entire round. This long, challenging opener heads straight to Puget Sound, just as a first time visitor would have walked the site prior to the golf construction. If the breathtaking backdrop of Puget Sound doesn’t capture your attention, the bold fairway contours and devilish green sure will. Flanked by a 50 ft tall dune on the right, the first hole shares a fairway with the 18th ala The Old Course at St. Andrew’s. The right side of the fairway is elevated and offers an open entrance to the green. Playing down the left side will require players to negotiate a steep fairway hollow left of the green.
PUGET SOUND: The first hole is named after perhaps the most important element of the site, Puget Sound. Like the North Sea at The Old Course or the Pacific Ocean at Cypress Point, Puget Sound provides a stunning backdrop to the golf and highlights the sense of place. Just hearing the name Puget Sound conjures images of beauty and grandeur. We hope players will feel the same way about Chambers Bay.
Hole 2 (Foxy) – The 421 yard second hole heads due north and doglegs slightly from right to left. The hole starts in the dunes and opens to Puget Sound at the landing area. A small hummock bisecting the fairway landing area will direct balls right or left. The approach from the right is open and favors a running draw, while the left will require an aerial approach over a greenside sandy area. The green slopes gently from right to left and features a dramatic back left hole location.
FOXY: The name Foxy pays tribute to one of the great links holes in the world, the 14th at Royal Dornoch in Scotland, which holds the same title. It also plays on the fact that Fox Island within Puget Sound provides the backdrop for the second shot.
Hole 3 (Blown Out) – The third hole is the first of the short holes at Chambers Bay. Once again, Puget Sound provides a picturesque backdrop for this one shotter. A large, deep sandy area dominates the left side of the hole while the right side offers players a fairway “backboard or kickslope” to utilize for their mid iron. The green slopes from front right to back left requiring many players to land their shot off the putting surface and run the ball on.
BLOWN OUT: Wind. The invisible hazard. Nowhere in golf is this element more important than on a links course. Not only will the wind change the way a hole plays from day to day and even hour by hour, but the swirling and stiffening winds often add to the mystique of links golf. The name Blown Out pays tribute to the invisible hazard, as well as the style of bunkers incorporated at Chambers Bay.
Hole 4 (Hazard’s Ascent) – The fourth hole is the first of the long holes at Chambers Bay and takes the player away from Puget Sound for the first time. The 554 yarder offers a generous landing area off the tee then heads up the large hill. The right side of the fairway provides a shorter route to the green but also contains stronger fairway contours making an attempt at the green in two more difficult depending upon the lie. The split-level fairway climbs the hill flowing from left to right and yielding a safe route around the deep sandy area to the right. The three level green contains some of the stronger contours on the course that should be utilized for pitches onto the green as well as lag putting.
HAZARD’S ASCENT: The name Hazard’s Ascent identifies one of the first climbers (Hazard Stevens) to successfully reach the peak of Mt. Rainier in 1870. Rainier, situated in eastern Pierce County and rising to 14,411 ft, requires the same skill and thoughtfulness as the fourth at Chambers Bay
Hole 5 (Free Fall) – The fifth hole at Chambers Bay offers the first panoramic perspective on the course. From the tee, the player can see virtually the entire course, as well as Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and McNeil, Anderson, and Fox Islands and most importantly both greens at the fifth. While some other famed courses have holes with two greens on one hole (Pine Valley / Ballybunion Cashen / Pacific Dunes), the fifth at Chambers Bay is unique because the greens are 150 yards apart. The teeshot at the fifth plays downhill some 80 feet to a very wide fairway. From there the player is left with a long iron to the open “long green” or a delicate pitch to the protected “short” green. In both instances, players are wise to use the ground contours around the green to guide their ball towards the hole.
FREE FALL: The name Free Fall is due to the dramatic elevation change from the tee to the fairway.
Hole 6 (Deception Point) – Like the fifth, hole six can be played as a long par four or a short par four depending on the tees. Tees for the sixth hole have been designed near each of the green locations on hole five, creating a long loop and a short loop. From the “long” tees, the sixth is a par four dogleg right. Off the tee, the player can hug the right side and risk finding trouble in the form of rugged dune features or play safe down the left side. From there, the hole narrows to a well-guarded green surrounded by dunes. The “short” tees present the player with a straightaway drivable par four. However, a driver may not be the best play.
DECEPTION POINT: The name Deception is well-known throughout Western Washington geography. Most notorious is probably Deception Pass, where it is believed that in 1792, General Vancouver and his First Mate Whidbey were deceived into thinking a strong current during the change from high to low tide was a river and the opening to the fabled Northwest Passage. Since the designers unexpectedly found a new green site on this hole and since a golfer’s eye may be fooled by the bunker short of the green, the name fits well for Hole 6.
Hole 7 (Humpback) - The seventh is a long uphill hole moving from left to right. Off the tee, players have the option of hugging a deep sandy area down the right or playing safely to the vast fairway left. The risky play yields a shorter approach and better vision to the green. The safe play leaves a longer iron or wood to the elevated green. In addition, the safe play requires players to navigate past two large humps in the middle of the fairway that were kept through construction. The elevated green is generous, but bold contours including a very strong false front will make putting and pitches exciting.
HUMPBACK: The name Humpback is significant for three reasons; First, it identifies the two dominant outcroppings in the middle of the fairway. Second, the name describes a strong roll at the back of the green. Finally, Humpback whales have been known to visit the South Sound region from time to time.
Hole 8 (High Road / Low Road) – The long uphill eighth is the longest hole on the course, and is one of the narrowest as well. The hole plays along the 100 ft tall eastern hillside and steadily climbs to the elevated green. The second shot gives players the option to take the “high road” hugging the hillside on the left or take the “low road” to the right. Regardless of the road traveled, the third will be played to a deep green sloping from left to right.
HIGH ROAD / LOW ROAD: The name High Road / Low Road refers to the split level of the fairway at the second landing area.
Hole 9 (Olympus) – The ninth at Chambers Bay, like the fifth, offers a panoramic view of the course, Puget Sound, the islands and the Olympic Mountains. The hole drops almost 100 feet from the back tee to a peninsula green surrounded by deep sandy areas. The wise play here is to use the fairway short and left as it slopes sharply to the green. Because of the high quality of the sand that was present in this area of the site, the area between the tees and green was excavated creating the heroic carry to the green. The sand that was excavated from this area was then screened and placed at 12 inch depth over the entire course prior to grassing.
OLYMPUS: The name Olympus is appropriate since the ninth tee is the highest point on the course. Also, from the tee, Mt. Olympus is visible across Puget Sound.
Hole 10 (High Dunes) – The tenth hole has caught the eye of many as a natural wonder. Indeed the 60 ft dunes that hug the fairway are some of the most spectacular on the course. The fairway however was the result of a major earthmoving effort. Due to the locations of some high quality sands, the fairway area was excavated some 50 feet. The hole, reminiscent of a soda pop bottle, gradually narrows as you move towards the green. The short hole will tempt some players to go for the green while others will need to lie back to an appropriate spot. The small green, completely surrounded by dunes, and impossible to build with cart paths, can best be attacked via ground shots played up the left side.
HIGH DUNES: Some of the wonderful elements of the site at Chambers Bay were the enormous stockpiles of sand left behind from the mining operations. These “leftovers” provide a unique scale and sense of place often affiliated with links golf. The designers plowed through one of the largest stockpiles in the area that occupies the tenth hole. The resulting form is a valley fairway played between two High Dunes.
Hole 11 (Shadows) -- Just as portions of the 2, 4, 5, 15, 16 holes occupy areas that were once sedimentation ponds during mining operations, so fits the long eleventh. The tee shot is played to a very wide fairway highlighted by a central dune structure. A tee shot down the right will leave the player a long approach over a sandy area to the open greensite. A drive down the left will yield a slightly uphill approach to the green with an open entrance. A small spine effectively creating a left green and a right green bisects the putting surface. Finding the appropriate side of that spine will be critical to two putting.
SHADOWS: In the early evening, shadows can be seen dancing across the eleventh fairway. In fact, the name Shadows came about after an early evening walk-through just after grassing. The natural undulations of the fairway exploded in the rays of the falling sun.
Hole 12 (The Narrows) – The short twelfth hole is perhaps the most intriguing on the course. A narrow 30-yard wide fairway nestled between dunes climbs to a natural amphitheatre setting. There, a 12,000+ square foot green with bold contours and surrounded by fairways slopes awaits. Players can either go for the green or risk the menacing lone bunker short of the green or they can lie back with an iron off the tee. The greens contours will require short approach shots and greenside pitches to be played not just on the green but into the correct section of the green. Creativity and shot making should be rewarded on this hole and particularly on this green.
THE NARROWS: The name The Narrows quite literally refers to the tight quarters of the hole, but it also refers to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Puget Sound passage just north of the hole. The Narrows Bridge is famous for having collapsed after a violent windstorm on Nov. 7, 1940 garnering the nickname Galloping Gertie. The Narrows passage is famous for producing strong swirling winds that will help enhance the golf experience at Chambers Bay.
Hole 13 (Eagle Eye) – While the long fourth starts level and then climbs to the green, the thirteenth hole climbs off the tee and then levels off. The uphill tee shot is played to the crest of a hill where the hole veers right and opens to a wide expanse of fairway and sand. A green surrounded by fairway will likely tempt players to get home in two, but players will need to carry a large sandy area on the right and a deep central bunker to get there. Once around the green, which is one of the smallest on the course, the player has numerous options to get the ball close. Deep swales and bold sideslopes will allow players to use any club in the bag around this green.
EAGLE EYE: The name Eagle Eye refers to the abundance of majestic wildlife in the area. Spectacular Bald Eagles who typically reside on the islands were frequent onlookers during construction. As the shortest of the long holes, there is also an opportunity for golfing eagles at thirteen.
Hole 14 (Cape Fear) – From the elevated tees, this long downhill dogleg left looks to go forever. It almost does, at 530+ yards from the back tee this would be the longest par 4 in major championship history. And while length is a factor on this hole, the sheer beauty of the backdrop and strategy of the hole will dominate one’s attention. The player has two options off the tee. A safe play to the right will yield a longer approach from an elevated perch. A risky tee shot over the large deep sandy area (affectionately known as the pit of despair) will leave a shorter more level approach that must carry another sandy area. The large green, surrounded by fairway, runs from front right to back left making a draw an ideal play.
CAPE FEAR: The name Cape Fear plays upon the daunting tee shot the players face, as well as the “Cape” layout of the hole. A “Cape” hole is one that plays in a crescent-like shape around a hazard. The fifth at Mid Ocean club in Bermuda and the 18th at Pebble Beach would be examples of “Cape” holes.
Hole 15 (Lone Fir) – This dramatic downhill hole is the shortest of the one shotters at Chambers Bay. Most days a wedge or short iron will be enough here, but like many of the great coastal short holes, when the wind changes so does the proper club selection. Dropping sharply from the tee, the green is surrounded by a vast sandy area. The green slopes from left to right and a ribbon of fairway to the left will give players an additional slope to access left hand hole locations. Again, Puget Sound will provide a backdrop sure to make concentrating on golf difficult.
LONE FIR: The name Lone Fir describes the iconic single fir tree located behind the green. The only tree on the golf course, like a lighthouse, provides a frame of reference throughout the course. The tree can be seen from numerous holes, but never is it more noticeable than at the short fifteenth.
Hole 16 (Beached) – While many of the holes at Chambers Bay have played towards the water, the sixteenth holes plays along the water. The right edge of the fairway perilously hanging over the edge of deep sandy area will entice players to bite off as much as possible. While the ample left side of the fairway may be the wiser play. From the left a player will be forced to find a small green that appears to be hanging over the water while avoiding the deep bunker to the right. A small finger of green in the back right is sure to make for an exciting championship hole location.
BEACHED: The enormous sandy area down the right side of the hole was the catalyst for the name Beached. Although finding a beached grey whale not far from the pier not long ago might also be a fitting explanation.
Hole 17 (Derailed) – Just as the fifth hole featured two different greens, the seventeenth features two different tee locations. The lower tee is some 220 yards from the green and only offers a partial view of the hole. A steep dune on the left and a low sandy area along the right dominate the picture. A shorter elevated tee offers a completely different perspective. Looking down upon the surface and with full view of the left side bailout, players may choose a different route to the green. The green is engulfed by a sandy waste area short and right but is open long and left. The right hand hole location will not only test ones putting but actually brings the railroad (OB) into play.
DERAILED: The name Derailed came to life after some “dirt opens” or construction golf. It was at this hole that a good round was often sent awry. The presence of the active railroad, like many traditional Scottish links, along the entire right side of the hole made the fit.
Hole 18 (Tahoma) – The home hole at Chambers Bay heads back east from the Sound. This long uphill hole will require a big decision to close the round. The tee shot is played over a shallow sandy area and along side the 40 ft concrete structures known as “the sorting bins.” The generous fairway is shared with the first hole but in order to reach the green in two a long tee shot down the right side is required. From there a player can lay up short left of the green or attempt a bold approach over a deep fronting sandy area. The vast green features some of the boldest contours on the course requiring pitch shots to either be executed perfectly or the need for some imagination and creative shot making. A large dune along the right side of the hole was designed and created to accommodate major tents and bleachers allowing tens of thousands of spectators to witness the finale of any championship.
TAHOMA: Perhaps the most iconic natural landmark in Washington is Mt. Rainier, which happens to reside in Pierce County. The Indian name is Mount Tahoma. In fact the name Tacoma is a derivative of Tahoma. We felt that Tahoma was a fitting name for the home hole and final climb at Chambers Bay.
Hole 1 (Puget Sound) – The first hole at Chambers Bay sets the tone for the entire round. This long, challenging opener heads straight to Puget Sound, just as a first time visitor would have walked the site prior to the golf construction. If the breathtaking backdrop of Puget Sound doesn’t capture your attention, the bold fairway contours and devilish green sure will. Flanked by a 50 ft tall dune on the right, the first hole shares a fairway with the 18th ala The Old Course at St. Andrew’s. The right side of the fairway is elevated and offers an open entrance to the green. Playing down the left side will require players to negotiate a steep fairway hollow left of the green.
PUGET SOUND: The first hole is named after perhaps the most important element of the site, Puget Sound. Like the North Sea at The Old Course or the Pacific Ocean at Cypress Point, Puget Sound provides a stunning backdrop to the golf and highlights the sense of place. Just hearing the name Puget Sound conjures images of beauty and grandeur. We hope players will feel the same way about Chambers Bay.
Hole 2 (Foxy) – The 421 yard second hole heads due north and doglegs slightly from right to left. The hole starts in the dunes and opens to Puget Sound at the landing area. A small hummock bisecting the fairway landing area will direct balls right or left. The approach from the right is open and favors a running draw, while the left will require an aerial approach over a greenside sandy area. The green slopes gently from right to left and features a dramatic back left hole location.
FOXY: The name Foxy pays tribute to one of the great links holes in the world, the 14th at Royal Dornoch in Scotland, which holds the same title. It also plays on the fact that Fox Island within Puget Sound provides the backdrop for the second shot.
Hole 3 (Blown Out) – The third hole is the first of the short holes at Chambers Bay. Once again, Puget Sound provides a picturesque backdrop for this one shotter. A large, deep sandy area dominates the left side of the hole while the right side offers players a fairway “backboard or kickslope” to utilize for their mid iron. The green slopes from front right to back left requiring many players to land their shot off the putting surface and run the ball on.
BLOWN OUT: Wind. The invisible hazard. Nowhere in golf is this element more important than on a links course. Not only will the wind change the way a hole plays from day to day and even hour by hour, but the swirling and stiffening winds often add to the mystique of links golf. The name Blown Out pays tribute to the invisible hazard, as well as the style of bunkers incorporated at Chambers Bay.
Hole 4 (Hazard’s Ascent) – The fourth hole is the first of the long holes at Chambers Bay and takes the player away from Puget Sound for the first time. The 554 yarder offers a generous landing area off the tee then heads up the large hill. The right side of the fairway provides a shorter route to the green but also contains stronger fairway contours making an attempt at the green in two more difficult depending upon the lie. The split-level fairway climbs the hill flowing from left to right and yielding a safe route around the deep sandy area to the right. The three level green contains some of the stronger contours on the course that should be utilized for pitches onto the green as well as lag putting.
HAZARD’S ASCENT: The name Hazard’s Ascent identifies one of the first climbers (Hazard Stevens) to successfully reach the peak of Mt. Rainier in 1870. Rainier, situated in eastern Pierce County and rising to 14,411 ft, requires the same skill and thoughtfulness as the fourth at Chambers Bay
Hole 5 (Free Fall) – The fifth hole at Chambers Bay offers the first panoramic perspective on the course. From the tee, the player can see virtually the entire course, as well as Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and McNeil, Anderson, and Fox Islands and most importantly both greens at the fifth. While some other famed courses have holes with two greens on one hole (Pine Valley / Ballybunion Cashen / Pacific Dunes), the fifth at Chambers Bay is unique because the greens are 150 yards apart. The teeshot at the fifth plays downhill some 80 feet to a very wide fairway. From there the player is left with a long iron to the open “long green” or a delicate pitch to the protected “short” green. In both instances, players are wise to use the ground contours around the green to guide their ball towards the hole.
FREE FALL: The name Free Fall is due to the dramatic elevation change from the tee to the fairway.
Hole 6 (Deception Point) – Like the fifth, hole six can be played as a long par four or a short par four depending on the tees. Tees for the sixth hole have been designed near each of the green locations on hole five, creating a long loop and a short loop. From the “long” tees, the sixth is a par four dogleg right. Off the tee, the player can hug the right side and risk finding trouble in the form of rugged dune features or play safe down the left side. From there, the hole narrows to a well-guarded green surrounded by dunes. The “short” tees present the player with a straightaway drivable par four. However, a driver may not be the best play.
DECEPTION POINT: The name Deception is well-known throughout Western Washington geography. Most notorious is probably Deception Pass, where it is believed that in 1792, General Vancouver and his First Mate Whidbey were deceived into thinking a strong current during the change from high to low tide was a river and the opening to the fabled Northwest Passage. Since the designers unexpectedly found a new green site on this hole and since a golfer’s eye may be fooled by the bunker short of the green, the name fits well for Hole 6.
Hole 7 (Humpback) - The seventh is a long uphill hole moving from left to right. Off the tee, players have the option of hugging a deep sandy area down the right or playing safely to the vast fairway left. The risky play yields a shorter approach and better vision to the green. The safe play leaves a longer iron or wood to the elevated green. In addition, the safe play requires players to navigate past two large humps in the middle of the fairway that were kept through construction. The elevated green is generous, but bold contours including a very strong false front will make putting and pitches exciting.
HUMPBACK: The name Humpback is significant for three reasons; First, it identifies the two dominant outcroppings in the middle of the fairway. Second, the name describes a strong roll at the back of the green. Finally, Humpback whales have been known to visit the South Sound region from time to time.
Hole 8 (High Road / Low Road) – The long uphill eighth is the longest hole on the course, and is one of the narrowest as well. The hole plays along the 100 ft tall eastern hillside and steadily climbs to the elevated green. The second shot gives players the option to take the “high road” hugging the hillside on the left or take the “low road” to the right. Regardless of the road traveled, the third will be played to a deep green sloping from left to right.
HIGH ROAD / LOW ROAD: The name High Road / Low Road refers to the split level of the fairway at the second landing area.
Hole 9 (Olympus) – The ninth at Chambers Bay, like the fifth, offers a panoramic view of the course, Puget Sound, the islands and the Olympic Mountains. The hole drops almost 100 feet from the back tee to a peninsula green surrounded by deep sandy areas. The wise play here is to use the fairway short and left as it slopes sharply to the green. Because of the high quality of the sand that was present in this area of the site, the area between the tees and green was excavated creating the heroic carry to the green. The sand that was excavated from this area was then screened and placed at 12 inch depth over the entire course prior to grassing.
OLYMPUS: The name Olympus is appropriate since the ninth tee is the highest point on the course. Also, from the tee, Mt. Olympus is visible across Puget Sound.
Hole 10 (High Dunes) – The tenth hole has caught the eye of many as a natural wonder. Indeed the 60 ft dunes that hug the fairway are some of the most spectacular on the course. The fairway however was the result of a major earthmoving effort. Due to the locations of some high quality sands, the fairway area was excavated some 50 feet. The hole, reminiscent of a soda pop bottle, gradually narrows as you move towards the green. The short hole will tempt some players to go for the green while others will need to lie back to an appropriate spot. The small green, completely surrounded by dunes, and impossible to build with cart paths, can best be attacked via ground shots played up the left side.
HIGH DUNES: Some of the wonderful elements of the site at Chambers Bay were the enormous stockpiles of sand left behind from the mining operations. These “leftovers” provide a unique scale and sense of place often affiliated with links golf. The designers plowed through one of the largest stockpiles in the area that occupies the tenth hole. The resulting form is a valley fairway played between two High Dunes.
Hole 11 (Shadows) -- Just as portions of the 2, 4, 5, 15, 16 holes occupy areas that were once sedimentation ponds during mining operations, so fits the long eleventh. The tee shot is played to a very wide fairway highlighted by a central dune structure. A tee shot down the right will leave the player a long approach over a sandy area to the open greensite. A drive down the left will yield a slightly uphill approach to the green with an open entrance. A small spine effectively creating a left green and a right green bisects the putting surface. Finding the appropriate side of that spine will be critical to two putting.
SHADOWS: In the early evening, shadows can be seen dancing across the eleventh fairway. In fact, the name Shadows came about after an early evening walk-through just after grassing. The natural undulations of the fairway exploded in the rays of the falling sun.
Hole 12 (The Narrows) – The short twelfth hole is perhaps the most intriguing on the course. A narrow 30-yard wide fairway nestled between dunes climbs to a natural amphitheatre setting. There, a 12,000+ square foot green with bold contours and surrounded by fairways slopes awaits. Players can either go for the green or risk the menacing lone bunker short of the green or they can lie back with an iron off the tee. The greens contours will require short approach shots and greenside pitches to be played not just on the green but into the correct section of the green. Creativity and shot making should be rewarded on this hole and particularly on this green.
THE NARROWS: The name The Narrows quite literally refers to the tight quarters of the hole, but it also refers to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Puget Sound passage just north of the hole. The Narrows Bridge is famous for having collapsed after a violent windstorm on Nov. 7, 1940 garnering the nickname Galloping Gertie. The Narrows passage is famous for producing strong swirling winds that will help enhance the golf experience at Chambers Bay.
Hole 13 (Eagle Eye) – While the long fourth starts level and then climbs to the green, the thirteenth hole climbs off the tee and then levels off. The uphill tee shot is played to the crest of a hill where the hole veers right and opens to a wide expanse of fairway and sand. A green surrounded by fairway will likely tempt players to get home in two, but players will need to carry a large sandy area on the right and a deep central bunker to get there. Once around the green, which is one of the smallest on the course, the player has numerous options to get the ball close. Deep swales and bold sideslopes will allow players to use any club in the bag around this green.
EAGLE EYE: The name Eagle Eye refers to the abundance of majestic wildlife in the area. Spectacular Bald Eagles who typically reside on the islands were frequent onlookers during construction. As the shortest of the long holes, there is also an opportunity for golfing eagles at thirteen.
Hole 14 (Cape Fear) – From the elevated tees, this long downhill dogleg left looks to go forever. It almost does, at 530+ yards from the back tee this would be the longest par 4 in major championship history. And while length is a factor on this hole, the sheer beauty of the backdrop and strategy of the hole will dominate one’s attention. The player has two options off the tee. A safe play to the right will yield a longer approach from an elevated perch. A risky tee shot over the large deep sandy area (affectionately known as the pit of despair) will leave a shorter more level approach that must carry another sandy area. The large green, surrounded by fairway, runs from front right to back left making a draw an ideal play.
CAPE FEAR: The name Cape Fear plays upon the daunting tee shot the players face, as well as the “Cape” layout of the hole. A “Cape” hole is one that plays in a crescent-like shape around a hazard. The fifth at Mid Ocean club in Bermuda and the 18th at Pebble Beach would be examples of “Cape” holes.
Hole 15 (Lone Fir) – This dramatic downhill hole is the shortest of the one shotters at Chambers Bay. Most days a wedge or short iron will be enough here, but like many of the great coastal short holes, when the wind changes so does the proper club selection. Dropping sharply from the tee, the green is surrounded by a vast sandy area. The green slopes from left to right and a ribbon of fairway to the left will give players an additional slope to access left hand hole locations. Again, Puget Sound will provide a backdrop sure to make concentrating on golf difficult.
LONE FIR: The name Lone Fir describes the iconic single fir tree located behind the green. The only tree on the golf course, like a lighthouse, provides a frame of reference throughout the course. The tree can be seen from numerous holes, but never is it more noticeable than at the short fifteenth.
Hole 16 (Beached) – While many of the holes at Chambers Bay have played towards the water, the sixteenth holes plays along the water. The right edge of the fairway perilously hanging over the edge of deep sandy area will entice players to bite off as much as possible. While the ample left side of the fairway may be the wiser play. From the left a player will be forced to find a small green that appears to be hanging over the water while avoiding the deep bunker to the right. A small finger of green in the back right is sure to make for an exciting championship hole location.
BEACHED: The enormous sandy area down the right side of the hole was the catalyst for the name Beached. Although finding a beached grey whale not far from the pier not long ago might also be a fitting explanation.
Hole 17 (Derailed) – Just as the fifth hole featured two different greens, the seventeenth features two different tee locations. The lower tee is some 220 yards from the green and only offers a partial view of the hole. A steep dune on the left and a low sandy area along the right dominate the picture. A shorter elevated tee offers a completely different perspective. Looking down upon the surface and with full view of the left side bailout, players may choose a different route to the green. The green is engulfed by a sandy waste area short and right but is open long and left. The right hand hole location will not only test ones putting but actually brings the railroad (OB) into play.
DERAILED: The name Derailed came to life after some “dirt opens” or construction golf. It was at this hole that a good round was often sent awry. The presence of the active railroad, like many traditional Scottish links, along the entire right side of the hole made the fit.
Hole 18 (Tahoma) – The home hole at Chambers Bay heads back east from the Sound. This long uphill hole will require a big decision to close the round. The tee shot is played over a shallow sandy area and along side the 40 ft concrete structures known as “the sorting bins.” The generous fairway is shared with the first hole but in order to reach the green in two a long tee shot down the right side is required. From there a player can lay up short left of the green or attempt a bold approach over a deep fronting sandy area. The vast green features some of the boldest contours on the course requiring pitch shots to either be executed perfectly or the need for some imagination and creative shot making. A large dune along the right side of the hole was designed and created to accommodate major tents and bleachers allowing tens of thousands of spectators to witness the finale of any championship.
TAHOMA: Perhaps the most iconic natural landmark in Washington is Mt. Rainier, which happens to reside in Pierce County. The Indian name is Mount Tahoma. In fact the name Tacoma is a derivative of Tahoma. We felt that Tahoma was a fitting name for the home hole and final climb at Chambers Bay.
Hole 1 (Puget Sound) – The first hole at Chambers Bay sets the tone for the entire round. This long, challenging opener heads straight to Puget Sound, just as a first time visitor would have walked the site prior to the golf construction. If the breathtaking backdrop of Puget Sound doesn’t capture your attention, the bold fairway contours and devilish green sure will. Flanked by a 50 ft tall dune on the right, the first hole shares a fairway with the 18th ala The Old Course at St. Andrew’s. The right side of the fairway is elevated and offers an open entrance to the green. Playing down the left side will require players to negotiate a steep fairway hollow left of the green.
PUGET SOUND: The first hole is named after perhaps the most important element of the site, Puget Sound. Like the North Sea at The Old Course or the Pacific Ocean at Cypress Point, Puget Sound provides a stunning backdrop to the golf and highlights the sense of place. Just hearing the name Puget Sound conjures images of beauty and grandeur. We hope players will feel the same way about Chambers Bay.
Hole 2 (Foxy) – The 421 yard second hole heads due north and doglegs slightly from right to left. The hole starts in the dunes and opens to Puget Sound at the landing area. A small hummock bisecting the fairway landing area will direct balls right or left. The approach from the right is open and favors a running draw, while the left will require an aerial approach over a greenside sandy area. The green slopes gently from right to left and features a dramatic back left hole location.
FOXY: The name Foxy pays tribute to one of the great links holes in the world, the 14th at Royal Dornoch in Scotland, which holds the same title. It also plays on the fact that Fox Island within Puget Sound provides the backdrop for the second shot.
Hole 3 (Blown Out) – The third hole is the first of the short holes at Chambers Bay. Once again, Puget Sound provides a picturesque backdrop for this one shotter. A large, deep sandy area dominates the left side of the hole while the right side offers players a fairway “backboard or kickslope” to utilize for their mid iron. The green slopes from front right to back left requiring many players to land their shot off the putting surface and run the ball on.
BLOWN OUT: Wind. The invisible hazard. Nowhere in golf is this element more important than on a links course. Not only will the wind change the way a hole plays from day to day and even hour by hour, but the swirling and stiffening winds often add to the mystique of links golf. The name Blown Out pays tribute to the invisible hazard, as well as the style of bunkers incorporated at Chambers Bay.
Hole 4 (Hazard’s Ascent) – The fourth hole is the first of the long holes at Chambers Bay and takes the player away from Puget Sound for the first time. The 554 yarder offers a generous landing area off the tee then heads up the large hill. The right side of the fairway provides a shorter route to the green but also contains stronger fairway contours making an attempt at the green in two more difficult depending upon the lie. The split-level fairway climbs the hill flowing from left to right and yielding a safe route around the deep sandy area to the right. The three level green contains some of the stronger contours on the course that should be utilized for pitches onto the green as well as lag putting.
HAZARD’S ASCENT: The name Hazard’s Ascent identifies one of the first climbers (Hazard Stevens) to successfully reach the peak of Mt. Rainier in 1870. Rainier, situated in eastern Pierce County and rising to 14,411 ft, requires the same skill and thoughtfulness as the fourth at Chambers Bay
Hole 5 (Free Fall) – The fifth hole at Chambers Bay offers the first panoramic perspective on the course. From the tee, the player can see virtually the entire course, as well as Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and McNeil, Anderson, and Fox Islands and most importantly both greens at the fifth. While some other famed courses have holes with two greens on one hole (Pine Valley / Ballybunion Cashen / Pacific Dunes), the fifth at Chambers Bay is unique because the greens are 150 yards apart. The teeshot at the fifth plays downhill some 80 feet to a very wide fairway. From there the player is left with a long iron to the open “long green” or a delicate pitch to the protected “short” green. In both instances, players are wise to use the ground contours around the green to guide their ball towards the hole.
FREE FALL: The name Free Fall is due to the dramatic elevation change from the tee to the fairway.
Hole 6 (Deception Point) – Like the fifth, hole six can be played as a long par four or a short par four depending on the tees. Tees for the sixth hole have been designed near each of the green locations on hole five, creating a long loop and a short loop. From the “long” tees, the sixth is a par four dogleg right. Off the tee, the player can hug the right side and risk finding trouble in the form of rugged dune features or play safe down the left side. From there, the hole narrows to a well-guarded green surrounded by dunes. The “short” tees present the player with a straightaway drivable par four. However, a driver may not be the best play.
DECEPTION POINT: The name Deception is well-known throughout Western Washington geography. Most notorious is probably Deception Pass, where it is believed that in 1792, General Vancouver and his First Mate Whidbey were deceived into thinking a strong current during the change from high to low tide was a river and the opening to the fabled Northwest Passage. Since the designers unexpectedly found a new green site on this hole and since a golfer’s eye may be fooled by the bunker short of the green, the name fits well for Hole 6.
Hole 7 (Humpback) - The seventh is a long uphill hole moving from left to right. Off the tee, players have the option of hugging a deep sandy area down the right or playing safely to the vast fairway left. The risky play yields a shorter approach and better vision to the green. The safe play leaves a longer iron or wood to the elevated green. In addition, the safe play requires players to navigate past two large humps in the middle of the fairway that were kept through construction. The elevated green is generous, but bold contours including a very strong false front will make putting and pitches exciting.
HUMPBACK: The name Humpback is significant for three reasons; First, it identifies the two dominant outcroppings in the middle of the fairway. Second, the name describes a strong roll at the back of the green. Finally, Humpback whales have been known to visit the South Sound region from time to time.
Hole 8 (High Road / Low Road) – The long uphill eighth is the longest hole on the course, and is one of the narrowest as well. The hole plays along the 100 ft tall eastern hillside and steadily climbs to the elevated green. The second shot gives players the option to take the “high road” hugging the hillside on the left or take the “low road” to the right. Regardless of the road traveled, the third will be played to a deep green sloping from left to right.
HIGH ROAD / LOW ROAD: The name High Road / Low Road refers to the split level of the fairway at the second landing area.
Hole 9 (Olympus) – The ninth at Chambers Bay, like the fifth, offers a panoramic view of the course, Puget Sound, the islands and the Olympic Mountains. The hole drops almost 100 feet from the back tee to a peninsula green surrounded by deep sandy areas. The wise play here is to use the fairway short and left as it slopes sharply to the green. Because of the high quality of the sand that was present in this area of the site, the area between the tees and green was excavated creating the heroic carry to the green. The sand that was excavated from this area was then screened and placed at 12 inch depth over the entire course prior to grassing.
OLYMPUS: The name Olympus is appropriate since the ninth tee is the highest point on the course. Also, from the tee, Mt. Olympus is visible across Puget Sound.
Hole 10 (High Dunes) – The tenth hole has caught the eye of many as a natural wonder. Indeed the 60 ft dunes that hug the fairway are some of the most spectacular on the course. The fairway however was the result of a major earthmoving effort. Due to the locations of some high quality sands, the fairway area was excavated some 50 feet. The hole, reminiscent of a soda pop bottle, gradually narrows as you move towards the green. The short hole will tempt some players to go for the green while others will need to lie back to an appropriate spot. The small green, completely surrounded by dunes, and impossible to build with cart paths, can best be attacked via ground shots played up the left side.
HIGH DUNES: Some of the wonderful elements of the site at Chambers Bay were the enormous stockpiles of sand left behind from the mining operations. These “leftovers” provide a unique scale and sense of place often affiliated with links golf. The designers plowed through one of the largest stockpiles in the area that occupies the tenth hole. The resulting form is a valley fairway played between two High Dunes.
Hole 11 (Shadows) -- Just as portions of the 2, 4, 5, 15, 16 holes occupy areas that were once sedimentation ponds during mining operations, so fits the long eleventh. The tee shot is played to a very wide fairway highlighted by a central dune structure. A tee shot down the right will leave the player a long approach over a sandy area to the open greensite. A drive down the left will yield a slightly uphill approach to the green with an open entrance. A small spine effectively creating a left green and a right green bisects the putting surface. Finding the appropriate side of that spine will be critical to two putting.
SHADOWS: In the early evening, shadows can be seen dancing across the eleventh fairway. In fact, the name Shadows came about after an early evening walk-through just after grassing. The natural undulations of the fairway exploded in the rays of the falling sun.
Hole 12 (The Narrows) – The short twelfth hole is perhaps the most intriguing on the course. A narrow 30-yard wide fairway nestled between dunes climbs to a natural amphitheatre setting. There, a 12,000+ square foot green with bold contours and surrounded by fairways slopes awaits. Players can either go for the green or risk the menacing lone bunker short of the green or they can lie back with an iron off the tee. The greens contours will require short approach shots and greenside pitches to be played not just on the green but into the correct section of the green. Creativity and shot making should be rewarded on this hole and particularly on this green.
THE NARROWS: The name The Narrows quite literally refers to the tight quarters of the hole, but it also refers to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and the Puget Sound passage just north of the hole. The Narrows Bridge is famous for having collapsed after a violent windstorm on Nov. 7, 1940 garnering the nickname Galloping Gertie. The Narrows passage is famous for producing strong swirling winds that will help enhance the golf experience at Chambers Bay.
Hole 13 (Eagle Eye) – While the long fourth starts level and then climbs to the green, the thirteenth hole climbs off the tee and then levels off. The uphill tee shot is played to the crest of a hill where the hole veers right and opens to a wide expanse of fairway and sand. A green surrounded by fairway will likely tempt players to get home in two, but players will need to carry a large sandy area on the right and a deep central bunker to get there. Once around the green, which is one of the smallest on the course, the player has numerous options to get the ball close. Deep swales and bold sideslopes will allow players to use any club in the bag around this green.
EAGLE EYE: The name Eagle Eye refers to the abundance of majestic wildlife in the area. Spectacular Bald Eagles who typically reside on the islands were frequent onlookers during construction. As the shortest of the long holes, there is also an opportunity for golfing eagles at thirteen.
Hole 14 (Cape Fear) – From the elevated tees, this long downhill dogleg left looks to go forever. It almost does, at 530+ yards from the back tee this would be the longest par 4 in major championship history. And while length is a factor on this hole, the sheer beauty of the backdrop and strategy of the hole will dominate one’s attention. The player has two options off the tee. A safe play to the right will yield a longer approach from an elevated perch. A risky tee shot over the large deep sandy area (affectionately known as the pit of despair) will leave a shorter more level approach that must carry another sandy area. The large green, surrounded by fairway, runs from front right to back left making a draw an ideal play.
CAPE FEAR: The name Cape Fear plays upon the daunting tee shot the players face, as well as the “Cape” layout of the hole. A “Cape” hole is one that plays in a crescent-like shape around a hazard. The fifth at Mid Ocean club in Bermuda and the 18th at Pebble Beach would be examples of “Cape” holes.
Hole 15 (Lone Fir) – This dramatic downhill hole is the shortest of the one shotters at Chambers Bay. Most days a wedge or short iron will be enough here, but like many of the great coastal short holes, when the wind changes so does the proper club selection. Dropping sharply from the tee, the green is surrounded by a vast sandy area. The green slopes from left to right and a ribbon of fairway to the left will give players an additional slope to access left hand hole locations. Again, Puget Sound will provide a backdrop sure to make concentrating on golf difficult.
LONE FIR: The name Lone Fir describes the iconic single fir tree located behind the green. The only tree on the golf course, like a lighthouse, provides a frame of reference throughout the course. The tree can be seen from numerous holes, but never is it more noticeable than at the short fifteenth.
Hole 16 (Beached) – While many of the holes at Chambers Bay have played towards the water, the sixteenth holes plays along the water. The right edge of the fairway perilously hanging over the edge of deep sandy area will entice players to bite off as much as possible. While the ample left side of the fairway may be the wiser play. From the left a player will be forced to find a small green that appears to be hanging over the water while avoiding the deep bunker to the right. A small finger of green in the back right is sure to make for an exciting championship hole location.
BEACHED: The enormous sandy area down the right side of the hole was the catalyst for the name Beached. Although finding a beached grey whale not far from the pier not long ago might also be a fitting explanation.
Hole 17 (Derailed) – Just as the fifth hole featured two different greens, the seventeenth features two different tee locations. The lower tee is some 220 yards from the green and only offers a partial view of the hole. A steep dune on the left and a low sandy area along the right dominate the picture. A shorter elevated tee offers a completely different perspective. Looking down upon the surface and with full view of the left side bailout, players may choose a different route to the green. The green is engulfed by a sandy waste area short and right but is open long and left. The right hand hole location will not only test ones putting but actually brings the railroad (OB) into play.
DERAILED: The name Derailed came to life after some “dirt opens” or construction golf. It was at this hole that a good round was often sent awry. The presence of the active railroad, like many traditional Scottish links, along the entire right side of the hole made the fit.
Hole 18 (Tahoma) – The home hole at Chambers Bay heads back east from the Sound. This long uphill hole will require a big decision to close the round. The tee shot is played over a shallow sandy area and along side the 40 ft concrete structures known as “the sorting bins.” The generous fairway is shared with the first hole but in order to reach the green in two a long tee shot down the right side is required. From there a player can lay up short left of the green or attempt a bold approach over a deep fronting sandy area. The vast green features some of the boldest contours on the course requiring pitch shots to either be executed perfectly or the need for some imagination and creative shot making. A large dune along the right side of the hole was designed and created to accommodate major tents and bleachers allowing tens of thousands of spectators to witness the finale of any championship.
TAHOMA: Perhaps the most iconic natural landmark in Washington is Mt. Rainier, which happens to reside in Pierce County. The Indian name is Mount Tahoma. In fact the name Tacoma is a derivative of Tahoma. We felt that Tahoma was a fitting name for the home hole and final climb at Chambers Bay.
