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August 2008
Chambers Bay Update:
Pure Links Golf Essentials
By David Wienecke,
Certified Professional Agronomist
Chambers Bay Golf Course Superintendent
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Many people, even some that have been in the golf business for years, do not have a clear understanding of links golf. Of the estimated 32,000 golf courses worldwide, less than 170 are authentic links courses (less than 0.53%). The following are highlights of the generally accepted characteristics of links golf:
~ True links courses are predominantly fine fescue turf, played on links land (land linking the sea shore with the land), located at or near sea level, with the course routed over quick draining sandy soil.
~ Links courses require the golfer to walk since no driving carts are permitted. Trees are not seen on links courses. A links course is effected by weather, especially the wind, with sand dune terrain surrounding the playable turf.
~ Links courses are built on large, open and spacious expanses of land. Due to the wind and open ground, a premium is placed on low, piercing drives and up to three clubs more can be required for approach shots. The year-round firm and fast conditions allow golfers to putt from up to 80 yards or more off the green, and fairway shots may bounce and roll considerable distances from where the ball first landed.
~ Golf was born on links courses, and today links courses still define a golfer's golf course. Links golf is the way golf was always meant to be played.
Fast forward to the Pure Links Golf experience offered at Chambers Bay on the beautiful shores of Puget Sound. Views include the Olympic Mountain range in the background with Ketron, Anderson, McNeil and Fox Islands glistening in the waters of Puget Sound in the foreground.
~ Chambers Bay sits adjacent to the seashore next to what will be the longest stretch of public beach in the state of Washington once it opens to the public within the next couple of years.
~ Chambers Bay is Pure Links Golf with 91 acres of sand dunes, 85 acres of 100% fine fescue turf and 74 acres of sand bunkers. Chambers Bay has more sand than most golf courses have turf.
~ Golfers play Chambers Bay on 100% fine fescue putting greens, fairways and tees. Nothing more, nothing less.
~ Fine fescue putting greens are very distinctive. Greens are sand topdressed each week followed by grooming and rolling 4 to 7 times each week to maintain smooth putting surfaces.
~ Golfers need to adjust their game to play the fine fescue putting surfaces just like anyone playing a new course. The adjustment to links golf is much more dramatic because of the 100% fine fescue. Fine fescue putting surfaces are as unique and distinctive as Chambers Bay. Just as it would make no sense for a traveler to a foreign land to expect locals to speak English and conduct business in American dollars, it makes no sense to presume that Chambers Bay will be just like your home course's greens, tees or fairways.
~ Chambers Bay is a walking only golf course. This is because the fine fescue turf will not tolerate the wear associated with driving carts, and Chambers Bay would not be a links course if cart paths were built to accommodate power carts. Besides, walking while playing golf is good for you! Golfers who regularly walked when playing golf have been found by researchers from the Karolinksa Institute in Stockholm, Sweden to live 5 years longer than the general population. These results, recently published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports, were based on data gathered from 300,000 golfers and the five years longer life span was true, regardless of sex or social group. The walking golfer's group death rate was reduced by 40% compared to the non-walking general public.
~ Viva la difference! Welcome to Chambers Bay, and see you on the course.
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