July 2009
U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open Championship Preparations
By David Wienecke

This latest installment on USGA Championship Preparations will focus on new construction projects.   These improvements will provide an enhance experience for daily play, as well as creating the optimal environment in which to host the world's best golfers for the 2010 U.S. Amateur and 2015 U.S. Open Championships.

No. 4 Green Remodel-Great golf made even better!
The reshaping of the 4th green complex has been completed and grass has begun growing.  RTJII Shaper Ed Taano, working under the guidance of architects Jay Blasi, Bruce Charlton and Robert Trent Jones, Jr. has created an impressive new green complex with many additional hole locations.  Ed has also softened the back slope surrounding the green, approach and fairway, and has tied all this work together resulting in an improved green complex that will fit seamlessly with the rest of the golf course.
By the numbers:
~  The new putting surface is about 16% larger at 10,870 square feet (the original green was 9,360 square feet).
~  The new green complex has been enlarged to 26,250 square feet to include a wide turf exit walk-off.
~  A new bunker added behind the green wraps around to merge with a renovated front bunker.  These two new bunkers join the large sand waste area.
~  Over 36,300 square feet of approach, fairway and dunes have been reshaped to provide new options for playing the hole.

The New Practice Facility
The finish sand cap and grading have been completed, and the new practice facility was seeded in July.  The irrigation has been installed and is up and running.  This new practice facility includes:
~  A 4-acre short game area with putting green, two chipping greens and practice bunkers.
~  A full length driving range totaling 13 acres, with 3 acres of teeing ground.  This practice facility will provide an incredible addition for golfers of all skill levels to work on improving their game.

What's next? 
The world's best amateur golfers will be at Chambers Bay for the 2010 U.S. Amateur Championship in just 13 months.  The event will be broadcast on NBC and The Golf Channel worldwide.  For more information, go to www.2010usamateur.com.