THE SEVENTEENTH AT CHAMBERS BAY
I was fortunate enough to play at Chambers Bay twice in the last two weeks and I wanted to share a few quick thoughts. First off, the greens are still very slow. The speed had not improved since the last time I was there in January. Dave Wieneke and Matt Allen have a big challenge on their hands getting them up to speed for next years U.S. Amateur. With the amount of foot traffic that those greens see (40,000 rounds in 2008 with additional wear and tear from caddies) it will be difficult to get the cut down and maintain a smooth surface. The new grassing lines for the Amateur are growing in. Mike Davis of the USGA is handling the changes. I have to say that I am not a fan. One of the things that made Chambers so compelling on my first visit was the vast fairways that would bleed into each other through the dunes. This has pretty much been eliminated. Fairways are still wide by USGA standards but they have often been shrunk in a way that eliminates the ideal lines into some portions of the greens.
THE NEW GRASSING LINE ON THE SECOND
The fifth is a perfect example. The fairway has been shrunk on both sides, but most noticeably on the right side. The best angle to the right side of the green is from this section of the fairway so that one can avoid the bunker that bisects the front of the green. If the course is playing firm and fast, it will be impossible to bounce the ball in to this flag position. They are makng the course more difficult and less interesting and most importantly less fun to the paying public.
NOTICE THE CHANGE ON THE LEFT
There is now a fifteen yard-wide strip of grass between the fairway and many bunkers, a phenomena that the USGA seems to have invented. It will be interesting to see what height they maintain the rough. As of now it is short and manageable.
On a different note, it was revealing to see the place almost empty on a beautiful Sunday morning. Three groups went off in a little more than an hour. When we made the turn, the place was bustling, though, as people were lined up to take advantage of the reduced twilight rate. It goes to show that the current high priced model is really struggling, but people still want to play great courses for a reasonable price. Two days later, I found the same busy tee sheet when I returned for an afternoon round.
Ironically, the best thing for Chambers Bay’s greens may be raising the price, which will limit play, while keeping revenue steady. This would allow them to take the greens down while not having to worry as much about foot traffic.
Anyone else been to Chambers recently? What did you think about the greens and the grassing lines?
N.B. Try the brownies at the turn. They are excellent and remind me of the early days at Bandon before the lodge was open.
STILL FUZZY
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I’ve played Chambers 6 times, the most recently in April. I find it funny that everybody complains about the greens being too slow. Most of the time I hear this complaining because after a very poor day of putting by a playing partner. They will get them faster but they will never be at 14 due to the massively large and complex contours.
One of their A caddies told me that they finally figured out the top dressing, they apparently had not found the right mix until early this year… they had too much of some ingredient in it. This will be the first full growing season with the proper top dressing which should help drastically. They also started covering some of the greens on the east edge of the property on the hill in winter because they were not seeing sunlight until late in the day and suffering badly as a result.
I don’t like the artificial fairway width reductions, that’s a shame, and didn’t catch the grass between fairway and bunker but that would be a disservice to many of the creative shots required (bump and runs, putting out of greenside bunkers like on hole 16, etc.)
Overall, I enjoy playing Chambers, it’s a fantastic layout and environment. The maturing will come I have no doubt. I find it especially ironic that there are numerous Seattle people I know who will pay virtually the same price to play one of the Newcastle courses which are gimmicky glorified resort courses with relatively poor house lined layouts. Chambers is head and shoulders the best layout and setting in the area.