Chambers Bay's Tenth (courtesy of Simonds)

I swung by Chambers Bay in January. It was my first time visiting this course that has garnered so much attention in the last year. The USGA awarded Chambers Bay the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open and I had heard a lot of good things about the place through the grapevine. I played on a wet, foggy day after a number of similar days of rain and the course still played firm and fast. With the exception of one hole, I really liked the course. The green sites are varied and interesting with only a few unnecessary catch basins. The fairways were wide, but there was a definite premium on playing to one side or the other. I found the course very playable, but could see that it would be challenging from all the way back, especially in wind. Chambers Bay is one of the best modern courses that I have played, just a step behind the likes of Pacific Dunes and Sand Hills.

I was able to talk with Dave Wieneke, the course’s superintendent. In this first video (after the jump), he discusses the construction process and working with the Robert Trent Jones Jr. team to make the design play like a natural links.

Dave goes on to talk about how he keeps the fescue healthy and happy by infrequent but deep watering. The sandy soil combined with a fair amount of drainage allows the course to play firm and fast and also to remain open longer and open sooner during and after rain events.

The course is full of opportunities to play bump and run shots both into and around greens. I can imagine being able to putt from thirty or forty yards away from the green on a dry day. I commend the USGA for being bold enough to play their two most prestigious tournaments on this type of course and hopefully it will open the larger golfing public’s eyes to the joy of playing golf along the ground.

For another video on Chambers Bay click here.