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Chambers Bay Rocks, Gold Mountain (Olympic) Terrific Value

CHAMBERS'S BASEMENT

So I’m 2/3 done with my NW trip to open the year. Great fun so far. I’ll more post pics when I get time, but for now I’ll get the ball rolling.

Chambers Bay was really wonderful. I really like Whistling Straits, I love Arcadia Bluffs, I really love Pac Dunes, but Chambers may be my fave of that crop. Fave holes included 1, 4, 7, 10, 11, 12, 17, and 18. Yes, I like the new bunker on 18. It’s murder. I went in and played a shot with a 9-iron. I got it out, but it hit the sidewall and only advanced 40-50 yards. I got that down in two though. There is no question in my mind it’s a stroke penalty if you get in it, but most shouldn’t get in it, because there is plenty of room around it.

They have dubbed it “Chambers Basement.” I like the name. Bob Jones cracked me up, because when I got out he asked, “how did you like your trip to China?” ;D

I like it, and I like it more that they are putting one more like it (only less severe) at 14 so it becomes a recurring theme to silence the criticism that “it doesn’t fit with the rest of the course.”

Gold Mountain was a great time. I played with John Harbottle and he really loves Macdonald/Raynor/Banks architecture. What a great value – $24 today. That’s amazing. You can play all day on a weekend now for $30. The highest rate in high season is $60.

It’s only his 3rd course chronologically, so he was sort of cutting his teeth back then, yet there are some cool things like a Redanish look on 12 and lions mouth with Eden features (his words) on 16. I also like 17. I think the best stretched are the The tee shots seemed a little repetitive, but one can’t complain about the value! It’s a great price for courses that have hosted USGA Championships.

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