Chambers Bay is a publicly owned, walking-only, links-style golf course in University Place, Washington, built on a former sand-and-gravel mine along Puget Sound and designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. — it opened in 2007, hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, and currently ranks #19 on Golf Digest's Best Public Courses list and #1 in Washington state.
Read on for everything you need to know about its history, layout, green fees, and how to make the most of your round.
The Story Behind Chambers Bay
Chambers Bay's origin is less a real estate story than a bet. Pierce County purchased the 930-acre former quarry along south Puget Sound for $33 million in 1992, but it took one golfer with a big idea to turn it into something remarkable.
County Executive John Ladenburg, inspired by Bethpage Black becoming the first municipal course to host a U.S. Open in 2002, decided Pierce County could do the same.
Robert Trent Jones Jr. won the design commission — beating out 77 other firms — and got to work on essentially bare industrial land.
His team moved 1.4 million cubic yards of sand and dirt to shape the fairways and dunes, deliberately keeping just one tree on the entire property: the Douglas fir that now stands behind the 15th green, known as the Lone Fir. The budget climbed from $13 million to $21 million along the way, earning the project the nickname “Ladenburg's Folly.”
The course opened June 23, 2007. Eight months later, the USGA awarded it both the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open, making it the youngest course to land a U.S. Open since Hazeltine in 1962.
Pierce County still owns it; KemperSports operates it. It also holds the distinction of being the first golf course in Washington — and the broader Pacific Northwest — to earn Audubon International's Silver Signature Sanctuary certification.
Course Layout and Design
Chambers Bay plays as a par 72 across 18 holes, with ten tee combinations ranging from 4,708 yards (Teal) to 7,867 yards (Champ).
That range makes it playable for a wide spectrum of golfers, though the course punishes poor decisions regardless of which tees you choose.
The layout is pure links in character — no cart paths, no residential borders, no water hazards. What you get instead are wide fescue fairways, towering man-made dunes, and greens that average around 8,000 square feet.
Originally the entire course was seeded with fine fescue, including the greens, but those surfaces drew sharp criticism during the 2015 U.S. Open. Between 2017 and 2019, the greens were fully regrassed to poa annua, and course conditioning has earned strong marks ever since.
Physically, Chambers Bay is demanding. The round covers six miles over 249 hilly acres with significant elevation swings throughout. A few holes stand out:
- No. 9 — a downhill par 3 played from the course's highest point, where the entire layout opens up below you
- No. 15 “Lone Fir” — the signature hole, a par 3 playing between 139 and 246 yards with Puget Sound behind the green and the course's lone tree framing the shot
- No. 16 — a par 4 that runs tight along the railroad tracks and shoreline
- No. 18 — a long uphill par 5 that finishes just below the clubhouse
Two details give Chambers Bay its sense of place more than anything else: freight trains that pass between the course and the water's edge, and the concrete remains of the old mine's sorting bins standing near the 18th — reminders of what this land used to be.
Championships and Legacy
Chambers Bay has hosted four USGA championships since opening, each leaving a distinct mark on the course's reputation.
2010 U.S. Amateur — Peter Uihlein defeated David Chung 4 and 2 in the 36-hole final. The course was set up at 7,742 yards, par 71 — the longest configuration in USGA championship history at the time.
2015 U.S. Open — Jordan Spieth won at 5-under 275, one shot ahead of Dustin Johnson and Louis Oosthuizen. The tournament's defining moment came on the 72nd hole, where Johnson three-putted from 12 feet, needing only a birdie to force a playoff. The Open generated $134 million in regional economic impact, but the greens overshadowed much of the conversation — Henrik Stenson described putting on them as “pretty much like putting on broccoli,” and the criticism was widespread enough to prompt a full regrassing project.
2022 U.S. Women's Amateur — Saki Baba of Japan defeated Monet Chun 11 and 9, the third-largest margin of victory in the championship's history. Notably, the regrassed poa annua greens drew praise rather than complaints — a significant reputational reset from 2015.
Looking ahead, Chambers Bay has secured the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2033 U.S. Amateur. A second U.S. Open has not been scheduled, though Pierce County and the USGA remain in ongoing discussions.
Green Fees, Booking, and Practical Access
Chambers Bay is open to the public seven days a week, year-round, weather permitting. Green fees are dynamic, so the rates below are starting points — actual pricing shifts based on demand, day of week, and how far in advance you book.
2026 non-resident green fees (starting at):
- Jan/Dec: ~$149
- Shoulder season: ~$200–$250
- July/Aug peak: ~$325+, with advanced booking rates reaching $425
A 15.1% combined tax applies to non-prepaid rates. Pierce County residents and Golf Club members pay set discounted rates. Juniors 13 and under play free with a paying adult; ages 14–17 pay half.
Booking windows:
- Residency-based tee times open up to 3 months ahead
- Advanced April–October reservations open January 1 (prepaid)
- Groups of 12 or more can book up to a year out
- Book online via EZLinks or by phone
Chambers Bay is walking-only. Free push carts are available, and you're welcome to bring your own pull cart. Motorized carts are reserved for medical exceptions only — and those players must hire a caddie as the driver.
Caddies are optional but worth considering: a single-bag caddie runs about $100 plus gratuity, a forecaddie $50 per player with a two-player minimum, paid directly in cash.
For dress code, you'll need a collared shirt, tailored shorts or slacks, and soft-spike golf shoes — no metal spikes. If you're traveling without clubs, rentals run roughly $50–$75 per set, with shoe rentals around $20, all available through the pro shop.
Course Difficulty and Strategy Tips
Chambers Bay plays harder than it looks from the tee. The fairways are wide, water is nearly absent, and there's no real out-of-bounds to speak of — so opening drives are forgiving.
The damage happens on approach shots and around the greens, where the firm turf, massive putting surfaces, and constant wind separate good rounds from frustrating ones.
USGA course ratings by tee:
| Tee | Yards | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champ | 7,867 | 77.6 | 145 |
| Black | 7,158 | 74.4 | 138 |
| Blue | 6,748 | 72.4 | 134 |
| Sand | 6,345 | 70.6 | 130 |
| White | 5,822 | 68.0 | 122 |
Most recreational golfers should resist the urge to play the back tees. The Sand or Blue tees, somewhere in the 6,000–6,300 yard range, give you a much more enjoyable round without sacrificing the experience.
A few things to keep in mind on the course itself:
- The turf is firm and fast — the ground game works here. Bump-and-run approaches are often smarter than high, soft shots that bounce unpredictably.
- Wind is a factor on every hole, and it gets stronger on the back nine near the water. Keep your ball flight low, take an extra club into the wind, and allow for extra rollout downwind.
- The greens average around 8,000 square feet with severe contours. Lag putting matters far more than aggressive pin-hunting — aim to the fat part of the green and use the slopes to feed the ball toward the hole.
If it's your first time, hire a caddie. Knowing which side of the fairway to favor and how to read the green contours will save you multiple strokes and keep your pace on track.
Either way, arrive early enough to warm up, and pack water, sunscreen, rain gear, and a spare glove — conditions can shift quickly on this exposed, treeless layout.
Planning Your Visit
Chambers Bay is located at 6320 Grandview Drive West, University Place, WA — about 45 minutes from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and just southwest of Tacoma.
When to go: May through September offers the most reliable weather, with June and September averaging around 72°F and plenty of daylight. Winter rounds are available and significantly cheaper, but expect cool, wet conditions and shorter days.
There's no hotel on-site, so lodging options are nearby in Tacoma and the surrounding area. Partner properties include Hotel Murano, Silver Cloud (Point Ruston and Tacoma Waterfront locations), and the Courtyard and Marriott Downtown Tacoma.
If you're traveling from out of state, the “Championship Experience” stay-and-play package is worth a look — it pairs a round at Chambers Bay with rounds at Gold Mountain and The Home Course, plus a stay at Hotel Murano.
On-site dining: The Chambers Bay Grill sits atop the hill with full bar service, a Northwest wine list, and views of Puget Sound and the Olympic Mountains. The Landing provides food and beverage options out on the course.
A few other things worth knowing before you go:
- Chambers Bay Academy offers private and group lessons through six PGA professionals, along with club fitting and a top-ranked practice facility
- Youth on Course membership lets juniors play for $5 or less per round
- Chambers Creek Regional Park trails and beach are accessible from the property; Museum of Glass and Mt. Rainier day trips are reasonable additions if you're making a longer trip of it
Conclusion
Chambers Bay is one of those rare public courses that delivers a genuinely world-class experience without requiring a private club membership.
The setting alone — Puget Sound, the Olympics, and a links layout carved from an old quarry — is worth the trip.
With improved greens, multiple tee options, and a straightforward booking process, it's more accessible than its reputation suggests. Book early, pick tees that suit your game, and consider a caddie for your first round. You'll leave wanting to come back.
