Gamble Sands is a high-desert links resort perched above the Columbia River where spacious fairways, firm fescue turf, and multiple Kidd-designed courses (Sands, Quicksands, Scarecrow, and the massive Cascade putting green) give you a fun, forgiving test that still rewards sharp shot-making.
Keep reading for the step-by-step details on pricing, lodging, strategy tips, and everything else you’ll want before you book.
What Makes Gamble Sands a Unique Golf Destination
Perched on a sage-covered bluff above the Columbia River, Gamble Sands feels more like remote Scotland than rural Washington, yet you can reach it after an easy three-hour drive from Seattle or Spokane.
What sets it apart isn’t only the dramatic scenery; it’s the way course architect David McLay Kidd turned a sandy, wind-carved plateau into a links playground that mid-handicappers can enjoy just as much as single-digit players.
You’ll notice the difference before you hit your first tee shot.
Traditional coastal links battle salty air and heavy winds, but this inland “Highland-style” layout sits in a dry, high-desert microclimate.
That means firmer fairways, consistently fast fescue turf, and fewer squalls to knock your ball offline.
Kidd used the natural contours—gentle dunes, long ridges, and sandy blow-outs—to frame corridors that look generous from the tee yet tighten subtly near the greens.
You can swing freely, knowing mis-hits usually funnel back toward the target, but well-struck drives earn the best angles to tucked pins.
Because the soil is pure sand, the ball bounces and releases rather than plugging.
Embrace the ground game: land approach shots short to let them chase, and keep a low-lofted club handy for bump-and-runs from 40 yards and in.
Many visitors—even scratch golfers—discover that putting from well off the green is often smarter than flopping a wedge.
The visuals alone justify a visit. Elevated tees on the front nine open to sweeping river vistas; sunsets paint the basalt cliffs in copper and rose.
Early-morning tee times reward you with soft light, calm air, and a good chance to spot mule deer browsing along the fescue edges.
Design philosophy is the secret sauce. Kidd’s mantra—“golf should be fun first”—shows up in:
- Risk/reward choices: Short par-4s like the second tempt you to drive the green, but safer lay-ups leave a semi-blind wedge.
- Playable hazards: Native sandy waste areas are in play yet rarely force a lost-ball penalty; you can advance the ball with a clean strike.
- Massive greens: Some puttable from 70 yards, they let creative players navigate tiers and backstops for birdie chances while cushioning mishits.
All of this makes Gamble Sands ideal if you hover around a 12–20 handicap.
You get the confidence of wide landing areas, the satisfaction of firm turf that rewards crisp contact, and a design pedigree that sparks conversation long after the trip ends.
Add the steady sunshine of central Washington—roughly 300 clear days per year—and you have a links experience unique in North America, one that combines strategic interest with a relaxed, vacation-worthy vibe.
Deep Dive Into the Courses: Sands, Quicksands, Scarecrow & More
Gamble Sands isn’t a one-course resort; it’s a full menu of golf experiences that range from a 7,300-yard championship test to a whimsical hour-long loop you can play in flip-flops.
Getting the most from a visit means knowing how each layout works and when it shines.
The Sands Course is the headline act.
Stretching 7,169–7,305 yards from the back tees (par 72, five tee sets), it rewards picking the right starting box: unless you’re a 5-handicap or better, the 6,500-yard “Sage” tees let you attack pins without slogging.
Fairways are 60 yards wide in places, but angles matter: miss on the wrong side and massive greens turn into three-putt zones, even though most surfaces gather mis-hits back toward the middle.
The show-stopper is the 315-yard par-4 2nd; a bold drive can chase onto the green in front of a panoramic Columbia River backdrop, while a lay-up leaves a nervy wedge over a hummock.
On the par-3s, especially the downhill 16th, the turf is so tight that a putter or bump-and-run 7-iron can be safer than a lofted shot—pack those options in mind.
Quicksands Short Course distills Kidd’s “fun first” mantra into 9 (or 14) holes that max out at roughly 135 yards. Expect rolling punchbowl greens, tiers you can bank shots off, and the occasional “crazy” fall-away that tests your imagination more than your muscle.
Groups play barefoot, music is common, and you’ll finish in 45–60 minutes—perfect before dinner or as a breaker between full rounds.
Cascade Putting Course sits right next to the inn—a 100,000-square-foot Himalayas-style sprawl inspired by St. Andrews.
It’s free for resort guests, lit by the setting sun, and becomes the social hub after dark.
Bring a wedge and a putter, grab a drink from the bar, and invent your own loop; the roller-coaster contours make even a three-footer an adventure.
The Scarecrow Course, opened in August 2024, carries the same fescue-on-sand DNA but explores untouched ridgelines north of the original routing.
Early reviews praise the stronger elevation changes: several tee shots drop 60 feet to fairways that bend around basalt outcrops, creating fresh sightlines for return visitors.
Yardage clocks in just under 7,200 yards, and the new layout shares the firm turf and generous corridors of its older sibling, so newcomers adapt quickly.
When you plan your itinerary, aim for one early-morning round on the Sands, a sunset dash around Quicksands, and at least one spin on the Cascade putting green each night.
If you’re staying two days or more, slot Scarecrow on day 2—the routing plays faster once you’ve learned how the ball reacts on this high-desert sand, making the new terrain even more rewarding.
How to Plan Your Stay: Lodging, Dining, and Off-Course Fun
Whether you roll in for a single night or block off a long weekend, dialing in where you sleep, eat, and unwind can make the difference between “nice trip” and “can’t wait to go back.”
Here’s the practical low-down so you spend more time swinging clubs and less time searching for details.
Lodging — The Inn at Gamble Sands
The Inn sits a wedge shot from the first tee and every room faces either the Columbia River or the rumpled fairways, so you wake up to sunrise over one of the two.
Expect clean, modern rooms finished in knotty alder, speedy Wi-Fi, and plenty of hooks for hanging gear.
It’s routinely listed among Washington’s top golf stays, and because there are only 37 rooms, prime summer weekends sell out months ahead—secure your package as soon as you lock in dates.
Dining — Feed the scorecard
Danny Boy Restaurant is the resort’s heartbeat.
The menu leans on local ranch beef—think pepper-crusted rib-eye or a classic smash burger—and the patio overlooks the Cascade putting green, so you can critique your partners while swirling a post-round Pinot.
If you crave something quicker, The Barn slings wood-fired pizzas and big salads till late afternoon; it’s ideal between 27 and 36 holes when you don’t want a full sit-down service.
After dark, most golfers drift back to the main bar or the outdoor fire pits for nightcaps.
Staff keeps blankets on hand for breezy evenings, and the pour-your-own s’mores kits disappear fast with family groups.
Evening activities — Keep the clubs out
Skipping the Cascade Putting Course at sunset would be a miss.
Grab a drink, drop a few balls, and putt your way across the 100,000-square-foot roller coaster until the sky fades to rose. Fire pits crackle beside the green, so even non-golfers linger.
If you want pure quiet, stroll the cart path along the bluff after dinner; the river valley glows and you’ll usually share the view with little more than mule deer.
Practice facilities — Warm up, don’t live there
A compact driving range and a pair of tidy chipping zones sit beside the clubhouse, but the stalls fill quickly on peak mornings.
Hit a small bucket to find tempo, then head straight to the first tee; the courses are more forgiving than the range numbers suggest.
If you absolutely need reps, loop the Cascade putting green where you can practice lag distances on firm, fast fescue that matches the main greens.
Quick planning tips you’ll thank yourself for later
- Book a stay-and-play bundle—rates often undercut à-la-carte prices by 20 percent once you factor carts and breakfast.
- Reserve Danny Boy when you book your room; large groups snap up sunset time slots.
- Pack layers, not bulk—mid-day temps rise, but evening breezes off the river ask for a light wind shirt.
- Bring a rangefinder; no caddie program or laser link on site.
- Build in off-course time so you’re not sprinting between rounds—Gamble’s laid-back vibe rewards slowing down.
Sort your room, lock in dinner, and block off an hour of dusk putting, and you’ll slide into the Gamble Sands rhythm the moment you pull up to the bag drop.
When to Visit and What to Expect: Rates, Seasons, and Access
Timing matters at Gamble Sands because both the purse and the pace of play shift with the calendar.
Seasonal pricing and weather
High-desert sunshine dominates from April through October, but price tiers move with the thermometer.
Spring shoulder season (roughly mid-April to mid-June) runs about $100–$150, climbing to $175 or more in the July–August peak when daylight stretches past 9 p.m.
If you can tee off after 3 p.m., twilight slots slide back to $85–$125 and often feel cooler as the river breeze picks up.
Late September delivers crisp mornings, golden-color fescue, and shoulder-season rates without the summer crowds.
Stay-and-play math that works
Packages stitch together lodging, carts, and breakfast—an example three-night, three-round bundle starts near $397 per person and can shave 20 percent off booking everything piecemeal.
Because the Inn only has 37 rooms, grab the package first, then layer on extra twilight rounds or a Quicksands loop once your tee-sheet confirmation arrives.
Booking tactics
Tee-times release 120 days out on the Gamble Sands website, and prime Friday–Saturday mornings vanish in the first week—set a reminder.
GolfNow sometimes lists late-fill spots at a small discount, but you’ll sacrifice control over tee order.
If you’re assembling a larger group, call the resort desk; staff can often slide you into a shotgun start or split group blocks that never appear online.
Getting there
Most travelers fly into Spokane (GEG) or Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) and budget a three-hour drive through orchard country on US-97—a relaxing trip if you plan a fuel-and-coffee stop in Wenatchee.
Canadians in the Okanagan can dip south from Penticton (YYF) and reach the clubhouse in just over two hours.
Once onsite, self-parking rings the inn; carts handle everything else, and there’s no resort fee tucked onto the bill.
A quick checklist before you click “reserve”
- Check school-holiday weeks—June graduations and early-August long weekends spike demand.
- Lock a package if you want dawn or dusk rounds; à-la-carte guests choose last.
- Pack a light quarter-zip even in July; the bluff cools fast after sunset.
- Add a buffer hour on departure day for a final spin on the Cascade putting course; it’s free, fun, and keeps you out of traffic.
Line up the right season and a smart booking window, and you’ll spend less cash, dodge the busiest tee sheets, and enjoy Gamble Sands when the turf—and the views—are at their absolute best.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Gamble Sands Experience
A little planning—and the right mindset—turns a good round at Gamble Sands into a memorable one.
Use these practical tips to dial in your prep, navigate the design, and stay comfortable all day.
Start by rolling a few balls on the Cascade Putting Course before you hit the range.
The surfaces there mirror the greens on the big course, so five minutes of lag‐putt calibration tells you how firmly the fescue will release downhill and how much less it breaks than it looks.
Skip the jumbo bucket; a half dozen swings with each club is enough to find rhythm because wide fairways forgive slight mis-hits.
Once on the tee, remember that Kidd designed the layout for bold play.
The fairway corridors are almost links-style runways, so:
- Aim for the aggressive side of doglegs whenever you can see the landing zone—angles into these massive greens matter more than pure distance.
- Play the ball along the ground when it makes sense; tight turf turns a bump-and-run 8-iron or even a putter into the safest choice from 40 yards and in.
- Trust the contours around the greens. Many slopes funnel misses back to the middle, but they also steer over-spun wedges away from tucked pins, so land approaches short and let them release.
Pack light and dress for the desert.
Summer afternoons push past 90 °F, yet the bluff cools quickly after sunset, so a breathable polo, shorts, and a thin wind shell cover most conditions.
You’ll have a cart by default—there’s no caddie program and no on-course laser link—so throw a personal rangefinder into the side pocket if you like exact yardages.
Extra weight only matters when you’re hoofing up the occasional ridge, so leave redundant clubs and rain gear at home unless the forecast demands it.
Food and drink logistics are equally simple: Danny Boy Restaurant fills every riverside table from 6 p.m. onward, especially on Fridays.
Make your reservation when you book the tee time and you’ll avoid the standby list.
If you finish late and want a quick bite, The Barn’s pizzas travel well—grab one to go and nab a fire-pit seat overlooking the Cascade green while you trade scorecard stories.
Follow this routine—sunset lag putts, confident target lines, smart ground shots, light gear, and a booked dinner table—and you’ll spend your energy where it counts: enjoying a links-style round unlike anything else in the Pacific Northwest.
Conclusion
Gamble Sands blends wide-open desert links, multiple Kidd-designed courses, and a laid-back resort vibe into a golf escape you won’t find anywhere else in the Northwest.
Nail your timing, lock a stay-and-play package, and use the ground game tips above to turn generous fairways into real scoring chances.
Book early, pack light, and get ready for a trip that feels both adventurous and comfortably familiar from the first tee shot to the last putt at sunset.
