Can someone who's played it please tell me what's so great about this golf course. I have to admit, from the photos alone, I don't see it. The "Narrows" hole looks pretty cool, the water is nice, but I don't like what appears to be the overwhelming, "quarry" character of the place. At first blush, it looks like a poor man's Bandon Dunes (and I'm referring to the original course at BD). Somewhat harsh, I know, but I'm not sure what everyone, including people who haven't played it and are just looking at the same photos I am, is gushing about.
Tim,
In my opinion, the Narrows is the worst hole on the course, though with possibly the best green. It isn't a bad hole though, which means the rest of the holes are darn good.
The fairway contours, on each hole, are awesome. Sometimes the contours are subtle, sometimes large. Often the case, is that the fairways are so wide, that hitting to the wrong portion of the fairway results in a very severe lie, where as driving in the correct portion affords the player a somewhat better lie.
The greens are top notch. There slopes where there needs to be. Some are big, and again, some are subtle. The water has a lot to do with how the putts break. This makes reading the greens tricky. A great feature about the greens is that it really makes the good putters shine. If you can't putt very well, then dont expect to do well at Chambers, because the greens will eat you up. If your a good putter, that aspect of your game will most certainly shine at Chambers Bay.
The variety of holes is awesome. Right after you begin to think the course is finally beginning to get easy, you are smacked in the face by a huge hole. Right when you think the course is unbearable, a hole allowing low scores awaits. There are so many different holes and types of shots to play. There a bite as much as you can holes, and holes holes with centerline bunkers. Skyline greens, boomerang greens, and greens benched tightly between dunes and against hills. The are downhill and uphill holes of all kind, from holes that gradually go uphill to holes that are flat that have a steep climb uphill on a shot. There are shots that require the ground game to get close, and chip shots you have to aim 40 feet past the hole to have any hope of getting close.
Some of the holes are simply amazing too. I played #16 to a back pin from 135 out and played to 40 feet as the shot was too scary to attempt. Even for the best of players, going for that pin requires great precision. Not to mention the best way to attack that hole is a drive that lies in the fairway as close to the waste area as possible.
While everyone talks of the beauty of #10, I can attest to there being some real strategy there too. Try going for a back pin from the right half of the fairway. You go to your ball and wonder if you are aiming for a random green or if the pin is really located somewhere. You wont be able to see the pin, and there is no chance at getting cloe, even with a wedge in hand. In fact, a wedge shot on number ten can be one of the most ticklish shots on the course.
And then, #14. Are you kidding me? I dont even know if there is a better hole in WA (imo). You can go left of the bunker and risk going in the waste area, with success resulting in a huge boost forward and a short club into the skyline green. Or, play safe, which is easy, and play a shot with a 3-wood and use amazing contours to boost the ball on the green. Or, of course, completely miss your tee shot and end up in the biggest single fairway bunker on the entire course.
Tim, I cant speak enough of the course. Not to mention the routing, which although some say could better, is great. I believe the way the course is routed is pure genius. To begin at the water, and then move away and have this huge array of sand greet you at four. It almost makes you glad you went away from the water. The course then meanders up and down hills before it gets to fifteen, a little par three that is right back on the water. The finishing holes are on the water (only tee shot on eighteen, and barely) and the player is left on a complete high note.
So yes, that is as well as I can sum it up, Tim.
