Chambers Bay Golf Course University Place, Washington
Chambers Bay Golf Course is a par-72 public course in University Place, Washington, playing 7,867 yards from the Navy tees with a rating of 77.6 and slope of 145. Designed by Robert Trent Jones II (2007). There is exactly one tree on the property, and it is behind the 15th green.
The Course
Pierce County bought a working sand and gravel quarry in 1992 for $33 million and asked Robert Trent Jones Jr. what could be made of it. The answer involved digging out 1.4 million cubic yards of material, washing it off site and putting it back as landform. Chambers Bay opened on 23 June 2007 and hosted a U.S. Open eight years later, which is not a normal timeline for a golf course.
There is exactly one tree on the property, a Douglas fir behind the 15th green that everyone calls the Lone Fir. Our map of the course finds no others. What stands in for them is sand and landform, over open dune ground above Puget Sound. It is walking only. Carts go to golfers with a medical need and to nobody else.
The 2015 U.S. Open is what most people remember, and mostly for the greens. Fine fescue surfaces had been invaded by poa annua, a warm run-up baked them, and the field compared the result to vegetables. The county stopped fighting it. Three of the worst greens were relaid in 2017 and the remaining fifteen were converted to poa over the winter of 2020, reopening in 2021. The reviews and the golf course are from different eras.
Across the holes we have mapped, the fairway measures a median 34 yards wide where a tee shot lands, and pinches to 15 at its narrowest. Eleven of the 18 holes bend more than 18 yards off the straight line. The map carries 74 bunkers.
The bunkering here is set for a driver, 16 of them inside the driving zone. Yards checks whether laying back off them beats carrying them, hole by hole, for your handicap, then names the target that loses fewest strokes. Holes 1 and 2 are open to anyone, which here means a 465-yard par 4 and a 395-yard par 4.
Worth knowing before you go
- Walking only, and it is a serious walk. Carts are for medical exemptions.
- County owned and public. This is a U.S. Open venue you can simply book.
- Jordan Spieth won the 2015 U.S. Open here. The 2010 U.S. Amateur was played at 7,742 yards, the longest course the USGA had used at that point.
- The greens are poa annua now, not the fescue the 2015 field putted on.
- The U.S. Junior Amateur comes in 2027 and the U.S. Amateur in 2033.
Sources: Chambers Bay, Wikipedia, Chambers Bay reopens after converting greens from fescue to poa annua, The Seattle Times, Six years after controversial U.S. Open, Chambers Bay is ready for another, GOLF
Course Overview
| Type | Public |
| Holes / Par | 18 holes, par 72 (4 par 3s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 5s) |
| Length | 7,867 yards |
| Rating / Slope | 77.6 / 145 |
| Tee Options | 9 |
| Architect | Robert Trent Jones II |
| Year | 2007 |
| Location | University Place, Washington, USA |
| Coordinates | 47.2066, -122.5754 |
Tee Options & Ratings
| Tee | Yards | Metres | Par | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy | 7,124 | 6,514 | 72 | 74.3 | 139 |
| Navy/Sand Comb. | 6,867 | 6,279 | 72 | 73.3 | 134 |
| Sand | 6,586 | 6,022 | 72 | 71.9 | 130 |
| Sand/Grey Comb. | 6,302 | 5,763 | 72 | 70.4 | 127 |
| Grey | 6,020 | 5,505 | 72 | 69.5 | 120 |
| 5555 | 5,548 | 5,073 | 72 | 67.1 | 120 |
| Light Blue | 5,253 | 4,803 | 72 | 65.3 | 119 |
| Grey/Teal Comb. | 5,142 | 4,702 | 72 | 65 | 118 |
| Teal | 4,730 | 4,325 | 72 | 63.2 | 114 |
Scorecard
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navy 74.3/139 | 465 | 395 | 165 | 515 | 465 | 447 | 482 | 560 | 202 | 3696 | 398 | 457 | 281 | 527 | 450 | 172 | 396 | 206 | 541 | 3428 | 7124 |
| Navy/Sand Comb. 73.3/134 | 436 | 395 | 145 | 515 | 441 | 418 | 449 | 560 | 202 | 3561 | 398 | 425 | 262 | 527 | 450 | 172 | 359 | 172 | 541 | 3306 | 6867 |
| Sand 71.9/130 | 436 | 365 | 145 | 480 | 441 | 418 | 449 | 523 | 168 | 3425 | 381 | 425 | 262 | 486 | 423 | 139 | 359 | 172 | 514 | 3161 | 6586 |
| Sand/Grey Comb. 70.4/127 | 405 | 365 | 130 | 480 | 394 | 369 | 415 | 523 | 168 | 3249 | 381 | 402 | 246 | 453 | 423 | 139 | 323 | 172 | 514 | 3053 | 6302 |
| Grey 69.5/120 | 405 | 337 | 130 | 424 | 394 | 369 | 415 | 488 | 144 | 3106 | 360 | 402 | 246 | 453 | 374 | 127 | 323 | 142 | 487 | 2914 | 6020 |
| 5555 67.1/120 | 405 | 365 | 130 | 347 | 323 | 283 | 277 | 488 | 168 | 2786 | 360 | 310 | 262 | 453 | 309 | 139 | 323 | 119 | 487 | 2762 | 5548 |
| Light Blue 65.3/119 | 436 | 301 | 111 | 347 | 323 | 283 | 363 | 441 | 132 | 2737 | 311 | 378 | 219 | 348 | 309 | 91 | 279 | 119 | 462 | 2516 | 5253 |
| Grey/Teal Comb. 65/118 | 273 | 301 | 130 | 347 | 394 | 369 | 277 | 350 | 144 | 2585 | 360 | 310 | 219 | 348 | 374 | 127 | 323 | 142 | 354 | 2557 | 5142 |
| Teal 63.2/114 | 273 | 301 | 92 | 347 | 323 | 283 | 277 | 350 | 132 | 2378 | 311 | 310 | 219 | 348 | 309 | 103 | 279 | 119 | 354 | 2352 | 4730 |
| Par | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Hdcp | 7 | 11 | 17 | 5 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 4 |
Which Tees Should You Play?
Handicap 0-10: Navy (7,124 yards, 74.3/139)
Course rating 2.3 above par.
Handicap 10-20: Grey (6,020 yards, 69.5/120)
1,104 yards shorter than the back tees. Course rating 2.5 below par.
Handicap 20+: Teal (4,730 yards, 63.2/114)
2,394 yards shorter than the back tees. Course rating 8.8 below par.
Hole by Hole, From the Map
The hole bends left about 372 yards out, and the fairway is 50 yards wide at 230 yards. Five bunkers ring the green.
The hole bends left about 271 yards out, and the fairway is 15 yards wide at 230 yards. Two greenside bunkers, and 50 yards of green to work with.
The hole bends left about 243 yards out, and the fairway is 44 yards wide at 230 yards. A bunker sits 213 out on the right. One greenside bunker, and 38 yards of green to work with.
The hole bends right about 194 yards out. A bunker sits 243 out on the left. Three bunkers ring the green.
The fairway is 21 yards wide at 200 yards. Two bunkers work down the left from 236 yards.
The hole bends left about 298 yards out, and the fairway is 33 yards wide at 230 yards. A bunker sits 242 out on the left. Three bunkers ring the green.
Tournaments at Chambers Bay Golf Course
Playing an event at Chambers Bay Golf Course? The field that shows up with a plan has the edge. Run the strategy engine on this course for your handicap and your bag, and walk to the first tee already knowing every number.
Nearby Courses
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chambers Bay Golf Course known for?
Chambers Bay is known as the links-style course Robert Trent Jones Jr. built on a reclaimed sand and gravel quarry above Puget Sound, and as the site of the 2015 U.S. Open won by Jordan Spieth. It is county owned, open to the public, walking only, and has a single tree: a Douglas fir behind the 15th green.
What is the slope and rating of Chambers Bay Golf Course?
Chambers Bay Golf Course has a course rating of 77.6 and slope of 145 from the back tees. From the Teal tees, the rating is 63.2 with a slope of 114.
How long is Chambers Bay Golf Course?
From the back tees, Chambers Bay Golf Course plays 7,867 yards. The course is par 72 with 18 holes (4 par 3s, 10 par 4s, 4 par 5s).
What is the hardest hole at Chambers Bay Golf Course?
The number 1 handicap hole is hole 7, a 482-yard par 4 from the back tees.
What tees should I play at Chambers Bay Golf Course?
For handicaps 0-10, play the Navy tees (7,124 yards). Handicaps 20+ should consider the Teal tees (4,730 yards).
Is Chambers Bay Golf Course public or private?
Chambers Bay Golf Course is a public golf course in University Place, Washington. Tee times are available to the public.
What courses are near Chambers Bay Golf Course?
Nearby courses include Fort Steilacoom Golf Course, Oakbrook Golf & Country Club, Fircrest Golf Course, Highlands Golf Course.
Is there a yardage book for Chambers Bay Golf Course?
Yes. Yards Golf Book offers a personalized digital yardage book for Chambers Bay Golf Course with hole-by-hole maps, shot dispersion analysis, strokes gained heatmaps, and club recommendations tailored to your handicap and distances. You can view it online or download a printable PDF.
How do you play Chambers Bay Golf Course?
The Yards strategy engine simulates every hole at Chambers Bay Golf Course for your handicap and your clubs: shot dispersion off each tee, strokes gained heatmaps for every target, and the club that loses the fewest strokes. Holes 1 and 2 are free to explore, so you can see the optimal way to play the opening stretch before you commit.
What tournaments are played at Chambers Bay Golf Course?
Chambers Bay Golf Course hosts the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur (in 2027-07-19). Playing an event here? Build your game plan before you arrive: the Yards strategy engine runs shot dispersion and strokes gained for your handicap on every hole.
Does Chambers Bay Golf Course have strokes gained data?
Yes. Yards Golf Book runs more than 20,000 simulated shots on every hole, factoring in your handicap, club distances, shot shape, and the actual hazard layout. The model recommends the best club and target for each shot.
Get strategy updates for Chambers Bay Golf Course
We'll send you course-specific strategy tips and let you know when new features are available.
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