Tag: Chambers Bay

The best public-access and private golf courses in Washington, ranked

Our hundreds of raters weigh in on the best public-access and private courses in Washington.

Looking to play the best golf courses in Washington? Welcome to our annual Golfweek’s Best ranking of public-access and private courses.

Following are the rankings for both types of courses, as judged by our nationwide network of raters. The hundreds of members of our course-ratings panel continually evaluate courses and rate them on 10 criteria on a points basis of 1 through 10. They also file a single, overall rating on each course. Those overall ratings are averaged to produce all our Golfweek’s Best course rankings.

The courses on the first list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time – no membership required.

KEY: (m) modern, built in 1960 or after; (c) classic, built before 1960. For courses with a number preceding the (m) or (c), that is where the course ranks on Golfweek’s Best lists for top 200 modern and classic courses in the U.S.

* indicates new or returning to the rankings

Best public-access courses in Washington

Gamble Sands
Gamble Sands in Washington (Courtesy of Gamble Sands/Brian Oar)

1. Chambers Bay
University Place (T40m)

2. Gamble Sands
Brewster (T49m)

3. Wine Valley
Walla Walla (T134m)
Book your tee time at Wine Valley today

4. Gold Mountain (Olympic)
Bremerton (m)
Book your tee time at Gold Mountain today

5. Palouse Ridge
Pullman (m)

T6. Salish Cliffs
Shelton (m)

T6. Indian Canyon
Spokane (c)

8. Kalispel
Spokane (c)

9. White Horse*
Kingston (m)
Book your tee time at White Horse today

T10. Suncadia (Rope Rider)*
Cle Elum (m)
Book your tee time at Suncadia today

T10. Suncadia (Prospector)*
Cle Elum (m)
Book your tee time at Suncadia today

Best private courses in Washington

Aldarra in Washington (Courtesy of Aldarra)

1. Aldarra
Sammamish (T161m)

2. Sahalee (South/North)
Sammamish (T184m)

T3. Seattle GC
Seattle (c)

T3. Suncadia (Tumble Creek)
Roslyn (m)

5. Tacoma G&CC
Lakeland (c)

Report: County leaders in Washington entertaining thought of LIV Golf event at former U.S. Open site

Since the U.S. Open is booked solid through 2042, leaders are open to other ideas to keep it in the public eye.

Chambers Bay has proved its ability to test the best professional and amateur players in the world, so much so that the U.S. Golf Association announced it will return to the municipal course on the Puget Sound near Seattle twice over the next 10 years.

The USGA will hold the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and 2033 U.S. Amateur championships in University Place, Washington, the fifth and sixth USGA championships to be contested on the design by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton and Jay Blasi (a Golfweek’s Best rater ambassador and contributor to Golfweek). A stroke-play companion course for both championships will be named later.

Chambers Bay previously hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur (Peter Uihlein) and 2015 U.S. Open (Jordan Spieth), as well as last summer’s 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur (Saki Baba) and 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (Kiko Francisco Coelho/Leopoldo Herrera III).

Chambers Bay
Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 16th hole in the final round of the 2015 U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

“There have been several memorable moments for us already in Chambers Bay’s short history, and the property remains a favorite for players and fans alike,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “We’re grateful for our continued partnership with Pierce County and look forward to bringing these two premier championships to such a special property.”

More: U.S. Open future sites through 2051

But since the U.S. Open is booked solid through 2042, leaders of Pierce County, which owns the course, are open to other ideas to keep it relevant. In fact, the group is considering the idea of a LIV Golf event.

According to a story in the Tacoma News Tribune, talks could escalate sooner than later:

Pierce County leaders are expected to begin discussions soon with Saudi-backed LIV Golf, according to Don Anderson, executive counsel to Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier. A representative from LIV Golf’s marketing agency recently reached out to Pierce County to set up a discussion.

At this point, Anderson said they’re all ears and said he expects he’ll talk with LIV Golf’s representatives within the next couple of weeks.

“LIV has its own issues though, golf politics, world politics-wise,” Anderson told The News Tribune this week. “You have to be careful there. They throw a great party, though. 54 golfers, 54 holes, shotgun start. You generate $5 million or so in concession and merchandise sales. From that aspect, they’re very attractive. “If they follow up with their indirect inquiry, we’ll listen.”

The layout ranks No. 40 on Golfweek’s Best list of modern courses in the U.S. and is No. 1 in Washington on Golfweek’s Best list of top public-access courses in each state.

But officials believe visibility is the key to maintaining that success.

On a positive note, Anderson said the course is doing good business and is being booked regularly by Washington residents and out-of-towners alike.

“We’re at a higher level of rounds (played) than we were historically and a higher level of revenue per round,” he said. “We need to be agile to stay in the mind’s eye of the elite golfer. … The economics of this course are not driven by regular golfers who live in Pierce County. It’s driven by people who come here from out of town and pay a higher fee.”

And therein lies the challenge for Pierce County leadership: keeping Chambers Bay relevant as a golf bucket list destination for years to come. The course, after all, is intended to be a tourism driver for Pierce County. Without major golf tournaments at the course, its value is diminished.

“You can’t run a golf course on a tournament every 25 years,” Anderson said. “We’ll stay on having fairly regular USGA tournaments. Anything that gets on TV is great. … With any business, you have to adapt to the marketplace. There may be other things involved.”

USGA announces Chambers Bay will host 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur, 2033 U.S. Amateur

“The property remains a favorite for players and fans alike.”

Chambers Bay has proved its ability to test the best professional and amateur players in the world, so much so that the U.S. Golf Association has announced it will return to the municipal course on the Puget Sound near Seattle twice over the next 10 years.

The USGA will hold the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and 2033 U.S. Amateur championships in University Place, Washington, the fifth and sixth USGA championships to be contested on the design by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Bruce Charlton and Jay Blasi (a Golfweek’s Best rater ambassador and contributor to Golfweek.com). A stroke-play companion course for both championships will be named later.

Chambers Bay previously hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur (Peter Uihlein) and 2015 U.S. Open (Jordan Spieth), as well as last summer’s 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur (Saki Baba) and 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball (Kiko Francisco Coelho/Leopoldo Herrera III).

The layout ranks No. 52 on Golfweek’s Best list of modern courses in the U.S. and is No. 2 in Washington on Golfweek’s Best list of top public-access courses in each state.

Future sites: U.S. Amateur bound for Bandon, Hazeltine, more

“There have been several memorable moments for us already in Chambers Bay’s short history, and the property remains a favorite for players and fans alike,” said Mark Hill, USGA managing director of championships. “We’re grateful for our continued partnership with Pierce County and look forward to bringing these two premier championships to such a special property.”

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Golfweek’s Best 2022: Top public and private courses in Washington

From the coast to Washington’s mountains, the state offers some of the best golf courses in the U.S.

Washington, from the state’s inner mountains to its coast, offers some of the best golf courses in the country.

Golfweek’s Best offers many lists of course rankings, with that of top public-access courses in each state among the most popular. All the courses on this list allow public access in some fashion, be it standard daily green fees, through a resort or by staying at an affiliated hotel. If there’s a will, there’s a tee time.

Also popular are the Golfweek’s Best rankings of top private courses in each state, and that list for Washington’s private offerings is likewise included below.

MORE: Best Modern | Best Classic | Top 200 Resort | Top 200 Residential | Top 100 Best You Can Play

(m): Modern course, built in or after 1960
(c): Classic course, built before 1960

Note: If there is a number in the parenthesis with the m or c, that indicates where that course ranks among Golfweek’s Best top 200 modern or classic courses. 

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Japan’s Saki Baba routs Canada’s Monet Chun in final at Chambers Bay

What a weekend for Japan’s Saki Baba at the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur.

What a weekend for Japan’s Saki Baba at the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur.

On Saturday, Baba, 17, routed fellow 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Florida, 7 and 6, in Saturday’s semifinal at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. It was the largest margin of victory in the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Am since Annika Sorenstam won by that same score in 1992.

In Sunday’s final, Baba won going away once again, this time earning an 11-and-9 win over Monet Chun, 21, of Canada, to win her first USGA title. Baba is the second golfer from Japan to win the Robert Cox Trophy. Baba was 7 up through 14 holes and held that same lead after the 18 holes of the 36-hole final. The U.S. Golf Association reports it was the biggest lead after 18 holes in 60 years.

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Scoring | Photo gallery

After a lengthy break, the pair only played nine more holes. Chun cut the lead to 5 up through 21 holes, but Baba then won the next six holes to end the match after 27 holes.

“It’s just amazing. I just can’t believe it,” said an emotional Baba through a translator. “I was able to [play] my kind of golf. Yeah, everything just went smoothly.”

It’s the largest margin of victory in a U.S. Women’s Amateur final since Anne Sander in 1961.

By virtue of reaching the final, Baba and Chun are each exempt into the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in July 2023.

Golfers from eight countries (U.S., Australia, Canada, China, England, Ireland, Japan, Korea) have now won USGA titles in 2022.

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U.S. Women’s Amateur: Saki Baba, Monet Chun advance to championship final at Chambers Bay

The winner will become the 15th first-time winner of the U.S. Women’s Amateur all-time.

The week started with 156 of the world’s best women’s amateur golfers vying for the Robert Cox Trophy at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington. Now, that number is down to two.

Saki Baba of Japan and Monet Chun of Canada will face off Sunday in a 36-hole final to determine the 122nd U.S. Women’s Amateur champion.

Baba won in dominant fashion, knocking off Bailey Shoemaker from the United States 7 and 6. She recorded five birdies in 12 holes to only one bogey. Baba won five of the first seven holes, and a birdie after driving the short par-4 12th sealed the victory.

Baba’s win is the largest margin of victory in the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur since Annika Sorenstam won by that same number in 1992. Baba is the second player from Japan to reach the final all-time, joining Michiko Hattori in 1985.

In the other semifinal, Chun won the first hole and played solid golf all day to hold on to beat Ireland’s Annabel Wilson 2 and 1. Wilson won the second hole, but Chun took the lead for good with a birdie on the par-4 5th hole.

Wilson birdied the par-4 10th to get to 1 down, but Chun won the par-5 13th. The duo halved their next four holes, and Chun was victorious.

Chun would be the third Canadian to win the U.S. Women’s Amateur, joining Cathy Sherk, who won it at Sunnybrook Golf Club in 1978, and Marlene Stewart Streit, who won it in 1956 at Meridian Hills Country Club. Brooke Henderson, who won the Amundi Evian Championship last month, was the last Canadian to make the final in 2014.

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Scoring | Photo gallery

Sunday’s winner clinches a spot in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey, California.

Chambers Bay opened in 2007 and previously hosted three U.S. Golf Association championships, including the 2015 U.S. Open.

Semifinal results

  • 53 Monet Chun, Canada def. 33 Annabel Wilson, Ireland, 3 and 1
  • 34 Saki Baba, Japan, def. 54 Bailey Shoemaker, Dade City, Florida, 7 and 6

Championship match

Monet Chun vs. Saki Baba, 12:30 p.m. ET (9:30 a.m. local time)

How to watch

Sunday, Aug. 14, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Corrections & Clarifications: ​This article has been updated to reflect the correct spelling of Cathy Sherk’s name and the correct year (1978) that she won the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

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Meet the team that made the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay possible

Here is a look at the team who has been working for multiple years to stage this year’s U.S. Women’s Am. 

When viewers tune into NBC/Golf Channel in August to watch the 122nd playing of the US Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay, they will see a telecast that reminds them of other USGA events, like the U.S. Open. While the telecast for the two events may be similar, the operations for the events are very different. 

The U.S. Open will see 30,000+ fans per day. The merchandise tent is over an acre in size. There are dozens of tents and multiple food outlets. Spectators arrive via shuttle busses after parking off-site. The maintenance team is supplemented by dozens if not hundreds of outside superintendents who volunteer. 

All told there are hundreds of USGA and partner officials working on site. Working closely with them are the members of the staff at the host venue. During the week of the U.S. Open, the director of golf may be in charge of the driving range, or the food and beverage director may manage a local hospitality tent. 

At the U.S. Women’s Am this year, the team at Chambers Bay will be taking on an expanded role. There will be no tickets, just show up and enjoy the golf. There is no merchandise tent, just gear in the golf shop. The food options for fans will be the same as those for golfers, dine at the clubhouse or grab some drinks or easy food at two spots on the course.  

While the structures may not be as big, the effort from the team that stages the event is every bit as impressive. 

Here is a look at the team who has been working for multiple years to stage this year’s US Women’s Am. 

U.S. Women’s Amateur is down to the final four: Meet the 2022 semifinalists at Chambers Bay

The 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur is at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington.

The 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur started with 1,497 entries. A total of 156 golfers made the field at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, outside Seattle.

After the fifth day of competition Friday in the 122nd rendition of the championship, there are four golfers left.

The semifinals are now set for Saturday. There will be a 36-hole final Sunday, with the winner clinching a spot in the 2023 U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played at historic Pebble Beach Golf Links in Monterey, California.

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Scoring | Photo gallery

Chambers Bay opened in 2007 and previously hosted three U.S. Golf Association championships, including the 2015 U.S. Open.

Quarterfinal results

The quarterfinals featured five girls from the United States and one each from Canada, Ireland and Japan. Of the eight, only one was a top-10 seed.

  • 33 Annabel Wilson, Ireland, def. 8 Catherine Rao, Camarillo, California, 3 and 1.
  • 53 Monet Chun, Canada, 19 holes over 45 Brianna Navarrosa, San Diego.
  • 34 Saki Baba, Japan, def. 39 Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colorado, 4 and 3.
  • 54 Bailey Shoemaker, Dade City, Florida, def. 30 Leigh Chien, Irvine, California, 5 and 3.

The 33, 34, 53 and 54 seeded players will make up the semifinals.

Semifinal matches

  • Annabel Wilson vs. Monet Chun, 2 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local time)
  • Saki Baba vs. Bailey Shoemaker, 2:15 p.m. ET (11:15 a.m. local time)

How to watch

Saturday, Aug. 13, 3-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Sunday, Aug. 14, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Get to know the four semifinalists:

U.S. Women’s Amateur: Brianna Navarrosa’s long day at Chambers Bay carries her into quarterfinals

The USC star had a monumental day in securing a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals.

Making a long day even longer, Thursday at the U.S. Women’s Amateur endured a weather delay, but when the fog finally cleared the final eight players emerged at Chambers Bay from the tournament’s only double-session day.

And although 21-year-old Brianna Navarrosa had to be tired when she was finally done, the USC standout had a monumental day in securing a spot in Friday’s quarterfinals in University Place, Washington.

In the early wave of play, the San Diego product topped Stanford’s NCAA champion Rachel Heck, then she came out of an intense battle against fourth-seeded Kelsey Bennett from Australia.

The match between Navarrosa and Bennett saw 11 lead changes with neither player having more than a 1-up advantage. Bennett buried a big putt on the 17th hole to extend the match and then dropped an 8-foot birdie putt on 18 to send the match to extra holes.

Navarrosa prevailed, however, when Bennett made bogey on the third extra hole and she managed par.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” said Navarrosa. “I play again tomorrow [Friday]. I haven’t made it this far, and I think my game is the best where it’s been in a very long time, so I’m very happy with that.”

Competitors walk down the fairway on the first hole as fog shrouds some of the golf course during the round of 32 at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2022. (Darren Carroll/USGA)

Others who advanced included Annabel Wilson of Ireland, who beat Julia Misemer and Katie Li.

“I like how I’m striking it. Then I’m rolling the putts in, so I’m confident in my game,” said Wilson. “We play a lot of match play with Golf Ireland, and I think what I’ve learned over the years is match play is all swinging momentum, and you can’t let it get to you. You’ve just got to play your game.”

New Mexico junior Lauren Lehigh, Princeton freshman Catherine Rao, 21-year-old Monet Chun of Canada, 17-year-old Saki Baba of Japan, 16-year-old Leigh Chien of Irvine, California, and 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker of Dade City, Florida, are the others to reach the quarters, which start at 5:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time).

The semifinals will be Saturday and the 36-hole final is set for Sunday.

TV schedule

Friday, Aug. 12, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Saturday, Aug. 13, 3-6 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

Sunday, Aug. 14, 7-10 p.m. ET, Golf Channel

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Top seed, defending champion both fall in first round of match play at U.S. Women’s Amateur at Chambers Bay

History repeated itself once again at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

Wednesday’s first round of match play made for a bad day for the favorites at the 2022 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

The Round of 64 featured upset losses for the top seed Latanna Stone and defending champion Jensen Castle at Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington, as history continued to repeat itself at one of amateur golf’s most prestigious championships. This year marked the sixth time in the last nine years that the No. 64 seed has knocked off the No. 1 seed, and it’s also the second year in a row where the defending champion has lost in the first round.

Julia Misemer, who advanced to match play via a playoff, kept her momentum going with a 2-and-1 victory over Latanna Stone, the LSU senior who also came up just short at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur this spring.

“Honestly I wouldn’t say I was intimidated because we’re all at such a high level, I feel like it’s really anyone’s game,” said Misemer, a rising freshman at Arizona. “I kind of got that No. 64 coin on the first tee and I was like, ‘I want to always remember this as a good thing.’ I just tried to relax.”

Castle, a senior at Kentucky, was locked in a back-and-forth battle with Aneka Seumanutafa but made bogey on the last hole to lose, 1 up.

“This year has been a whirlwind. It’s been crazy. It’s been awesome. So many exemptions, so many great opportunities and a ton of great learned lessons. It’s been a year that I won’t forget for sure,” said Castle after the loss.

Five of the 32 matches on Wednesday went to extra holes and four were decided by six holes or more, the in a Round of 64 since 2012.

The Round of 32 is already underway Thursday morning, with the Round of 16 to follow in the afternoon. Friday will feature the quarterfinal matches, with the semifinals on Saturday and 36-hole final on Sunday.

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