Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 25
By
Tom Bedell
On the Ground
Along with hosting the fi rst Open in the northwest, Chambers
Bay joins Torrey Pines and Bethpage Black as just the third
municipal golf course selected for the tournament. The course
is open to all, although players can expect it to be shut down
around Memorial Day in 2015 for fi nal preparations.
Everyday players who haven't been to Ireland or Scotland-or
Bandon Dunes-will also fi nd this course thought provoking.
Besides the conditions, there's the view: against the backdrop of
Puget Sound and the distant Olympic Mountains is a gorgeous
expanse of wide-open, virtually treeless golf. The only exception
is the lone fi r tree behind the par-3 15th green, the next best
thing to a logo.
There are wild elevation changes on the course-40- to 50foot
climbs to the fourth and seventh greens, and an almost 120foot
drop on the par-3 ninth. Depending upon the wind, players
may want to fl y a ball in high or bring it in low. In short, the
course requires some shot-making. (From the 6,513-yard Sand
tees, recommended for players who can drive the ball at least 225
yards, the slope is 135.) The variability of the holes depending
upon pin placements makes Chambers Bay a constant riddle,
although one immensely pleasurable to try and solve.
Indeed, the course starts and fi nishes with two holes that,
on the regular scorecard, are both par 5s. For the U.S. Open,
however, plans are afoot to make them par 4s and par 5s on
different days simply through different hole and tee placements
(par is regularly 72, but each round at the Open will play to a
par 70).
Davis says the USGA isn't toying with the idea to be innovative
or cute. " It's really to celebrate this great architecture and
play it both ways, " he says. " At the end of the day, whether those
holes switch par on a daily basis or not, we're going to give the
trophy out to the low 72 hole score. " MG
around 18 holes isn't enough there are about four miles of hiking trails that wind along the Sound and dive into the forest as well.
www.mngolf.org
Fall 2014 MINNESOTAGOLFER
23
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014
Contents
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - Cover1
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - Cover2
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 3
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 4
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 5
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 6
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 7
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 8
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 9
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 10
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 11
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 12
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 13
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 14
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 15
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 16
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 17
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 18
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 19
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 20
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 21
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 22
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 23
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 24
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 25
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 26
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 27
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 28
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 29
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 30
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 31
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 32
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 33
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 34
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 35
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 36
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 37
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 38
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 39
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 40
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 41
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - 42
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - Cover3
Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2014 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2024
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/digitalextra2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/travel2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/travel2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2014
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2013
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2012
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2011
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/directory2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2010
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/fall2009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/summer2009
https://www.nxtbook.com/mspc/mga/spring2009
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com