Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/80982
Conveniently located just outside of Tacoma, less than an hour's drive south from Seattle, Chambers Bay is an 18 hole championship golf course providing a traditional, links-style layout. With Puget Sound and the snow-capped Olympic Mountains providing the backdrop, this breathtaking layout winds through a stunning coastal setting. In every sense, Robert Trent Jones II has created an awe-inspiring design. Chambers Bay is getting ready for June 18-21, 2015 when they will host the U.S. Open and there is some tweaking going on in preparation. Pierce County and Kemper Sports are busy collaborating with the USGA and Robert Trent Jones II golf course architects to make the necessary course improvements to prepare the golf course for the best players in the world. These changes began last year and will be completed by next spring. Most are minor and aside from a couple of holes where alternate greens have been constructed, you essentially can play a US Open course right now. Green fees for this star range from $99 to around $115 with discounts for sunset times. All include unlimited use of Practice Facility. One thing not to be missed is a caddie. Through its caddie program, Chambers Bay helps to facilitate the matching of guests with experienced, knowledgeable caddies, receiving information on yardage, club selection and detailed narration on each carefully crafted hole. This is well worth the fee. 253-460-4653 877-295-4657 chambersbaygolf.com There are a few ways to get onto the peninsula; for anyone coming from Seattle, the Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the nearest from Chambers Bay but there are some easy ferry options too. The Kitsap Peninsula offers golfers of all levels affordable and challenging golf vacations. Among your choices are three of Washington State's top five rated courses. Gold Mountain, McCormick Woods, and Trophy Lake, all offer a golfing paradise. Gold Mountain's Olympic course has consistently ranked in the top five in Washington State. McCormick Woods is a stunning course with lakes amid towering firs and cedars. Unique five- tee placements challenge players of all levels, and wildlife experiences are usually a sure bet in this tranquil setting. Finish with a massage and superb dinner at the renowned Clubhouse at McCormick Woods. Designed by architect John Fought, Trophy Lake offers a daring, risk-reward golf experience with sloping fairways, expansive greens and more than 80 deep-faced, white sand bunkers strategically placed throughout the course's 7,206 yards. You can combine them with the waterfront Silverdale Beach Hotel for two nights and a round at each including range balls, cart and green fees from just $349 plus taxes. 800-544-9799 kitsappeninsulagolf.com The big news in Washington State is the opening of Salish Cliffs in Shelton 20 minutes from Olympia. The much- anticipated Gene Bates-design is an amenity of the Squaxin Island Tribe' Little Creek Casino Resort and features a par-72, 7,269-yard layout with 360- degree views of Kamilche Valley, 600' of elevation changes and 16 of 18 holes lined with trees. The clubhouse has a wrap-around porch and mezzanine that overlook holes 9 and 18, which share a 15,000-square-foot green. "Salish Cliffs is a special course, one we hope golfers will rate among North America's finest," says HP David Kass, PGA. Tee times are open to public on first-come, first-served basis. Rates are $89 for 18 holes. salish- cliffs.com, 800.667.7711. The area around Spokane, or as it is sometimes called, "The Inland Empire" on the Washington side of the state border features some of the top courses in the Pacific Northwest but the prices are also below any of the other metropolitan areas in the Northwest. The centerpiece, of course, is the world- class Coeur d'Alene resort that has gained national and international attention and is ranked as one of best resorts in the world by Golf Digest. Players are transported from the Resort to the golf course via handcrafted mahogany lake shuttles, dubbed The Eagle & The Double Eagle. Once at the golf course, you are greeted at the dock by your group's personal forecaddie for Continued On Next Page 91 IMAGE CREDIT: JAMIE FAY