Puget Sound Trip Report August 2018

[Argonne69]

[Argonne69]

Chambers Bay (High Dunes - Par 4 10th)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Shadows - Par 4 11th)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (The Narrows - Par 4 12th)

 

 

 

A view at the par 3 15th

 

 

 

Looking back to the tee

 

 

Crazy green

 

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Chambers Bay (Eagle Eye - Par 4 13th)

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Cape Fear - Par 4 14th) aka Don't Go Left

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back at the tee

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Lone Fir - Par 3 15th) aka Don't Hit It Short

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Beached - Par 4 16th) aka Don't Go Right, or Grace's Downfall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Derailed - Par 3 17th) aka Jordan's Undoing

 

 

 

 

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Chambers Bay (Tahoma - Par 5 18th) aka Jordan's Salvation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

Views from the Chambers Bay Clubhouse patio

 

 

 

 

[duffer987]

I hope you asked those guys to sign a waiver form and/or paid them the going-rate modeling fee.

[blink3665]

I love all the divots by the Jordan Spieth plaque. Everyone has to try that shot. Did you get a chance to hit out of Hell's basement? (That stupid giant sand trap in the middle of 18)

[Argonne69]

Gold Mountain - Olympic (Front 9)

 

 

 

#2

 

 

#3

 

 

#4

 

 

The par 3 5th

 

 

The par 5 6th

 

 

 

#7

 

 

The par 3 8th

 

 

The par 5 9th

 

 

[Argonne69]

I love all the divots by the Jordan Spieth plaque. Everyone has to try that shot. Did you get a chance to hit out of Hell's basement? (That stupid giant sand trap in the middle of 18)

 

Lol. No, I avoided it like the plague.

[Argonne69]

Gold Mountain - Olympic (Back 9)

 

#10

 

 

The par 5 11th

 

 

The par 3 12th

 

 

#13

 

 

 

The par 5 14th

 

 

#15

 

 

The par 3 16th

 

 

#17

 

 

 

#18

 

 

 

A view of the 9th

 

[Argonne69]

Trophy Lake Golf and Casting (Front 9)

 

#1

 

 

The par 5 2nd

 

 

The par 3 3rd

 

 

#4

 

 

The par 3 5th

 

 

#6

 

 

 

The par 5 7th

 

 

 

 

#8

 

 

#9

 

[spud3]

That first pic of CB 16 shows just how bad that tee shot from Grace was. Monster slice that ended up on the other side of the fence along the tracks.

 

And nice that they put a plaque on 18 for YJS's 3 wood, but they should put one in the place where Tiger cold-topped his 3-wood (not far away) :)

[Argonne69]

Trophy Lake Golf and Casting (Back 9)

 

#10

 

 

The par 5 11th

 

 

#12

 

 

The par 3 13th

 

 

#14

 

 

#15

 

 

#16

 

 

The par 3 17th

 

 

The par 5 18th

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

White Horse GC (Front 9)

 

#1

 

 

#2

 

 

The par 5 3rd

 

 

The par 3 4th

 

 

#5

 

 

The par 3 6th

 

 

#7

 

 

The par 5 8th

 

 

#9

 

[Argonne69]

White Horse GC (Back 9)

 

#10

 

 

#11

 

 

#12

 

 

The par 3 13th

 

 

The par 5 14th

 

 

#15

 

 

The par 5 16th

 

 

 

The par 3 17th

 

 

#18

 

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

[Argonne69]

Salish Cliffs GC (Front 9)

 

The par 5 1st

 

 

#2

 

 

The par 3 3rd

 

 

#4

 

 

 

#5

 

 

The par 3 6th

 

 

#7

 

 

The par 5 8th

 

 

#9

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

Salish Cliffs GC (Back 9)

 

The par 5 10th

 

 

#11

 

 

#12

 

 

The par 3 13th

 

 

#14

 

 

 

#15

 

 

#16

 

 

The par 3 17th

 

 

The par 5 18th

 

 

 

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Tacoma CC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Washington National GC (Front 9)

 

The par 5 1st

 

 

#2

 

 

#3

 

 

The par 5 4th

 

 

The par 3 5th

 

 

#6

 

 

#7

 

 

 

The par 3 8th

 

 

#9

 

[Argonne69]

Washington National GC (Back 9)

 

#10

 

 

The par 3 11th

 

 

#12

 

 

#13

 

 

The par 5 14th

 

 

 

#15

 

 

 

The par 3 16th

 

 

The par 5 17th

 

 

 

#18

 

 

 

[Argonne69]

OK, wrapping up the trip report. I had an excellent time. It was nice to see the Kitsap Peninsula. 'Very nice terrain. The weather was very good for the most part. It was a shame the smoke from the British Columbia fires obscured the blue skies, and led to some fairly mediocre photos. I got a chance to hit a dozen brewpubs along the way, and sample some good, but not great brews. I'm not a big IPA fan, which appears to be a regional specialty. Traffic was bad, but not horrendous. I'm guessing that staying away from the main I-5 corridor between Tacoma and Seattle had something to do with it. My poor back is still recovering. I played a round this morning after 2 days of rest, but should have stayed home. Nine rounds in six days is rough on the 'ol body.

 

I thought the courses were in playable shape for the most part given the lack of rain, but there were certainly a few dead spots. Prices were a bit high for the weekday morning and afternoon rounds, but nothing outrageous. Sadly, I can't say I'd recommend the area as a golf destination, other than Chambers Bay and Tacoma CC. Very good golf, but not "destination" golf. That said, it's nice to have a handful of very nice courses in the general vicinity of Chambers Bay for anyone wishing to play this top ranked track.

 

My rankings are:

 

1. Chambers Bay: 'Not sure why this course isn't ranked higher on the U.S. public lists. C'mon, it's a blast! I rank it second only to Pebble Beach on my list of favorite courses. Great views. Tough driving. Tough greens. Touh bunkers. A real experience.

 

2. Tacoma CC: The complete opposite of CB. A deceptively difficult course that requires precise positioning off the tee. Hit a "great" tee shot in the wrong spot, and you're staring at a tree or a steep faced bunker. The greens were amazing. Fast, but fair. Old school golf at its finest.

 

3. Gold Mountain Olympic: What I was expecting from a PNW course. Nice elevation changes, with great views from many elevated tees. 'Very nice collection of par 3's. Could use a harder finishing hole, or move the tees up and tempt one to drive the green.

 

4: Salish Cliffs: This might have moved up to #3, but there was a fairly benign stretch of holes (11 - 14) that took the foot off the gas. It opened strong, and finished strong, though. I thought the bunkering was just about right. Greens could stand to be a bit tougher.

 

5. White Horse: The back nine was very nice, but the front didn't quite do it for me. 'Definitely needs a few more fairway bunkers. I probably should have made the longer drive to Port Ludlow Resort.

 

5. Washington National: I liked the rough, natural look. The front nine was a bit bland, except for the 9th, but the back started to shine. The long par 5 14th was a beast, and the par 5 17th had a nice look off the tee.

 

7. The Home Course: I bet the course has some teeth on windy days, but visually it's plain. Looking at the pics, the views off the tee are not particularly interesting, as most of the hole is hidden over a ridge. Again, needs a few more fairway bunkers. Two of the par 3s were very nice, but the other two were bland.

 

8. Trophy Lake: As I noted in my report, uninspiring. It served its purpose as a spot 2nd round after Gold Mountain, but I couldn't recommend a drive from Seattle or Tacoma to play it.

 

9. Hawks Prairie Woodlands: Never a big fan of courses crowded by a housing development. A bit too tight for my liking, and the conditions were the worst of the nine courses played. It did have a few decent holes, though (i.e. 7, 8, 13).