Two more golf championships coming to Chambers Bay. Is another U.S. Open coming?
Two more golf championships are coming to Chambers Bay soon.
The University Place course has been selected to host the 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur and the 2033 U.S. Amateur championships. These will be the fifth and sixth USGA championships hosted by the public golf course, which is owned by Pierce County.
“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, 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.”
Last year, Chambers Bay hosted the U.S. Women’s Amateur, which saw Saki Baba, 17 of Japan, cruise to an impressive victory in the 36-hole championship match. Chambers Bay also hosted the 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, won by Florida teenagers Kiko Francisco Coelho and Leopoldo Herrera III; the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth; and the 2010 U.S. Amateur, won by Peter Uihlein. Chambers Bay is the only municipal course to have hosted the U.S. Amateur.
“We are delighted to welcome the USGA back to Chambers Bay and Pierce County,” said Bruce Dammeier, Pierce County executive. “Golfers from around the world have embraced the challenge and natural beauty of our championship venue, and we look forward to watching the best amateurs take it on.”
The 2027 U.S. Junior Amateur, which will be held July 19-24, will be the 30th USGA championship held in the state of Washington. Washington also will host the 2023 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at The Home Course in DuPont this May.
WILL CHAMBERS EVER HOST ANOTHER U.S. OPEN?
That’s the big question on the minds of golf fans in the Pacific Northwest, who would love to see the world’s best men’s golfers compete at Chambers again. Chambers Bay hosted the 2015 U.S. Open.
It’s not known whether the USGA would want to bring another U.S. Open to Chambers. The course has plenty going for it: the sweeping views of Puget Sound — which played out spectacularly on TV — the unique, links-style architecture of the course and a devoted, golf-hungry fan base in the region. Tickets for the 2015 U.S. Open sold out quickly, and the tournament set records for merchandise sales.
But the 2015 U.S. Open also generated plenty of negative headlines, namely for the condition of the greens during the tournament. Golfer Henrik Stenson remarked the greens were like “putting on broccoli” during the 2015 U.S. Open. A hot spring and summer with an extended dry spell left the fescue putting surfaces in rough condition going into the tournament.
Chambers has since fixed the greens, installing native poa annua to replace the fescue surfaces. The poa annua surfaces are a marked improvement, both visually and in terms of playability.
The News Tribune sat down with Mark Hill — the USGA’s managing director of championships — for a Q&A during the U.S. Women’s Amateur last August. He was complimentary of the new greens.
“I think they’re outstanding,” Hill said. “We saw that and heard it during the four-ball. We survey our players after each championship. We certainly heard very clearly that they enjoyed the challenge at the four-ball and really enjoyed the putting greens.
“It’s my understanding that the conversion has been good for Chambers Bay, good for business, good for everyday play and good for the players. So yeah, good all around.”
Whether the U.S. Open will return to Chambers at some point remains to be seen. For now, golf fans have two more championships to attend.
