Can anyone play Chambers Bay?

Yes — Chambers Bay is a public municipal course owned by Pierce County, so anyone can book a tee time with no membership or member host required. Reserve online through the course's booking system; out-of-county visitors pay a higher rate than locals, and it's a premium green fee. The course is walking-only.

Is Chambers Bay walking-only?

Yes. Carts are limited to players with a genuine mobility need, so almost everyone walks — over significant elevation change. Budget for the walk and consider booking a caddie or using a push cart; it's part of what makes the round feel like a proper links experience.

Did Chambers Bay host the U.S. Open?

Yes — the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth at age 21. The event was notorious for its bumpy fescue/poa greens, which drew heavy criticism from players; the course has since converted its greens to poa annua. It also hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur, the first ever staged on a public course.

When is the best time to play Chambers Bay?

Summer, roughly June to September, is the driest and best — firmer turf, longer days and the clearest views over Puget Sound. Spring and autumn are quieter and often excellent; winter is playable but wetter. Pack for the chance of coastal rain and wind whenever you go.

How do you get to Chambers Bay?

It's near Tacoma, Washington, about 45 minutes south of Seattle. Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) and drive, or take the Sounder commuter train, which has a 'Chambers Bay' stop on the line running along the shore below the course.

USA · Washington

Chambers Bay golf guide: playing a public U.S. Open venue

The links-style municipal course above Puget Sound that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open — walking-only, treeless and genuinely public. The course, how to book it, when to go and getting there.

By Dan Mercer · Editor

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A links green at Chambers Bay set against Puget Sound, with golfers walking the fescue fairways. — Photo: Courtesy of Chambers Bay

Chambers Bay is one of golf's best access stories: a genuine U.S. Open venue that anyone can book. Built on a former sand-and-gravel quarry above Puget Sound near Tacoma and opened in 2007, it's a treeless, fescue, links-style course by Robert Trent Jones Jr. that hosted the 2015 U.S. Open — the one Jordan Spieth won on famously bumpy greens — yet it's a public municipal course owned by Pierce County. You just tee it up.

It's walking-only, dramatic and unlike almost anything else in the US. Here's the course, how to book it, the season, and how to get there.

Where: University Place, near Tacoma, Washington — above Puget Sound
Course: One links-style course (par 72), Robert Trent Jones Jr., opened 2007
Nearest airport: Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) ~45 min; adjacent Sounder-rail 'Chambers Bay' stop
Best time: Playable much of the year; summer (Jun–Sep) is driest and best
Access: Genuinely public municipal course — anyone can book; walking-only
Championship: Hosted the 2015 U.S. Open and the 2010 U.S. Amateur

The courses

Chambers Bay

Robert Trent Jones Jr. · 2007 · 18 holes · Links-style (fescue) · par 72 · walking-only

2015 U.S. Open venue; repeatedly rated the #1 public course in Washington

Chambers Bay looks and plays like nothing else in American public golf. Robert Trent Jones Jr. routed it through the bowl of an old sand-and-gravel quarry high above Puget Sound, with huge elevation changes, running fescue turf, no fringe between fairway and green, and famously a single tree — the 'Lone Fir' — on the whole property. The old quarry's concrete ruins still stand as sculpture, and the Sounder railway runs along the shore below.

It hosted the 2015 U.S. Open, won by a 21-year-old Jordan Spieth, an event as remembered for its bumpy, much-criticised greens as for the golf (the course has since converted its greens to poa annua). It also staged the 2010 U.S. Amateur — the first ever on a public course — and the 2022 U.S. Women's Amateur. It's a proper walk with big views: take a caddie or a push cart and enjoy the drama.

How to play Chambers Bay (booking)

This is the appeal: Chambers Bay is a public municipal course owned by Pierce County (run by KemperSports), so anyone can book a tee time — no membership, no member host. Reserve online through the course's booking system; out-of-county visitors pay a higher rate than locals, and it's a premium green fee for a course of this stature, so check current pricing. The course is walking-only — carts are limited to players with a genuine need — so budget for the walk or book one of the caddies or a push cart.

On InstagramSee this post from @chambersbaygolf

When to go

This is the Pacific Northwest, so the course plays much of the year, but the summer months (roughly June to September) are the driest and the best — firmer turf, longer days and the highest chance of the clear views over Puget Sound to the Olympic Mountains. Spring and autumn are quieter and can be superb between systems; winter is playable but wetter. Whenever you go, pack for the possibility of coastal rain and wind.

Getting there

Chambers Bay sits in University Place, near Tacoma, about 45 minutes south of Seattle. Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) and drive down, or — unusually for a great course — take the train: the Sounder commuter rail has a 'Chambers Bay' stop on the line that runs right along the shore below the course. Tacoma makes a handy base, with Seattle an easy day either side of the round.

How to play it (a Pacific Northwest trip)

Chambers Bay pairs naturally with the other great public links of the American Northwest coast. It's a long but rewarding drive (or a short hop) south to Oregon and the walking-only links pilgrimage of Bandon Dunes — put the two together and you have a Pacific-coast links trip on genuinely public courses that rivals anything gated behind membership.

What to pack

The kit this trip demands

Chambers Bay is a big, hilly, walking-only links in the Pacific Northwest — pack for the walk and for mixed coastal weather:

Callaway

Callaway StormGuard Waterproof Jacket

$180

The Pacific Northwest can turn wet fast — a proper waterproof is smart insurance year-round.

Check price at Amazon

Castore

Castore Active Performance Half Zip Midlayer

$80

A wind-cutting mid-layer keeps an exposed round above the Sound comfortable.

Check price at More Sports

Sunday Golf

Sunday Golf El Camino Stand Bag

$250

Chambers Bay is walking-only over big elevation — a light carry bag makes the hike manageable.

Check price at Amazon Read our full review

FootJoy

FootJoy WeatherSof Golf Glove

$15

An all-conditions glove that holds grip in the coastal damp.

Check price at Amazon

Garmin

Garmin Approach S70 (47mm)

$650

Huge elevation changes make distances deceptive — a GPS watch gives confident numbers on the walk.

Check price at Amazon Read our full review

adidas

adidas SP0068 Sport Sunglasses

$110

Summer days over the water are bright — sports shades cut the glare.

Check price at Amazon

Plan your trip

Book it

Chambers Bay — tee times Public municipal course; anyone can book. Walking-only. Out-of-county visitors pay a higher rate; caddies and push carts available. Check current seasonal green fees.

Frequently asked

Can anyone play Chambers Bay?: Yes — Chambers Bay is a public municipal course owned by Pierce County, so anyone can book a tee time with no membership or member host required. Reserve online through the course's booking system; out-of-county visitors pay a higher rate than locals, and it's a premium green fee. The course is walking-only.
Is Chambers Bay walking-only?: Yes. Carts are limited to players with a genuine mobility need, so almost everyone walks — over significant elevation change. Budget for the walk and consider booking a caddie or using a push cart; it's part of what makes the round feel like a proper links experience.
Did Chambers Bay host the U.S. Open?: Yes — the 2015 U.S. Open, won by Jordan Spieth at age 21. The event was notorious for its bumpy fescue/poa greens, which drew heavy criticism from players; the course has since converted its greens to poa annua. It also hosted the 2010 U.S. Amateur, the first ever staged on a public course.
When is the best time to play Chambers Bay?: Summer, roughly June to September, is the driest and best — firmer turf, longer days and the clearest views over Puget Sound. Spring and autumn are quieter and often excellent; winter is playable but wetter. Pack for the chance of coastal rain and wind whenever you go.
How do you get to Chambers Bay?: It's near Tacoma, Washington, about 45 minutes south of Seattle. Fly into Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) and drive, or take the Sounder commuter train, which has a 'Chambers Bay' stop on the line running along the shore below the course.

Plan the trip

Chambers Bay golf guide: playing a public U.S. Open venue

The courses

Chambers Bay

How to play Chambers Bay (booking)

When to go

Getting there

How to play it (a Pacific Northwest trip)

The kit this trip demands

Callaway StormGuard Waterproof Jacket

Castore Active Performance Half Zip Midlayer

Sunday Golf El Camino Stand Bag

FootJoy WeatherSof Golf Glove

Garmin Approach S70 (47mm)

adidas SP0068 Sport Sunglasses

Book it

Frequently asked

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