Chambers Bay in University Place, Washington was the most controversial US Open venue in modern history when it hosted the 2015 championship. The Robert Trent Jones II design was a links-style course with firm, fast conditions, fescue-covered dunes, and greens that were so severe that Jordan Spieth’s final-round 18 was one of the greatest closing holes in major championship history.
On GSPro, Chambers Bay is available as a LIDAR community build. The open, treeless terrain makes it one of the best LIDAR conversions on the platform. For a full ranking of the top courses available, see the best GSPro courses guide.
Finding Chambers Bay on GSPro
Search for “Chambers Bay” in the GSPro course database. The LIDAR version is available in the community section.
The LIDAR Quality
Chambers Bay is built on a former gravel mine on the Puget Sound, and the dramatic terrain of dunes, ridges, and valleys is fully exposed. The LIDAR data captures the severe topography with excellent resolution.
The course has no trees, which means the LIDAR scans are complete and clean. The fescue-covered dunes, the railroad tracks, and the water hazards are all accurately rendered.
How It Plays
Chambers Bay is a ground-game course. The fairways are firm and fast, and the ball runs forever. The greens are enormous and undulating, with internal contours that can send a putt 20 feet past the hole.
The par-4 18th hole, which plays uphill to a green that was the scene of Jordan Spieth’s famous 3-putt from long range, is the most memorable hole on the course. The LIDAR captures the uphill nature of the hole and the green’s position.
How It Compares to Other GSPro Links Courses
Chambers Bay shares DNA with other links-style courses on GSPro like Bandon Dunes and Royal County Down — firm conditions, fescue fairways, and ground-game strategy. But its Pacific Northwest setting and former gravel-mine terrain make it unlike anything else on the platform. For more Open Championship-style venues, see Royal Birkdale and Royal Liverpool.
Verdict
Chambers Bay on GSPro is a must-play for anyone who remembers the 2015 US Open. The LIDAR build is excellent, the course is unlike anything else on the platform, and the firm-and-fast conditions create a style of golf that is rare in the sim world.
For a full guide on everything GSPro offers, read the best courses on GSPro guide. For the complete GSPro platform breakdown, see the GSPro software review or the GSPro vs E6 Connect comparison.