Robert Trent Jones Jr
Chambers Bay Golf Course
Washington’s must-play public links, with walking-only golf, Puget Sound views and 2015 U.S. Open history.
At Chambers Bay
Pacific Northwest
Golf Trips in Washington
Play Puget Sound links, Columbia River dunes and Cascade mountain resort golf in one Pacific Northwest trip.
Washington — overview
Washington gives golfers three very different trips inside one state: Chambers Bay’s walking-only links above Puget Sound, Gamble Sands’ wide-open Columbia River terrain, and Suncadia’s Cascade resort setting. For groups that want architectural variety, strong scenery and a true golf-first itinerary, JEL Golf Travel can build the route around the rounds that matter most.
- Destinations
- 3
- Courses
- 6+
- Best months
- May through September is the safest window for Chambers Bay and Suncadia, while Gamble Sands can stretch from April into October. Summer brings the driest weather, but shoulder-season trips can offer better value and fewer packed tee sheets.
- Typical length
- 4 nights / 5 rounds
- Trips from
- $1,595
What makes it special
Why play golf in Washington.
Washington works because it does not ask every round to feel the same. Chambers Bay brings championship links golf beside Puget Sound, Gamble Sands delivers modern inland dunes golf above the Columbia River, and Suncadia adds a mountain-resort setting in the Cascades. A 4–6 day trip can move from coastal wind to open high-desert golf to forested resort golf without repeating the same experience twice.
Chambers Bay is the state’s headline round, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. public links built on a former sand and gravel quarry near Tacoma. The course is walking-only, shaped by firm fescue, massive dunes and Puget Sound views, and it carries the weight of its 2015 U.S. Open history without losing its public-access appeal.
Gamble Sands gives Washington a true destination-resort feel in Central Washington. David McLay Kidd’s Sands Course is broad, fast and strategic, while Quicksands adds a 14-hole short-course loop and Scarecrow expands the property into a deeper stay-and-play trip with more championship golf on site.
Suncadia Resort rounds out the region with mountain golf east of Seattle. Prospector and Rope Rider play through Cascade forest, resort lodging and outdoor recreation, making it a strong pairing for groups that want golf, space, food, drinks and non-golf options without leaving the property for every activity.
Resorts & destinations
Where to play in Washington.
The Washington destinations we plan the most — each with the courses, lodging and seasonality our concierge knows by heart.
Signature courses
The courses that define Washington.
For a first Washington golf trip, build around one round at Chambers Bay, at least two rounds at Gamble Sands, and a Suncadia stop if the group wants a resort-style mountain finish.
David McLay KiddGamble Sands - Sands Course
A wide, strategic Central Washington course built for fun angles, firm ground and big Columbia River scenery.
At Gamble Sands
- David McLay Kidd and Nick Schaan
Gamble Sands - Scarecrow
The newest championship course at Gamble Sands, adding another full-scale reason to stay longer on property.
At Gamble Sands
Plan your trip
When to go, how to get there.
- Best time to visit
- May through September is the safest window for Chambers Bay and Suncadia, while Gamble Sands can stretch from April into October. Summer brings the driest weather, but shoulder-season trips can offer better value and fewer packed tee sheets.
- Weather & climate
- Western Washington can bring cool mornings, wind and rain chances even during golf season, especially near Puget Sound. Central Washington is drier and more open, with warmer summer afternoons at Gamble Sands and mountain-influenced conditions around Suncadia.
- Typical trip length
- 4 nights / 5 rounds
- Getting there
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the main gateway for Chambers Bay and Suncadia, with Chambers Bay roughly south of Seattle near Tacoma and Suncadia east of the city in the Cascades. Gamble Sands is more remote in Central Washington, with Pangborn Memorial Airport in Wenatchee as the closest useful airport, though many groups still use a rental car for the full trip.
- Nearest airports
- SEA (Seattle-Tacoma) · EAT (Wenatchee) · GEG (Spokane)
- Who it's best for
- Buddies trips and architecture-focused golfers who want Chambers Bay, Gamble Sands and a mountain-resort stay without turning the trip into a single-property vacation.
- Trip styles
- Buddies tripLinksResortMountain golfArchitecturePacific Northwest
Off the course
Local culture in Washington.
Off the course, Washington is built for groups that like a little movement between rounds. Seattle and Tacoma add airports, waterfront dining and city energy near Chambers Bay, while Central Washington shifts the mood toward river views, open roads and quiet resort nights. Around Suncadia, the trip feels more mountain lodge than city escape, with breweries, outdoor recreation and Cascade scenery close by.
Frequently asked
Washington golf FAQs.
What are the best golf destinations in Washington?
The strongest Washington golf trip usually starts with Chambers Bay, Gamble Sands and Suncadia Resort. Chambers Bay gives the trip a major-championship public links course, Gamble Sands adds a full stay-and-play resort in Central Washington, and Suncadia provides mountain resort golf east of Seattle.
How many days do I need for a Washington golf trip?
Most groups should plan 4 nights and 5 rounds if they want to include Chambers Bay, Gamble Sands and Suncadia. A shorter trip can focus on Chambers Bay and Suncadia near Seattle, while a longer trip gives Gamble Sands enough time for the Sands Course, Scarecrow and Quicksands.
What is the best time of year to golf in Washington?
May through September is the most reliable window for a Washington golf trip, especially for Chambers Bay and Suncadia. Gamble Sands is drier and can work from April through October, but summer usually brings the best odds for firm conditions and clean travel logistics.
Is Chambers Bay public?
Yes, Chambers Bay is a public golf course near Tacoma, Washington. It is walking-only, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., and is best known nationally for hosting the 2015 U.S. Open.
Do I need a rental car for a Washington golf trip?
Yes, a rental car is strongly recommended for most Washington golf trips. Chambers Bay, Suncadia and Gamble Sands are spread across different parts of the state, and the full itinerary works best as a road trip rather than a single-airport shuttle plan.
Can Washington work as a stay-and-play golf trip?
Yes, but the style depends on the destination. Gamble Sands and Suncadia are true stay-and-play resort options with lodging on property, while Chambers Bay is usually paired with hotel stays in the Tacoma or Seattle area.
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