The 12th Man
What is going right, even a year out, is the public’s need to be part of the first Open ever in the Northwest. That was reflected in the call for volunteers in February.
“We kicked off our volunteer program and had 5,000 applications in 36 hours,” Sink says. “That’s something that never really happened before, that many in a short amount of time. It’s a great testament to public support of this championship.’’
Those volunteers queued up in rapid fashion despite the fact that they are required to put up $165 for their official Open gear.
Eric Steimer, the assistant Open manager who works under Sink, added, “Generally, that’s (volunteer response) five months down the road in every other market. So the 12th Man goes above and beyond here.’’
Sink adds that corporate sales also have gone so well that there are only a limited number remaining. It may be that some large corporations expecting to pay between $125,000 and $235,000 for a tent could be turned away, because space is running out.
It will be quite the affluent Tent City in an episodic economic boom that is estimated to bring in $140 million to the region during Open week. General public ticket sales for the Open go on sale June 9. A 28th straight Open sellout is anticipated.
“We expect to be (sold out) quicker than any place we’ve ever been,’’ Allen says. “There’s a lot of intrigue, a lot of excitement here … It’s unbelievable pent-up demand.’’
Sales will be limited to 35,000 tickets per day. Chambers’ vast 950-acre footprint could handle more, but that’s the estimate the USGA believes allows for the fans to roam the pathways safely with optimum viewing positions.
How many seats will be erected around the course is still an uncertain figure. It will be next spring before decisions are made on how many and where grandstands will be set up. Sink said the USGA has an idea, mentioning stands for about 18,000 along the 18th hole and another high on the hill behind the 12th green, but other locations are still under consideration.
The entire property will be under USGA control, including the perimeter and the public trail that cuts through and rises above the course. Non-ticketed fans will not be allowed to view the course from the high vantage point along Grandview Drive.
No clubhouse has been built, nor will there be one. That’s not a problem. The USGA is used to setting up functional temporary modules for the players. They have been used at places such as Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach, which are public facilities where clubhouses are essentially non-existent. The clubhouse and scoring facility will be set up in the central meadow, on the south side of those “ancient” stone pillars that line the 18th fairway.
The Transportation Tango
This is the 15th Open for Sink, who moves his family to an Open site every two or three years ahead of the event. It’s his job to solve all outside-the-ropes issues. Invariably, the toughest problem is getting people there and back without congestion, frustration or hassle.
“There aren’t any courses on an eight-lane interstate,’’ Sink says. “It’s always a challenge.”
Chambers, like most courses, has limited vehicle access. The only road to it is the residential two-lane Grandview Drive, with an extremely small parking lot. That’s untenable. Since Sink arrived in the fall of 2012, he has been working with Pierce County officials and community leaders to solve the gnarly transportation dilemma.
Large open parking lots or fields are being identified. A bus shuttle system will be set up to transport people from the lots to strategic dropout points, diverting as much traffic as possible away from the site. That plan is under way, but no announcement will be made until it is finalized in April 2015.
“Everyone wants this to be a success. It’s the largest sporting event ever in the Northwest, except maybe the Olympics in Vancouver,’’ Sink says. “We have to provide parking (and access) for those players, fans and vendors in the right places. It’s like we’re building a city for 35,000 with no infrastructure.’’
Another way to arrive, somewhat unique to this Open site, is by rail. Sink is close to an agreement with BNSF Railway and Sound Transit that will bring patrons in from downtown Seattle. This is an important step, because it opens up the state’s largest city — and its thousands of hotel rooms — to the event. There are only so many rooms in Tacoma, Bremerton, Fife and Federal Way. A direct link from King Street Station to a drop-off area behind the 18th tee in just 50 minutes is critical to making the U.S. Open a successful regional event.
Even though the Puget Sound waters lap up against the property, water access will not be allowed. The cruise ship idea was a pipe dream. Neither Chambers Bay nor Pierce County have jurisdiction out from the shoreline, and there is no dock, landing area or marina.
“We talk about ‘what if this happens’ or ‘what if that happens,’’’ Sink says. “We plan for everything. We have one shot at it. We want to be invited back. That’s why we’re here two or three years in advance.”
Looking Ahead
That is the plan. Even though the course has yet to host its first Open, all parties want a second one, and more. The next possible opening would be 2023.
“A second U.S Open,’’ Allen adds, “would solidify the championship pedigree of the place.’’
Because it’s a new course played on an unusual surface, more than the usual number of potential Open players might trickle in this summer. They want to play the course in the same conditions as it will be next June. However, the vast majority won’t set foot on the premises until two weeks before the event.
Some might prepare in a similar fashion to Peter Uihlein, who won the 2010 U.S. Amateur at Chambers.
“Knowing the Amateur would be at Chambers Bay, his goal was to be the champion, so he worked with a swing coach to build his swing with a ball flight trajectory best suited for this course,” Allen says. “He changed his swing to be in the best position on a links golf course.”
Phil Mickelson has a rigorous pre-major routine. He has been known to spend two or three hours with his caddy on each green, mapping out the roll and the breaks. Of course, few courses feature so many rolls, breaks, banks and bunkers. It is essentially a U.S./British Open, with elevation.
“When you play Chambers, you know it’s not a normal test of golf,’’ Davis says. “It’s unique in a wonderful kind of way.’’
Bob Sherwin is a veteran of the Seattle Times and the New York Times, a frequent contributor to Cascade Golfer, and the co-publisher of GolfersWest.com. He last wrote about PGA Tour star Richard E. Lee in our August 2013 issue.