And now for something truly different for a U.S. Open. How about an upstart daily-fee layout, built on a reclaimed gravel mine, in a corner of the country that’s never held a U.S. Open, municipally owned and financially struggling, agronomically challenged, with tilted tees, fairways as wide as 100 yards, two holes that will change par, five par 4s at 500-plus yards, one lone tree and no clubhouse?
Welcome to Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.
It’s the newest, most controversial and confounding home to the U.S. Golf Association’s most prized championship. Two years ago, USGA executive director Mike Davis staked his reputation on a layout (Merion Golf Club) shorter than 7,000 yards that could accommodate only half the typical number of Open spectators.