3519 yds
Long drive
Don't force it — stay left off the tee and again on your second. The green opens up from that angle, and there's plenty of room to run it in from the front left.
Round 2 · Sunday · 11:50 AM
Gamble Sands
Par72
Yardage6,389
ArchitectDavid McLay Kidd
TerrainSandy, no rough
Winner of Golf Digest's Best New Course of 2014, Gamble Sands sits atop a sprawling, treeless plateau of sandy desert overlooking Washington's Columbia River Valley. The layout is oversized in every respect — enormously wide fescue fairways, gigantic greens, no rough, and some of the most panoramic vistas in the Northwest.
Rankings
9 listingsWinnerGolf DigestBest New Course in America2014
No. 18GOLF MagazineTop 100 Courses You Can Play2024–25
No. 31Golf DigestAmerica's 100 Greatest Public2025–26
No. 1GOLF MagazineBest Courses in Washington2024–25
No. 3Golf DigestBest in State, Washington2025–26
T20GolfweekTop 200 Resort Courses2026
T25GolfweekTop 100 Courses You Can Play2026
No. 4Golf DigestRon Whitten's 13 Most Fun Courses2025
The 6thPacific NW GolferGreat Holes of the Northwest2024
Friendly contours
In using contours that divert shots away from bunkers and toward targets, David Kidd wants everybody to have fun. He hopes good players will relish opportunities to score low, and high handicappers will post their best rounds ever.
- Friendly contours help your shots
- Three reachable par 4s
- Designed for all skill levels to enjoy
Conditions and tips
Natural sandy soil gives firm, fast conditions, with bentgrass putting surfaces and native grasses that reward accuracy. Afternoon breezes add a strategic layer.
- Firm conditions play longer than expected
- Multiple routes on most holes
- Greens are true but can be quick
Featured hole — 16th, par 3
The massive green is full of ridges and tiers, and being on the correct shelf is everything. Visually striking and full of options, but the safest play is smart distance control and knowing where not to miss.
The Card
Par 72 · 6,389 ydsFront nine
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Par
4
4
5
3
4
3
5
4
4
Yards
397
297
519
161
483
216
456
305
354
Hcp
7
11
1
15
5
13
3
17
9
Back nine
Hole
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Par
3
4
4
5
4
4
3
4
5
Yards
132
372
306
538
385
368
193
393
514
Hcp
14
6
18
12
2
8
10
4
16
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Par
4
4
5
3
4
3
5
4
4
3
4
4
5
4
4
3
4
5
Yards
397
297
519
161
483
216
456
305
354
132
372
306
538
385
368
193
393
514
Hcp
7
11
1
15
5
13
3
17
9
14
6
18
12
2
8
10
4
16
Contest Holes
+1 pt each4161 yds
Closest to the pin
This one rewards creativity. A low, running ball often beats a lofted shot. Stay short-left and use the slope — nothing good happens long or right.
6216 yds
Closest to the pin
Forget the number — it plays shorter with the slope. Everything feeds hard left. Aim well right and let the hill do the work.
7456 yds
Long drive
Cut the corner left of the bunker and this one's gettable. For front pins, chase it in from the left. Back pins? Fly it deep and use the backboard.
10132 yds
Closest to the pin
Short and dangerous. Use sideboards and backboards with a touch of spin to work it close. Pick your landing spot wisely — it matters.
13538 yds
Long drive
Hit it at the pot bunker, but bail left if you're unsure. Cover the fronting bunker on your second and catch the slope — it'll do the rest.
16193 yds
Closest to the pin
Club up and favor the right side. The green tilts hard left and front — anything short or soft won't hold. Use the back slope when it's there.
18514 yds
Long drive
Find the speed slot on the right and your drive can add 50+. Big hitters can take on the second — favor the fairway bunker well right and watch it feed in.