#KSPDMonth at Chambers Bay

Throughout KemperSports Player Development Month, we’re proud to highlight our facilities and teams from coast to coast who are going above and beyond to inspire a love and passion for golf in others and using the game to positively impact their local communities.

As the first municipal course to host the U.S. Amateur Championship and just the third public course to achieve the distinction of hosting all three original USGA championships (U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Women’s Amateur), Chambers Bay leverages its unique platform within the sport to lead from the front when it comes to player development. Guided by the vision to provide everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great game of golf, Chambers Bay established the Chambers Bay Academy in 2016 and launched the #1MoreGolfer campaign that sought to promote a culture of inclusion by offering low barrier-to-entry programs for all ages and skill levels. Today, the academy offers 25 programs that are expected to reach nearly 3,000 participants this year.

“We strive to be the home for learning golf for all players and abilities,” said Chambers Bay Director of Instruction Ryan Young.

Below are just several examples of the programming taking place at Chambers Bay during #KSPDMonth and throughout the entire year:

Welcome2Golf: Chambers Bay has had great success in creating new avid golfers through its Welcome2Golf program. With four group lessons, players get all the instruction and tips they need to go from a beginner on the lesson tee to a confident on-course player. Each series of six hours of classes (90 minutes each week) culminates in an outing at Chambers Bay. Free rental set equipment is provided during clinics, as well as club fitting options and extra practice or play time with a pro instructor.

First Tee of South Puget Sound: Chambers Bay is the only municipal U.S. Open venue to host a local First Tee chapter which focus on using golf as a tool for developing life skills.

PGA Jr. League: The PGA Jr. League is an exciting chance for junior players to learn and enjoy the game of golf and brings family members, friends, as well as coaches from our PGA Professional Captains together in a fun team atmosphere with meaningful experiences that foster mentor relationships while also building confidence.

Adult/Junior Scramble: To meet the demand and desire of parents looking to engage in the game alongside their children, Chambers Bay introduced a 9-hole scramble event pairing parents and children in friendly competition with other teams, which is designed to encourage a family-focused atmosphere while encouraging player development.

Military Programs: Chambers Bay is also devoted to honoring local military in their community. The Salute Military Golf Association Clinics provide post 9/11-wounded war veterans with rehabilitative golf programs, experiences and family-inclusive activities that aim to improve their quality of life. Wounded Warrior Project Clinics offer severely injured service members therapy through golf. Lastly, PGA HOPE Schools introduce veterans with disabilities to golf as a way of boosting physical, mental social and emotional health.

Social Programs: While hosting the 2015 U.S. Open garnered Chambers Bay worldwide recognition, it also created expectations from outsiders that playing the course required an advanced skill level. To combat this, Chambers Bay designed a casual six-hole loop with the goal of introducing people to the game of golf in a relaxed and social environment. Rental clubs are provided for those who need it and instructors provide brief 1:1 instruction during warm-up. After the 6-hole loop, they’ve partnered with Chambers Bay Distillery, who provides sample tastings on the golf course.

Their 7 & 7 Seas event is another example of how they engage participants with golf-focused social outlets. This program offers a leisurely seven-hole loop at Chambers Bay with beer tasting provided by a local brewing company, 7 Seas. And let’s not forget a local favorite, the Wine & 9 that includes instruction prior to play focused on delivering a tip to help participants gain confidence and have more fun, nine holes of sunset golf and a wine tasting after the round.

To learn more about player development opportunities at a KemperSports course near you, visit kempersports.com/growthegame.