The Alchemist's View of Chambers Bay

Robert Trent Jones,Jr., the architect of Chambers Bay,the site of the disastrous (from the golfers' and fans' perspective, in any event) U.S. Open, was quoted in the Washignton Post concerning the course this way:

“H.L. Mencken said, ‘The West begins where the rainfall ends,’ ” Jones said. “To me, this all-fescue course is beautiful. In spring, it’s silver green. At the summer solstice, which comes this weekend, it turns to summer gold, an alchemist’s change.”

And when he gazes around, what does he see? There are bald eagles that sometimes land in that one lone tree (on the course) and a pod of orcas frolic in the sound.

“I see a violent nature meeting an industrial site,” he said.

Yikes.  Jones is no Merlin, and most of us will welcome the U.S.Open's return to a more traditional venue next year at Oakmont.

AMDG

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