Site of the 2015 US Open Championship, the Scottish Links themed design of Chambers Bay golf course has made it a bustling recreation area beloved by both local residents and tourists. (Photo by Martin Miller)
The site’s long legacy of industrial use as a gravel mine posed many challenges to overcome, including moving and placing 1.4 million cubic yards of soil, steep slopes, former sedimentation ponds and various groundwater and drainage issues.
From planning through construction and beyond, our staff has remained engaged with Pierce County and the United States Golf Association regarding Chambers Bay.
The golf course is the first in the Pacific Northwest to be chosen for the US Open Championship, and has served as the anchor of Pierce County’s reclamation and economic development plan for Chambers Creek Regional Park. (Photo by Martin Miller)
Creating Chambers Bay Championship Golf Course
GeoEngineers helped turn a century-old gravel mine into the site of the 2015 US Open Championship.
Chambers Bay golf course, site of the 2015 US Open Championship, is the anchor of Pierce County’s 930-acre reclamation and economic development plan for Chambers Creek Regional Park, a historic waterfront location with a long history of industrial use as a gravel mine. The nationally recognized redevelopment plan balanced the county’s multiple needs at the site for public access, a waste water treatment plant and revenue generation, while capitalizing on the site’s breathtaking location at the edge of Puget Sound.
Approach
Our work at Chambers Bay began 14 years ago as part of the Environmental Impact Statement team. In addition to completing the “Earth” section of the project Environmental Impact Statement, we helped Pierce County turn the industrial site into a flourishing recreational area through the following work:
- Evaluated the stability of a 200-foot bluff below a 1.25-mile walking path with sweeping views of Chambers Bay golf course and Puget Sound
- Provided geotechnical design for the Environmental Services Building that overlooks the park and is available for public meetings and special events
- Evaluated storm water infiltration ponds and trench areas as part of the golf course design team to ensure that the golf course remains dry at all times, fitting with the Scottish Links theme of the course design
- Sampled surface water and sediment in accordance with Chamber Bay’s Natural Resources Management Plan to show the course was using the minimal amount of fertilizer needed to protect the surrounding environment
- Provided geotechnical design recommendations for a pedestrian railroad overpass connecting the park to a public beach.
- Provided geotechnical design parameters of temporary grandstands for the 2015 US Open Championships
Results
Today Chambers Creek Regional Park is a bustling recreation area beloved by both local residents and tourists, and home to successful businesses. Audubon International has designated Chambers Bay golf course as a Certified Silver Audubon Signature Sanctuary based on the results of our surface water and sediment testing. The golf course is also the first in the Pacific Northwest to be chosen for the US Open Championship.
Community Impact
GeoEngineers regularly engages with Pierce County and the United States Golf Association regarding Chambers Bay. Members of our staff were on-course volunteers for the 2010 US Amateur Championship and 2015 US Open. Our staff, on behalf of The First Tee, an international youth development organization, has worked with Pierce County and Kemper Sports to host two fundraising tournaments.
