OB SPORTS GOLF & LEISURE
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SUMMER 2014
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obsports.com
l
COURSES
tell you the countless hours I spent
mentally debating the accepted norms
of design and reconsidering their va-
lidity for my work at Gamble Sands."
Kidd says Gamble Sands is "by far
the most playable course I have ever
created, but it does this without sacri-
ficing challenge. It asks for 'touch and
feel' before it grants birdies, but to
play bogey golf one can play fast and
aggressive without fear of
catastrophe."
Kidd was given 700
acres to work with by
Gebbers Farms, one of
the state's largest farms
and owned by a family
that has grown apples at the base of
the Cascade Mountains since the
early 20th Century. It has since ex-
panded to cherry farming and is now
one of the largest family-owned apple
and cherry producers in the state.
Gamble Sands is named after Dan
Gamble, the family patriarch who
planted his first orchard in the small
town of Brewster in 1915. The course
is also located in Brewster, which sits
about 600 feet above the Columbia
River in North Central Washington,
about 200 miles east of Seattle.
The course is 7,169-yards from the
tips and offers stellar views of the Co-
lumbia River, Cascade Mountains
and hundreds of acres of apple and
cherry orchards.
"Normally, links courses are eyes-
down courses," said OB Sports Chair-
man Orrin Vincent, whose company
manages the property. "But that's not
always the case here. There are so
many spectacular views."
Its sinewy layout features plenty of
undulations and Kidd says the key
for any golfer is to "play for the
bounce. The ball will react when it
lands rolling someway or other every
time, and the player must predict this
and work it to their advantage."
There's one other thing you should
know when it comes to Gamble Sands.
"You need to make sure to book
two tee times," Vincent said. "There's
more local knowledge needed in links
golf than traditional golf. Especially
here. You need to play the course
once to know where to hit the ball."
"Gamble Sands represents … the pinnacle of my
thinking to date.
"
— David McLay Kidd, Architect
HOT
LINKS
›› CLICK HERE to visit
Gamble Sands for tee
times, rates, and more.
›› CLICK HERE for a
hole-by-hole look at
Gamble Sands.
VIDEO EXTRA!
››
CLICK HERE to watch
architect David McLay Kidd
and OB Sports founder
Orrin Vincent introduce
Gamble Sands.
CLICK
HERE
FOR
A
VIRTUAL
COURSE
TOUR
OF
GAMBLE
SANDS
Links golf: not a tree in sight.
