Gamble Sands Golf Club

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Brian Oar

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Photo by Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

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Stephen Szurlej

Overview

The winner of Golf Digest’s Best New Course of 2014 award, Gamble Sands sits atop a sprawling, treeless plateau of sandy desert overlooking Washington’s Columbia River Valley. The extremely playable layout is oversized in every respect, with enormously wide fairways, gigantic greens, no rough and some of the most panoramic vistas around. In using “friendly contours” that divert shots away from bunkers and toward targets, designer David Kidd wants everybody to have fun. He hopes good players will relish opportunities to score low and high handicappers will post their best round ever. With three reachable par 4s on the 18, that’s a possibility. Of course, Gamble Sands was Kidd’s inspiration for his No. 152 Mammoth Dunes.

About

Holes 18

Length 7226

Slope 120

Price $195

Facility Type Public

Designer David McLay Kidd

Awards

Ranking history:

Second 100 Greatest: Ranked 180th, 2019-'20. Ranked 183rd, 2021-'22.
2023-'24 ranking: 183rd.
Previous ranking: 183rd.
Highest ranking: No. 180 in 2019-'20.

100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2017.
2021-'22 ranking: No. 38.
Highest ranking: No. 35, 2019-'20.

Best in State: Ranked fourth, 2015-'22.

Panelists

Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists

4.5

100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES

Shot Options

7.3468

Character

7.337

Challenge

6.7035

Layout Variety

7.4314

Fun

7.8386

Aesthetics

7.4929

Conditioning

7.4976

Reviews

1 / 10

Review

“The most quiet course you will ever play. Loads of fun — links golf in the orchards. Very good conditioning and interesting design."

2022

2 / 10

Review

“One of the most scenic, inland courses you could play. Many think this course is easy, and one could quite well shoot their career low round here. There is plenty of challenge for the person that hits crooked off the tee in spots. Great conditioning, and all around fun course that is enjoyable for all levels of golfers."

2022

3 / 10

Review

“Very fun, expansive high-desert layout with lots of variety and high playability."

2022

4 / 10

Review

“Gamble Sands was designed with fun in mind -- consider it a success! The lodging, food, and course are all top notch. Gamble does have a lot of width for scoring, but it still has teeth if you get away from the playing corridors. There's plenty of strategy!"

2021

5 / 10

Review

“One of the most unique places and experiences for my 50 years in golf, especially for a U.S. course. Please take a fore caddie your first time!"

2019

6 / 10

Review

“The most thoughtful layout in the region. A joy to play and super playable even for higher handicaps. A David McLay-Kidd gem. Totally worth the drive to get there."

2018

7 / 10

Review

“Since it seems like everyone posts their career round at Gamble, most people leave with good memories and a positive impression."

2018

8 / 10

Review

“fun course on a wild site"

2018

9 / 10

Review

“A great golf course on which to have fun. Very playable with wide fairways, big greens, excellent condition, and a routing that utilizes the natural terrain well. Great views of the Columbia River. Building a club house and cottages. Would return in a heart beat if in the area."

2018

10 / 10