Say goodbye to the fescue grass greens at Chambers Bay. The home of the 2015 U.S. Open is giving their greens a facelift in the hopes of luring another major championship to University Place.
The fine fescue, part of the original design by course architect Robert Trent Jones Jr., will be replaced by poa annua grass. This follows a steady stream of complaints about the greens at the links-style course during the U.S. Open two years ago.
Chambers Bay general manager Matt Allen told the Associated Press that the switch, which has been approved by the USGA, will take several years.
“We know the putting greens are an area of concern not just for future championships but for our customers and that’s why we’re working so hard to make the progress that we are,” said Allen.
Poa annua is a low-growing turf-grass that grows best in temperate climates. The Chamber Bay groundskeepers tried to prevent it’s growth leading up the U.S. Open with mixed results.
“If poa is an inevitability, then why go backward in any way?” Allen told the Associated Press. “Just see how we can move forward and try and encourage that natural progression, evolution.”
Time will tell if this change will result in another major Championship coming to Chambers Bay. the course is scheduled to host the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball championship in 2019.
(KPUG – Doug Lange; Information from the Associated Press and Seattle Times used in this story)
