Gamble Sands
High in the Washington desert above a bend in the Columbia River, David McLay Kidd built the course that changed his mind about width. Firm fescue, fairways you cannot miss and greens the size of a town square make Gamble Sands the rare modern links that is genuinely fun for everyone who tees it up.
Photo: Gamble Sands via Google.
The verdict
Gamble Sands opened in 2014 in one of the more remote corners of American golf, the high desert of north central Washington, an hour south of the Canadian border. David McLay Kidd, chastened by the difficulty of some of his earlier work, set out to build something joyful, and he found the perfect canvas in a vast site of sandy soil and fine fescue grasses on a plateau above the Columbia River. The result is a true firm and fast links far from any sea.
It has become a cult favorite for a simple reason. The fairways are enormous, the greens are huge and welcoming, and the ground feeds the running ball, so a mid handicapper can have the round of their life while a good player still has to think hard about angles and the wind. Add the Quicksands short course and the newer Scarecrow eighteen, and a once obscure spot has grown into one of the best golf destinations in the Pacific Northwest.
Gamble Sands at a glance
- Opened
- 2014
- Designer
- David McLay Kidd
- Type
- Links
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,169 yds
- Green fee
- From about $175
Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the architect and course databases. The Sands Course plays to par 72 over roughly 7,169 yards. Green fees are indicative resort rates, often around 175 dollars in the summer high season with lower shoulder season rates and guest pricing. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Width is the whole philosophy. The fairways are some of the broadest in the country, which takes the fear out of the tee shot, but the smart player still aims for a side, because the angle into these big, rolling greens decides whether a birdie putt is makeable or a three putt is in play. It is generous off the tee and demanding around the greens.
The high desert setting gives long views over the Columbia River valley and a dry climate that keeps the turf firm, so the bounce and the run are always in play. The fescue rewards a low, chasing ball and punishes the player who tries to fly everything to the flag.
Pace and pleasure are the point. There is little water and forgiving width, so rounds move and scores stay friendly, but the wind off the plateau can flip the course's mood in an afternoon and bring the strategy of the angles sharply back into focus.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A resort course at Gamble Sands, open to resort guests and the public through the golf shop, walkable with caddies and push carts available |
| Green fee | Often around 175 dollars in the summer high season, with lower shoulder season rates and resort guest and replay pricing (indicative) |
| Booking | Book through the resort ahead for the summer peak; resort guests at the on site Inn get the best tee time access |
| On the day | Caddies and push carts available, an on site Inn, the Quicksands short course and a second eighteen, Scarecrow; walking encouraged |
| Getting there | Near Brewster in north central Washington, around 3.5 to 4 hours from Seattle and about an hour from Wenatchee |
| Best months | May to October for the firmest turf and the most reliable weather in the high desert |
Access and indicative green fees verified June 2026; they change without notice, so always confirm directly before booking with the club or your trip planner. Check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The resort's own Inn sits beside the clubhouse, the most convenient base for early tee times and for stringing together the Sands, the Scarecrow and the Quicksands short course over a couple of unhurried days.
Because it is remote, most golfers make Gamble Sands the destination itself rather than a stop, flying into Seattle or Wenatchee and settling in for two or three nights to play everything on the property.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Gamble Sands.
Build a Gamble Sands golf trip
We package the Sands with the Scarecrow and the short course, book the on site Inn and sort the long drive or the regional flight. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Gamble Sands questions
What is the par and length of Gamble Sands?
Gamble Sands plays to par 72 over roughly 7,169 yards, a firm fescue links in the Washington high desert with very wide fairways and large, rolling greens.
Who designed Gamble Sands?
The Sands Course was designed by David McLay Kidd and opened in 2014, built on sandy soil above the Columbia River as a deliberately playable, fun links.
Can visitors play Gamble Sands?
Yes. Gamble Sands is open to resort guests and the public through the golf shop. It is walkable, caddies and push carts are available, and resort guests at the on site Inn get the best access.
How much does it cost to play Gamble Sands?
Indicative 2026 green fees often run around 175 dollars in the summer high season, with lower shoulder season rates and guest pricing. Fees change by season and year, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Design history, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.