Chambers Bay

The 2015 U.S. Open venue on Puget Sound is as close to actual Scottish links as the Pacific Northwest has produced. Pierce County turned a sand and gravel mine into a golf course, and the resulting terrain is raw, exposed, and unmistakably serious. The walk follows the Sound for stretches that make you forget you're in Washington State. From the Navy tees at 7,585 yards with a 139 slope, this place will test everything. The seventh hole, a par four, carries the number one handicap and earns it. The greens can be confusing to read for first-timers, and the elevation means this isn't a casual stroll. But for walkers who want genuine links exposure without a transatlantic flight, Chambers Bay makes the argument convincingly.