Can You Play Chambers Bay on Trackman? Here’s How

Chambers Bay is the most controversial course to host a US Open in the modern era. The 2015 championship was memorable for the wrong reasons for some — the greens were too firm, the bounces were too unpredictable, and the course was accused of being unfair.

All of that is true. It is also what makes Chambers Bay great.

The course sits on an old sand and gravel quarry in University Place, Washington. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed a links-style course that plays along Puget Sound, through dunes, and across railroad tracks. The course is dramatic, extreme, and unforgettable.

On Trackman, the officially licensed LIDAR build captures the full Chambers Bay experience.

Why Chambers Bay Works on Trackman

Chambers Bay is a ground-game course. The fairways are firm and fast. The ball runs. The bounces are unpredictable. The course rewards creativity and imagination.

Trackman’s radar physics engine handles the ground game better than any other sim software. The ball roll, the bounce, and the run-out are calculated using the same algorithms that the PGA Tour uses. When you hit a stinger that runs 50 yards along the fairway, Trackman calculates it correctly.

The greens are the defining feature of the course. They are massive, undulating, and firm. The LIDAR data captures the internal contours. The 1st green, which tilts from back to front with a false front, kicks anything short back into the fairway. The 12th green, which is set against the sound, has a severe left-to-right slope that sends putts toward the water.

How to Access It

Open Trackman Virtual Golf. Navigate to the course library. Search “Chambers Bay.” Load it from the championship tees. Set conditions to firm. Set wind to 10-15 mph. This is the US Open setup.

The Holes That Define the Round

The 1st Hole — The Welcome: A 560-yard par 5 that plays downhill to a fairway that looks generous. The approach is to a green that repels anything short. On Trackman, the ground game is the key. Hit it short and watch it roll back into the fairway.

The 8th Hole — The Par 3 Over Water: A 210-yard par 3 that plays along the water with Puget Sound in the background. On Trackman, the wind calculation is critical. The green is elevated and the carry is intimidating.

The 16th Hole — The Downhill Par 4: A 360-yard par 4 that drops 100 feet from tee to fairway. The green is set against the water. On Trackman, the elevation change makes the club selection a genuine puzzle. The approach requires a full club less than the yardage.

The 18th Hole — The Finisher: A 580-yard par 5 that plays along the water to a green set against the railroad tracks. The hole where Spieth won. On Trackman, the second shot is the decision point. The green is reachable in two but the carry over the railway bunkers is the most intimidating shot on the course.

How It Compares to Other Versions

GSPro has community builds of Chambers Bay that are excellent. The open terrain makes for clean LIDAR data. E6 Connect has a professional version in the Expanded tier.

Trackman’s version is the most accurate for the ground game. The ball roll, the firm conditions, and the unpredictable bounces are calculated more realistically. If you are using Chambers Bay to understand the course, Trackman is the definitive version.

The Verdict

Chambers Bay on Trackman is the most accurate sim version of the 2015 US Open venue. The combination of open terrain, firm conditions, and Trackman’s ground game physics creates an experience that is as close to the real course as the sim allows.

For the full list of courses worth playing on Trackman, read the Best Courses on Trackman Performance guide.