Chambers Bay might be in for some big changes after 2015 U.S. Open is done

The 2015 United States Open at Chambers Bay is rolling right along with all of its plans. Volunteer signup is selling out, tickets sales are up and running, corporate sponsorship are well ahead of the expected pace and parking and shuttle plans are coming together. In fact, the 2015 United States Open is expected to be so popular that the USGA is expected to set up the most grandstands it ever has for a U.S. Open and corporate sales might be sold out in record time.

In fact, plans are so good that rail service to Chambers Bay is expected to help get spectators to the course and volunteer sign-ups could near 8,000 when it’s all said and done. The event will only need around 4,500 for the tournament.

And that’s not all that is happening at Chambers Bay. A Southern California developer named Sonnenblick Development has told Pierce County that it would like to build a 220-room hotel and add a second golf course to the Chambers Bay site. Pierce County gave the company until mid June to finalize plans and show it has money in place to make it happen. Any of that development would not start until after the 2015 U.S. Open.

The developer Bob Sonnenblick said another part of the plan is for some retail shops and restaurant pavilion to be located near the waterfront. Robert Trent Jones Jr., who designed Chambers Bay, has been hired to design the proposed second course. Sonnenblick said he estimates the project would cost about $120 million for the hotel and the new golf course.