Gamble Sands

By Steve Turcotte, Inside Golf Editor

I remember my first trip to Gamble Sands in 2014. The course was not open yet and we couldn’t even figure out how to get to the course. We went down a gravel road, through some apple orchards and alongside some apple crates. We went the wrong way. Called the pro shop and they talked us in.

As they say, that was then, this is now.

From that day on the gravel road, it’s hard to imagine what has happened at Gamble Sands, which is located in the Eastern Washington town of Brewster. The course became an instant award winner. Resort rooms have been built. A putting course similar to the Himalayas Putting Course at St. Andrews has opened. A new 14-hole short course will open in May.

And the awards …. well the awards just keep piling up at Gamble Sands.

The course (called the Sands Course) has been named among the top resort courses in the country, on a list which includes Pebble Beach and Bandon Dunes. the course has been ranked as the No.1 course you can play in Washington by Golfweek; Golf Magazine called Gamble Sands the best course in Washington in 2020-2021 and one of its top 100 courses in the country; Golf Digest said Gamble Sands is America’s Best 18 holes since 2000 (No. 2 on the list).

The idea for golf all came from the Gebbers Family, which owns acres and acres of apple orchards in Eastern Washington. Wade Gebbers decided he wanted to get into the golf business, so he set aside some land, hired David McLay Kidd and went to work. Oh, and by the way, Kidd is the one who designed the Castle Course at St. Andrews, Bandon Dunes and Tetherow.

The course opened in 2014 and was an instant hit with the reviewers and golfers alike. OB Sports was brought in to manage the facility. And together they have created one of the top resorts in the country.

The course itself sits on 115 acres and overlooks the Columbia River Valley. It can play as long as 7,200 yards or shorter from different tees. With wide fairways and generous greens, the course is a treat for every level of golfer.

But that’s not all. The Inn at Gamble Sands allows traveling golfers to book Stay and Play deals and offers rooms as big as 1,000 square feet with plenty of amenities, including a 24-person soaking pool.

The rooms sit overlooking the new Cascade Putting Course, a huge practice green that has bumps and hills and challenging putts.

And there is more, the Quicksands Course is a 14-hole short course that adds another dimension to the resort. It is available to play from April 29th–October for groups of golfers up to eight.

For more on Gamble Sands see the website www.gamblesands.com.