Brian Oar
Photo by Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Stephen Szurlej
Gamble Sands: Sands
Brewster, WA • Public
Gamble Sands: Sands
200 Sands Trail Road
Brewster, WA 98812
United States
Telephone
Overview
The winner of Golf Digest’s Best New Course of 2014 award, Gamble Sands sits atop a sprawling, treeless plateau of sandy desert overlooking Washington’s Columbia River Valley. The extremely playable layout is oversized in every respect, with enormously wide and slick fescue fairways, gigantic greens, no rough and some of the most panoramic vistas in the Northwest. In using “friendly contours” that divert shots away from bunkers and toward targets, designer David Kidd wants everybody to have fun. He hopes good players will relish opportunities to score low and high handicappers will post their best rounds ever. With three reachable par 4s on the 18, that’s a possibility. Of course, Gamble Sands was Kidd’s precursor to ideas fleshed out at Mammoth Dunes, currently ranked 165th. The difference is that Gamble Sands is more invigorating off the tee, presenting different lines and degrees of risk, while Mammoth Dunes is more diverse from 100 yards and in.
About
Awards
Ranking history:
Second 100 Greatest: Ranked since 2019.
Highest ranking: 180th, 2019-'20.
Previous ranking: 183rd.
2025-'26 ranking: 178th.
100 Greatest Public: Ranked since 2017.
Highest ranking: 30th, 2023-'24.
2025-'26 ranking: 31st.
Best in State: Ranked third, 2025-'26. Ranked fourth, 2015-'24.
Previous ranking: 4th.
2025-'26 ranking: 3rd.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“General Notes: Gamble Sands is one of the most enjoyable courses I’ve played. It combines quality golf from world-renowned architect David McLay Kidd to beautiful scenery overlooking the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River set in a former apple orchard. The course itself is user-friendly with wide, wide fairways that are designed to funnel wayward shots back into the fairway. The greens are huge with punchbowls and backstops and undulations that add to the enjoyment. The slope is 114 from the back tees at almost 6700 yards which seems unfairly low. It is an easier course, but not that easy. #5 is a 500 yard par 4, which plays shorter downhill and downwind, but it is still a very long hole. The course threads the needle between quality and fun."
Read More2025
Review
“General Notes: Gamble Sands is one of the most enjoyable courses I’ve played. It combines quality golf from world-renowned architect David McLay Kidd to beautiful scenery overlooking the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River set in a former apple orchard. The course itself is user-friendly with wide, wide fairways that are designed to funnel wayward shots back into the fairway. The greens are huge with punchbowls and backstops and undulations that add to the enjoyment. The slope is 114 from the back tees at almost 6700 yards which seems unfairly low. It is an easier course, but not that easy. #5 is a 500 yard par 4, which plays shorter downhill and downwind, but it is still a very long hole. The course threads the needle between quality and fun."
Read More2025
Review
“Gamble Sands is one of those courses that "you have to want to play" due to its somewhat remote location. Upon arrival the view is more unusual than most golf courses you'll see anywhere in your travels. Situated on a high plateau overlooking the Columbia River is quite a sight. Imagine playing alongside the Grand Canyon. The design crew have taken a great location and created an enjoyable course for all players, with wide fairways and easy to hit greens. While still in its growing stages its going to mature into a solid golf destination that will provide a lot of fun for all."
Read More2025
Review
“May be the most forgiving course you'll ever play. Chances are you'll be the beneficiary of the design on a couple shots during your round. Those same hills and swales may also leave your ball in a different spot than what you expected when you saw it land. Only the worst of shots are penalized. Massive fairways and greens make finding trouble difficult. Precision on approaches is usually rewarded with a more makable putt. The big greens can leave you with a very long putt with some interesting breaks. The surrounds around the greens are cut very tight so it's easy to putt from off the green if you're not a confident chipper. Immaculate conditions and great views from many holes make for a memorable day of golf. The Sands course is a good confidence builder for before you play the new Scarecrow course that is much tighter and has an added degree of challenge with the same great conditions and views."
Read More2025
Review
“Really fun layout. Likely one of the easiest courses you would consider to be of championship quality, however the course never looks or "feels" easy. Great use of ground shaping to funnel the ball to better positions, especially near the greens. Frequently the better play is the longer play, towards the outside of doglegs. Generally opens approach shots up, albeit from a greater distance."
Read More2025
Review
“Big and bold with slopes and swales that filter shots toward playability and reward. Mishit shots are not automatically penalized and well hit shots might end up in unexpected places. A fun and thrilling layout that disguises challenge well."
Read More2025
Review
“A big and unique layout that uses slopes and swales to great effect. Every shot presents numerous options that tilt towards playability and fun while cleverly disguising challenge."
Read More2025
Review
“Great David McLay Kidd design. A 2nd course by the same designer is due to open Aug '25. Options around the greens were tremendous, many greens were bowled or had slopes you could use to bring approach shots close to a tucked flag. Overall one of the most fun and unique courses I have ever played."
Read More2024
Review
“Now this is golf. This beautifully located golf course is filled with challenge and very playable holes. The scenery is terrific along the Columbia River Valley with orchards and hills in every direction. The fairways are as good as some courses greens and it's difficult to tell where the fairway ends and the green starts. There are a lot of shot options on most every hole. This is a FUN course with a high level of challenge."
Read More2024
Review
“Hard to get to and well worth the drive to this one of a few style of golf course. Everyone from low to high handicappers can play and enjoy it."
Read More2023
