Gamble Sands Breaks Ground On Its Second Course Designed By David McLay Kidd, Dubbed Quicksands By Brian Weis

Gamble Sands Breaks Ground On Its Second Course Designed By David McLay Kidd, Dubbed Quicksands

By Brian Weis

Gamble Sands, one of the "Top 100 Golf Resorts in North America" located in Brewster, Wash., recently broke ground on its second course - dubbed Quicksands - a 14-hole routing designed by David McLay Kidd. Quicksands is the first short course designed by McLay Kidd and will be the first of its kind in Washington state. The course is expected to be completed and open for limited preview rounds this fall.

McLay Kidd's award-winning course designs include Gamble Sands, Bandon Dunes and his latest creation, Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley Golf Resort in Nekoosa, Wisc. McLay Kidd and partner, Nick Schaan, were hands-on in the creation of Quicksands, working with the crew, running equipment and shaping with hand tools. Quicksands is laid out to the east of the Gamble Sands clubhouse, between the range and the entry road, on a 25-acre parcel of heaving and rolling sand dunes of which the team took full advantage.

"Historically short courses were often after thoughts, squeezed into useless corners for non-golfers to go try their hand," said McLay Kidd. "Today short courses have become a serious addition to world-class golf resorts. The best land is sought, the best talent is brought to bear, expectations are high, and we don't plan to disappoint."

Quicksands intends to take the imaginative shot making that rewards the golfer on Gamble Sands' first course and kick it into a high gear on this short course. Holes vary wildly from 60 to 160 yards. Every hole offers a unique challenge to a golfer's skills and imagination. The working names of holes gives some sense of what awaits, including Plinko, Crater, Donut and Boomerang to name a few. View the Quicksands preview video prepared by McLay Kidd here.

Quicksands will have an emphasis on fun as only Gamble Sands can do. Guests will interact and socialize along the way, while enjoying the course-wide sound system - some days golfers will play along to the Eagles, and other days it may be Metallica.

"We expect a lot of whooping and hollering throughout the course, giving it a strong social vibe," said Brady Hatfield, general manager, Gamble Sands. "Plus, Quicksands will not be an overly stern test of ones golf game. With limited force carries and tons of turf, golfers will have lots of shot options."

Quicksands adds to an impressive collection of golf and hospitality amenities at Gamble Sands. The 18-hole Sands Course opened for play in 2014 to widespread acclaim, with the 100,000 square foot Cascades putting course following shortly thereafter. The Inn at Gamble Sands features oversized rooms that perfectly match the wide-open nature of Gamble Sands as big rooms open to the big golf course, framed by even bigger views that sweep across the Columbia River Valley. The Danny Boy Bar and Grill is a gathering place for golfers and casual diners alike. Large garage-style doors roll open to outdoor dining and more views of the Cascades and Columbia River Valley.

"Enjoying the game of golf is the name of the game at Gamble Sands," said Tory Wulf, project manager at Gamble Sands. "By adding Quicksands as the next piece of the puzzle we are providing another enjoyable and timely option for all levels of golfers. We recognized this as the next step in the Gamble Golf Experience. Come out and see for yourself!"

For more information on Gamble Sands, visit www.gamblesands.com or call 509-436-8323.

Revised: 05/29/2020 - Article Viewed 15,046 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.