It was announced six days ago that Chambers Bay, a course that opened up for public play seven months ago, would host the 2015 US Open. The course is located in Tacoma, Washington, making it the first U.S. Open held in the Pacific Northwest. In order to get a better understanding of the area, Tyler Adams (pictured right), a Seattle native, and blogger, gives readers an inside look at the city of Tacoma:
As a typically elitist Seattle native, and the most casual of golf watchers, when it was announced last week that the 2015 U.S. Open would be held in Tacoma, Washington, I was surprised. Even a little dismayed--my first instinct was to be worried about the state of United States golf. As it turns out, Chambers Bay is a gorgeous golf course, as confirmed by people more knowledgeable than I. Even though--technically--it’s not in Tacoma, I’m here to give you a firsthand description of the future host city.
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To Seattleites, Tacoma has long been a shaggy-headed younger brother who refuses to shape up. When you say ‘Tacoma’, I think: 1) the infamous 'Aroma of Tacoma', a pungent, nasty smell from the pulp mills that once buoyed the economy of the city, 2) the Tacoma Dome, a smaller version of the dearly departed Kingdome where the state’s high school basketball championships are held and 
3) Hell’s Kitchen, the only real landmark music club in the city. It’s a punk club, so they probably shouldn’t be expecting too much business from the upcoming Open. I used to think of the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners' baseball farm team, but then Nick Lachey (pictured left) got involved.
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The third-largest city in Washington state is blessed by typical Northwest summer weather: temperate, gorgeous, and almost always clear. In June, it should be about as beautiful as a golf course can be. As it stands, the 2015 Open will be a touchstone in a renaissance that started a decade ago as the city began to commit money to its downtown area and city-specific branch of the University of Washington. Two decades ago, the city was still struggling to redefine itself: once the biggest railroad city in the state, then it has become a successful port city since, and overhauled their image. City planners must be rejoicing over how quickly Chambers Bay has returned on their investments.
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Today, Tacoma's downtown area is a nice place to be. With an estimated $100 million dollars in revenue coming from the future Open, Tacoma will be preparing an impressive welcome wagon. Compared to the other future sites for the tournament, Tacoma stands up rather well. It's no San Diego, but if you’re looking to see some world-class golf, in an austere setting, outside of a suddenly bustling city, mark your seven-year-ahead calendars.
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And if you get bored, Seattle's under an hour away.
