Update: Chambers Bay Tree and Lost Golf Clubs

I keep getting asked about the status of the Chambers Bay tree. Everyone wants to know if the lone Douglas fir on the property of the golf course in University Place, Washington will survive an attack by an unknown person with an axe late April 29th or early April 30th. Chambers Bay, only a year old in June, will host the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open.

I received this update today from Chambers Bay:

*The survival of Chambers Bay's iconic Douglas fir seems assured following treatment and a preliminary root health assessment.

"The tree is surprisingly healthy considering its stressful condition," said David L. Wienecke, Chambers Bay's  superintendent. "This tree is a real survivor and shows no signs of decline now. The arborists who have visited the site seem quite confident it will survive the axe attack with proper care."

The news was welcomed by Pierce County Executive John W. Ladenburg,

whose vision for a world-class golf course on Puget Sound was carried

out in the design by golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. and his team.

"We found out in a hurry that people care about that tree. We look

forward to having it with us a long time," Ladenburg said.

The fir is the golf course's signature image, appearing in magazine,

newspaper and television news accounts of Chambers Bay's numerous

accolades, including selection as the 2015 U.S. Open and 2010 U.S.

Amateur site. It also is used in the course's advertising and marketing

materials. The tree is home for bald eagles and a point of reference for

golfers and walkers on the Soundview Trail, which traverses the course

near the tree's location between the 15th green and 16th tee.

The University Place Police Department is investigating the crime. A

reward is offered by Crime Stoppers of Tacoma-Pierce County, which can

be contacted at 253-591-5959.*

I also keep getting asked about the status of my lost golf clubs. They were misplaced by an unknown person working for an airline almost ten weeks ago as I was making my way to Chambers Bay to write a story about golf in and around Tacoma, Washington for the August issue of Golf Digest. This update isn't nearly as positive. The clubs are still lost.

--Matty G.