Public

Quicksands Course

Gamble Sands

Brewster, WA, USA
#1018World

Public: #358

#857USA

Public: #224

#13WA

Public: #7

acedriver
Kaskomm09
mathiasoh
tristan.hogan
dylanhunt
+17

About this course

Quicksands at Gamble Sands, carved from the high desert landscape overlooking the Columbia River near Brewster, Washington, challenges the notion of traditional links golf. This is inland links, where sagebrush replaces gorse and the ever-present wind shapes both shot trajectories and perspectives. Designed by David McLay Kidd, Quicksands deviates sharply from the classically strategic parkland courses of the East Coast or the manicured layouts of the South. Instead, it offers a constantly evolving puzzle, a collection of reversible par-3 holes that invite experimentation and reward creativity. While not a championship venue steeped in tournament history, Quicksands offers an experience centered around fun, social golf. The focus here is on playability and fostering camaraderie. Quicksands is a pure golf experience where groups can compete in a variety of games or formats without taking it too seriously. Many groups circle the course multiple times, playing it again with different shot selections and in different directions, and often betting on the results. The lack of pretense, combined with the stunning natural setting, has quietly earned Quicksands a devoted following of golfers seeking something unconventional. Beyond the golf, a notable draw is Danny Boy Barbecue, the on-site smokehouse renowned for its ribs and brisket – a perfect complement to the linksland revelry. It's not unusual to see players fueling up between loops or celebrating hard-fought (and perhaps improbable) victories with a plate piled high and a cold beverage.

Quick facts

Location
Brewster, WA, USA
Access
Public
Year built
2021
Holes
14
Par
42
Course Vaults score
8.1

Getting there

The journey to Gamble Sands unfolds across the high desert plateau of central Washington, most commonly reached via Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA), followed by a three-hour drive east through the Cascade foothills and into the arid landscape surrounding Brewster. For those commanding private aircraft, Wenatchee's Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT) sits roughly ninety minutes south and offers a more intimate arrival gateway. The final leg traces the Columbia River valley northward, where sagebrush and basalt ridges gradually replace the verdant western slopes, before the road descends into the quiet ranching country that frames this singular desert sanctuary. Gamble Sands emerges from the high-desert terrain with the understated authority of a destination built to honor the land rather than command it - a fitting culmination to a passage that moves steadily from the Pacific Northwest's green abundance into one of America's most austere and beautiful golfing landscapes.

FAQ

Common questions about Quicksands at Gamble Sands

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Quicksands at Gamble Sands has a Course Vaults score of 8.1 out of 10 based on 22 logged golfers.

Quicksands was designed by David McLay Kidd.

Yes. Quicksands at Gamble Sands is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Quicksands is 42.

Quicksands is a 14-hole course.

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