Gamble Sands (Scarecrow)

Scarecrow at Gamble Sands emerges as David McLay Kidd's most ambitious American project since the original course opened in 2014. This new 18-hole layout, opening August 2025, transforms steeper terrain overlooking the Columbia River Valley into a golf experience that builds dramatically toward its clifftop crescendo.

History of Scarecrow

Kidd developed an initial routing for the land upon which the Scarecrow course lies in 2015, but that plan didn't move forward because a power line runs through the property. The original vision had to wait nearly a decade for realisation. "The family weren't that enthusiastic about going through the pain and cost of moving a major power line," says Kidd. "So, we built the first course, but we knew that for a future course, there was this great piece of land. Ten years later, the will to move that power line was there, and that enabled us to get into creating the second full-length layout."

The Scarecrow site is where McLay Kidd wanted to build the original course more than a decade ago. At the time, though, unsightly power lines, which have since been buried, stretched across the property, so McLay Kidd used other acreage for his first design. The delay proved fortuitous, as Kidd and design associate Nick Schaan could approach this terrain with greater confidence after the success of the original Sands course.

The name itself reflects the agricultural heritage of the Gebbers family property. Gamble Sands is owned by a longtime farming family, and Scarecrow is a cap-tip to those agricultural roots. In brainstorming sessions, the name won out over such candidates as Old Cob (a reference to corn-growing) and The Deer Farm (an allusion to a bygone local reindeer breeder). The chosen name proved both evocative and commercially astute.

Course Layout & Playing Experience

Scarecrow stretches to 6,900 yards at par 71, utilising terrain that is markedly more dramatic than its sibling course. "It is the resort's most dynamic piece of land; it's got more topography to it and perhaps better views of the water than the first course. Many holes look right down the Columbia River Gorge, probably 20 miles down the river. This site might be better than the first!" writes Kidd.

The routing demonstrates sophisticated use of elevation changes throughout the round. The original course is on a much softer piece of land; there aren't any holes that are significantly uphill or downhill. But on Scarecrow, there is significant elevation change; the fifth hole is 40 feet uphill, the tenth is around 40 feet downhill. This topographical variety creates playing characteristics distinct from the flatter Sands course.

Like a lot of fine designs, Scarecrow opens with a friendly handshake — a short par-4 that plays over a brow to a speed-slot in the fairway bending gently left. From there, the course begins a gradual climb before spilling down toward the river valley on holes that skirt and bump up against the bluffs. The routing builds momentum as it progresses, with spectacular vantage points emerging throughout the round.

The par-3 9th hole provides the front nine's climactic moment. This infinity par three looks down 20 miles of the Columbia River Gorge. I mean, it is just breathtaking. Much of this stretch provides a postcard panorama, none more striking than the view on the par-3 9th, which plays straight toward the valley, its green framed in the backdrop by the river valley. The visual drama continues into the back nine's clifftop holes.

Notable Architectural Features

Schaan led the design development under Kidd's direction, creating architectural elements that distinguish Scarecrow from the original layout. "Nick and I figured out which parts of the DNA we wanted to transfer from the Sands and which parts we wanted to consciously deviate from. Scarecrow shares some of the same characteristics: wide fairways, fescue grasses everywhere and you'll be able to roll the ball from a long way out onto the greens. However, the bunker style is quite different, the greens are more contoured, the lines of play are tighter, and the greens are smaller."

The bunkering represents a deliberate departure from the expansive sand areas of the Sands course. "Gamble Sands has this big, open-expanse sandy character to it — it's so massive that if we replicated that again in the same fashion, that alone would make the golf courses look similar. But doing that in the steeper terrain becomes cumbersome, so the sand areas are broken into chunks and smaller pieces and compositions of clusters instead of these massive sand areas," explains Schaan.

The closing stretch occupies the property's premium terrain. Scarecrow's closing four-hole stretch occupies the best topography on the property. The long par-five 15th wraps around a giant sand gulch on the right toward a V-shaped valley funnelling approach shots to the green.

The par-three 16th plays across a corner of the same chasm to a "punchbowl-ish" green—the course's largest, with "a couple of elephants that unfortunately died in the middle of it".

Want to know what other travelling golfers really think? Click the Reviews tab to discover latest ratings and reviews

Travel & Planning

Regional Golf Context

Scarecrow's location in central Washington provides access to several distinguished layouts within driving distance. The verification of actual distances reveals excellent multi-course holiday opportunities:

Within 30km (19 miles): Lake Chelan Golf Course sits 26 miles (42km) southwest via US-97, requiring 29 minutes driving time. This municipal layout provides panoramic lake and mountain views from its elevated position.

30-60km (19-37 miles): Alta Lake Golf Resort in Pateros offers an intimate 18-hole experience approximately 40km northeast, whilst Desert Canyon Golf Resort in Orondo sits 25 miles southeast, providing desert canyon golf with Columbia River backdrops.

60km+ (37+ miles): Wenatchee lies 68 miles (109km) southwest, offering additional municipal options for extended stays. The drive eastward toward Spokane reveals high desert landscapes distinct from the Okanogan Valley's agricultural character.

Natural Combinations: The proximity of Lake Chelan allows golfers to combine Scarecrow with lakeside resort golf. Pateros and Orondo create logical routing for three-course itineraries over long weekends.

Difficulty Mix: From the accessible municipal tracks at Lake Chelan to the championship demands of both Gamble Sands courses, the region caters to varied playing abilities.

Base: Brewster's Inn at Gamble Sands provides luxury accommodation with 77 rooms, whilst Lake Chelan offers resort lodging for alternative bases.

Practical Planning

Advanced booking remains essential for Scarecrow, particularly during the peak season from May through September. The course operates alongside the original Sands layout, Quicksands short course, and Cascades putting green.

Green fees follow dynamic pricing based on demand, with premium rates during peak periods. Stay-and-play packages through the Inn typically provide the best value for multi-round visits. Group bookings for 12 or more players receive dedicated reservation specialist assistance.

Course conditions peak during the dry summer months, when firm fescue surfaces provide optimal playing characteristics. Spring and autumn shoulder seasons offer reduced rates but may encounter maintenance schedules or greater weather variability.

Transport Information ✈️

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): 211 miles (340km) east, requiring approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes driving time. The route follows Interstate 90 east through the Cascade Mountains before connecting to Highway 97 north through Wenatchee and the Columbia River Valley.

Spokane International Airport (GEG): 133 miles southwest, requiring 2 hours 25 minutes. This routing provides scenic passage through the Coulee Dam region via Highway 2 and 174.

Wenatchee (EAT): 69 miles south, requiring approximately one hour. Limited commercial service but convenient for charter arrangements.

Car Rental: Essential for accessing regional golf courses and exploring the Columbia River Valley. Seattle and Spokane airports provide comprehensive rental options with unlimited mileage.

Charter Service: Lynk Air operates on-demand flights from Seattle area airports, reducing travel time to under two hours total, including ground transfers.

Seasonal Timing

Spring (April-May): Course opening depends on weather conditions, with April typically seeing limited availability. May provides excellent playing conditions as fescue grasses emerge from dormancy.

Summer (June-September): Peak season delivers optimal firm-and-fast conditions with minimal rainfall. Booking is essential as accommodation and tee times fill rapidly.

Autumn (October): Shoulder season offers attractive rates with continued good weather, though course closure typically occurs mid-October, depending on conditions.

Winter (November-March): Course closed with the Inn remaining open year-round for events and alternative recreational activities in the Columbia River Valley.

Gamble Sands (Scarecrow): The Verdict

Scarecrow represents David McLay Kidd's most mature American work, benefiting from a decade of refinement since the original Sands course established Gamble Sands' reputation. "With the first one being so well loved, we could give ourselves a little more latitude to be a bit more aggressive with the golf course design, so this one might be half a dozen strokes harder" notes Kidd.

The course successfully creates its own identity whilst complementing the existing resort infrastructure. Where the Sands course provides wide-open expanses and generous targets, Scarecrow demands more precise navigation through tighter corridors toward smaller, more contoured putting surfaces. The clifftop locations and Columbia River vistas establish this as premier destination golf in America's Pacific Northwest.

For travelling golfers, Scarecrow elevates Gamble Sands from curiosity to a comprehensive golf destination. The combination of two championship layouts, short course options, luxury accommodation, and spectacular natural setting creates compelling reasons for extended visits to this remote corner of Washington State.