Scarecrow is Gamble Sands’ bold new 18-hole layout–set to debut on August 1, and it immediately stakes its claim as a worthy counterpart to the resort’s award-winning original course. Built by David McLay Kidd and associate Nick Schaan, it covers 300 acres of former cornfields with dramatic elevation changes, ridges, valleys, and water views over the Columbia River Valley.
While both courses feature wide fairways and traditional fine fescue surfaces, Scarecrow is more contoured, wilder, and tactically demanding. Its smaller greens, strategic bunkering, and terrain shifts elevate the difficulty, and the intrigue, without compromising playability. As Kidd remarked, Scarecrow contains “all the DNA” of the Sands course, but with added spice, making it “a little more aggressive” and potentially a few strokes tougher overall.
“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,” Kidd said. “Many holes look right down the Columbia River Gorge, probably 20 miles down the river. This site might be better than the first!”
Scarecrow features stunning visuals with firm, bouncy turf on top of dramatic land overlooking the valley. With two fun 18-hole tracks @GambleSands is a can’t miss golf destination.
(Drone footage via @BrianOarGolf)
Hole-By-Hole: Drama Meets Design
Scarecrow begins with a powerful downhill par‑4 that demands a blind tee shot, where hitting up the right side unlocks a rolling fairway that feeds the green below. Flagrant use of slope rewards creativity and cautious mis-hits alike. The cleverly designed ninth hole–a scenic par‑3 set over a bluff—offers panoramic views while funneling balls toward the green via slope helper contours, visually stunning yet demanding precision.
[ Photo by Could Be The Day ]
The back nine arguably surpasses the original course in both drama and interest. The 10th‑12th cluster is especially notable: a par‑4, par‑3, and par‑5 laid out in tight proximity, with the par‑3 11th (nicknamed “Chicken Point”) perched on a ridge overlooking the Chicken River valley. That leads into a boomerang-style par‑5 at 12–the type of hole where bold lines and shot-making options matter most. The final hole offers a drivable par‑4 over a cliff-edge green—a fairytale finishing note for a tour de force design.
How Scarecrow Stacks Against the Original Sands Course
While the original Sands course remains ranked in the Top 100 U.S. public courses (listed at No. 31), Scarecrow introduces higher elevation play, tighter shot windows, and more polished contouring to the mix. Early previews suggest the Sands back nine is stronger front-to-back, but Scarecrow’s back nine may be superior.
“The reviews and feedback we’ve heard from those who have previewed Scarecrow have been incredibly positive and share the common thread that Scarecrow is a blast to play,” Gamble Sands Resort general manager Blake Froling said. “We’re excited to welcome golfers from around the world to Gamble Sands.”
My goodness.
Players and critics note that Scarecrow is “turned up to 11”–deliberately wilder and more dramatic than the forgiving sister course. Yet it preserves key similarities: chunky fescue turf, wide fairways, and roll‑friendly landscapes built for strategy, not intimidation. Some reviewers believe Scarecrow might eventually outpace the original as the resort’s signature layout, and that debate is exactly the type of destination golf conversation Kidd hoped to spark.
Why Scarecrow Elevates the Destination Conversation
Gamble Sands now offers 36 championship holes, plus the fan-favorite QuickSands 14-hole short course and the visually iconic Cascades Putting Course, making it a complete destination for golfers. The resort’s high desert climate–reliable summer weather with minimal humidity and insects–combined with long daylight hours, offers year-round appeal for itinerary-driven travelers.
“It’s been said that a compelling landscape almost can’t help but yield a compelling golf course. When we created Scarecrow, we knew we had just such a landscape,” Kidd said.
The name “Scarecrow” itself nods to the resort’s agricultural roots: standing guard over former cornfields alongside apple and cherry orchards owned by the Gebbers family. The course’s branding and routing were intentionally designed to reflect that heritage–a human-like guardian amid natural beauty, watching over fairways and championship ambition.
Sequel With Bite
Scarecrow isn’t just another addition to the golf map–it’s a bold sequel that builds on Gamble Sands’ stunning setting while pushing the boundaries of shot-making, terrain, and visual intention. If the original course was the brilliant introduction, Scarecrow is the mischievous sibling ready to vie for top honors.
With debut tee times now available, Gamble Sands has solidified itself as a premier Western destination thanks to two distinct yet complementary championship layouts, inspiring par-smashing challenges, and world-class resort amenities. For those who seek strategic variety, epic views, and a course that demands imagination shot after shot–Scarecrow just might be the one to beat.
Gamble Sands Levels Up With New Layout: Scarecrow