Robert Trent Jones Jr. finally gets his Open shot
— -- His career has spanned some 50 years, all while he tried to live up to his father's legacy as he designed golf courses around the world, more than 300 of them, give or take a few.
But Robert Trent Jones Jr. has never gotten to experience the thrill that will unfold for him next week.
A course his company designed and constructed, Chambers Bay, will be the stage for the 115th playing of the U.S. Open.
The venue near Tacoma in University Place, Washington, wasn't fully conceived until a decade ago and has been open for just over seven years. Yet the world's best will convene in the Pacific Northwest for the first time to stage the year's second major championship.
Even for a man who has mingled with dignitaries, politicians, royalty ... and made a lucrative living in the process, this is a big deal. A very big deal.
"Ecstasy is too pale a word to describe my feelings," said Jones, 75, in a recent interview. "I'm obviously thrilled. It was amazing when it was announced, and it remains so. I have yet to come down to cloud nine. I know what it means. I'm a golfer first, and my father had his U.S. Open courses, but this is an honor, and it's a very personal matter since it was my father who had the last original golf course get a U.S. Open."
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