Home rentals for U.S. Open not quite the boon some expected

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. (AP) — Renting out homes for the U.S. Open golf tournament didn't turn out to be quite the windfall some South Puget Sound residents were expecting.

Just ask Larry Golden, who sought $40,000 for the week for his house in University Place, just across the street from the clubhouse at Chambers Bay.

The News Tribune of Tacoma reports he collected zero: The best offer he got was $7,000 from a news organization, and that wasn't enough to justify the hassle after insurance and legal fees.

Windermere real estate agent Steve Sloboda says his company tried to play matchmaker between local residents and traveling golf tourists, but only about two dozen of the 85 homes listed wound up being rented.

Sloboda noted that Chambers Bay doesn't have the name recognition of more famous courses, like Pebble Beach. He said many fans came from around Washington and Oregon and might not have needed weekly rentals.