Bandon Dunes: The Original Course Still Holds Up 20 Years Later

What’s there to say about Bandon Dunes that hasn’t already been said?

David Mclay Kidd’s masterpiece is what started the Bandon craze and without it, the world class golf destination would be nothing like it is today.

So what is it today?

For starters it’s the only golf resort in the world to boast 4 courses on Golf Digest’s 100 Greatest.

Oh, and all of those things you usually see at high end resorts? Expensive homes and hotels? Insane greens fees? Over priced restaurants?

None of that is to be seen at Bandon. It’s simply, as their tagline states “Golf as it was meant to be.”

I don’t think a tagline has ever been so dead on before.

In the last 6 months I’ve taken two trips down to Bandon, and played all of the courses down there.

You can see my other recaps to date here:

• The Ultimate Guide to Bandon Dunes
• Pacific Dunes
• Bandon Trails
• Bandon Preserve
• Why You Should Always Keep a Handicap

The experience both times was nothing short of incredible.

One thing that sets Bandon apart is it’s affordability. Now, don’t get me wrong, the courses are by no means cheap, but at under $300 in peak season, with half price replay rounds, there are very few places that can compare.

Let’s put this in perspective. You can get a round at Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes (both top 10 public courses) in the middle of summer, for less than the price of one round at Pebble Beach (and there you have to be a guest to even play).

In the off season this gets even lower.

This past February I got a room for two nights and 4 rounds of golf, and paid just over $500. That’s insane!

I could go on and on about the resort, the courses, and everything else – but so much has already been said by every other major (and minor) golf publication there is, as well as this one (see above recaps), that I thought I would do something a little bit different and tell you about my favorites on the course and at the resort.

Everyone’s favorite question when you’re at Bandon is “what’s your favorite course?”. And every single person has a different answer. I don’t know of any other place that has such broad opinions – a testament to the quality and uniqueness of each course.

My Favorite Courses at Bandon Dunes

1. Bandon Trails – The lowest rated, and most overlooked. I think this has the best layout, most varied topography, and is unlike any other course I’ve ever played.
2. Pacific Dunes – I haven’t played well either of the times I’ve played Pacific (and one was in driving rain). But there’s no denying the combination of ocean views, unique holes, and sheer fun of the round.
3. Bandon Dunes – Bandon feels like a little bit more of a modern course compared to Old Mac and Pacific – but still has a very links feel. I’ve shot well both times on this course, and liked it even better the second time around. Who knows maybe round #3 will move this up a notch?
4. Old Macdonald – The only Bandon course that I’ve only played once. It was at the end of a long day, and my stamina was wearing. It does have some of the most unique holes on the property, and is without a doubt a fun round.

The par 3 course Bandon Preserve is also TOTALLY worth playing. We had close to 40 mph wind and rain, but it just made it that much more interesting.

Just the Facts

• Designer: David McLay Kidd
• Built in: 1999
• Golf Digest Rank: Greatest 100: 38. Greatest 100 Public: #6
• Location: Bandon, OR
• Fees: $75-290 depending on time of year
• Website: http://www.bandondunes.com
  
• Slope: 143, Rating: 74.1

Favorite Holes on Bandon Dunes

Best Par 3

#12 was the very first hole built on the property, and the one Iv’e heard many people say is their favorite par 3.  I personally like #15.  The giant bunker on the right side makes for a very intimidating feature, and depending on wind you can play anything from a mid iron to a 3 wood.

Close behind is #6, but after the views on the powerhouse combo of 4 and 5, it’s a little bit less dramatic.

Best Par 4

Man, how do you choose just one. My knee jerk reaction would be to say #4 – simply because it’s one of the best approach shots on the entire property. To hit a seemingly normal drive, and walk up to the middle of the fairway and see the green hovering above the ocean is absolutely spectacular, regardless of whether it’s the first or tenth time you’ve seen it.

5 is a classic and the combo of 4, 5, and 6 easily rival any other three hole stretch on the property. However, I think 16 may take the cake as my favorite hole. It’s easily the most dramatic hole on Bandon Dunes, but it also has an element of risk/reward and misdirection that make it extremely interesting.

First you have to hit it over a canyon, and then up to the top of a ridge to have the best approach. If you go for it, and don’t clear the ridge you could end up in an awkward purgatory region that will make you wish you just laid up to begin with.

As far as hole design goes, I also like number 8 with the army of bunkers you have to clear off the tee.

Best Par 5

The par 5s are actually the one thing I think Bandon Dunes is a little bit lacking on. I mean none of them are bad but they also don’t really do much to wow me. My favorite is probably #3 as the gorse in play on the right, and there’s some strategic bunkering you need to be aware of.

13 is also unique in that it doesn’t have any sand, and features the only water hazard on the course.  But aside from the bumpy, undulating fairways, I found it to be a little bit boring. That said, it was pretty fun to reach it in 2 and miss my eagle putt by a foot.

Most Unique Feature

I feel like all of Bandon is just one big unique feature. Whether it’s the pricing, design, accommodations – it really is unlike anything else out there.

But to be honest, I think the most unique feature of Bandon Dunes is how it came to be. Mike Keiser the Chicago businesses-man who had the vision for the resort created Bandon with an architect who was relatively unproven in David McLay Kidd, at a destination about as far away from anything as it gets, and did it all for a fraction of the price of most new resorts.

It’s exactly the kind of thing you want to see more people doing.  For more on this check out Dream Golf – a must read before any Bandon trip.

Most Memorable Shot

The most memorable shot may be the the one that doesn’t even make the fairway. An unofficial right of passage at Bandon is to hit a ball into the ocean when standing on the 17th tee. It’s the closest point to the water on the course, and there’s something about teeing up there that gives you chills knowing thats what they did during the earliest days at Bandon.

So next time you’re there, don’t forget to tee up and pay your homage to the golf gods as a thank you for creating such a spectacular and memorable golf experience.

Overrated/Underrated? 

I think Bandon Dunes as a course is probably right on at 38 in the Greatest 100 and 6 in the Top 100 Greatest Public. It has a unique variety of holes, incredible scenery, and it gets bonus point in the “overall experience” category.

To be honest I think that Pacific Dunes is probably slightly overrated. My rounds there were great, but is it top 3 public in the country? I’m just not totally convinced. As much as I wanted to like it the better, I do think Whistling Straits was a better course.

If you want to talk underrated though, look no further than the oft-neglected Bandon Trails course 🙂

Worth the Trip?

You’re joking right?

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