Dream 18 #1: Ian Critser’s Eclectic 18 at Bandon Dunes Resort

This post was written by Ian Critser, VP of Sales and Creative at Mackenzie Golf Bags. This is the first in a new series called “Dream 18” where golfers create their own “Dream 18” around a specific theme.

There’s a very good chance that anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Bandon Dunes has a personal ranking of the resort’s five courses. It’s an inevitability that has sparked many a fervent debate amongst “Bandonistas”, as everyone’s list is inherently different (even Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and GolfWeek’s lists vary slightly).

I’ve been fortunate to visit Bandon Dunes a half dozen or so times and have played every course (save for Bandon Dunes proper) more than once. I’ve experienced blustery summer conditions, dead still 65-degree days in January, and rounds in near-freezing temperatures with sleet and gusts up to 60 miles per hour… I’ve seen it all.

With that in mind — and not that anyone asked — my list goes:

1. Pacific Dunes (Seemingly the general consensus)
2. Old Mac (Always underrated)
3. Bandon Trails (The best-designed course on property, but not on the ocean)
4. Sheep Ranch (Fun, but almost too quirky)
5. Bandon Dunes (Heresy! I know, I know… maybe I just need to play it again)

As an example of how wildly different opinions can be, here’s Sean’s take on the best:

It should be obvious that the rankings are not on a “best to worst” scale and rather operate in the “best to least-best” arena, as the “bottom” course on anyone’s list would top the rankings in most states — the depth at Bandon is just that good.

We’ve made a habit of taking an annual work trip down to the promised land the past few winters — something we all enthusiastically look forward to all year.

Unsurprisingly, the drive back is always the worst part, but ranking the courses is a fun exercise (as is the ensuing debate) to combat the Bandon blues hangover on the four-hour haul back to Portland.

Trying to kill even more windshield time one year, we wanted to take it one step further — an eclectic 18. For those not familiar, that’s the practice of choosing the best first hole, best second hole, best third hole, and so on from a group of courses (the five at Bandon, in this case) and seeing how the lists compare.

It’s certainly more in-depth than just flatly ranking the courses and is a worthy exercise because it forces you to essentially relive every hole of the trip — never a problem with Bandon.

As expected, responses vary in our group, but here’s what my current personal Bandon “Eclectic 18″ list looks like.

First Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 5, 549 yards)

Starting at the high point of the course and slowly cascading down to the cliffside green, the reveal as the player rounds the dogleg left turn and is smacked in the face with the entirety of the course and the expanse of the Pacific is one of the coolest moments on any Bandon trip.

Easily the best opener on property.

Second Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 3, 189 yards)

This may not be the most popular choice, but to me there’s something that fits my eye about the teeing grounds and greensite of this hole. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Third Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 4, 375 yards)

If choosing a blind line off of the tee in relation to the iconic Ghost Tree isn’t enough to solidify this as the best third hole at Bandon, then looking back up at the tumbling and flowing fairway from the green will. One of my favorite non-ocean views at the resort.

Fourth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 463 yards)

You have the entire United States as the safe miss on the left side, but to have a comfortable second shot the golfer has to flirt with the mighty Pacific on the right. It’s almost inevitable that I lose at least one ball over the cliff every time I play this hole, but I can’t help but crack a smile while watching it sail into the ocean.

Fifth Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 4, 428 yards)

Almost shaped like a bottle, the mounding in the middle of the fairway and the Pacific on the left side of the hole make for an exciting tee shot while the long and skinny green recessed into a small amphitheater of dunes requires a precise second. There’s no other hole like it on property.

Sixth Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 4, 460 yards)

Speaking of exciting tee shots, there’s no avoiding the ocean on this one. Bite off as much as you can chew and you’ll still have a pretty severe uphill tee shot to the fairly large and receptive green. Simply epic all the way up.

Seventh Hole – Old MacDonald (Par 4, 363 yards)

In any sort of wind, this hole is a brute.

While the tee shot is less about distance and more about placement, the second shot is one of the most uphill second shots at Bandon.

It typically plays into at least a slight breeze coming off of the ocean and anything short will roll back to your feet, into a bunker, or into thick gorse — trust me, I’ve experienced all three fates. Once up at the green, you’re rewarded with a hell of a view and one of the best-located turn stands in golf.

Eighth Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 3, 181 yards)

Coming directly back down the hill you just played up on the Seventh, this long par three plays to an oblong Biarritz-style green, making for putts and chips that are just as fun as the tee shot. Play this hole while taking sips of Guinness or bites of a hot dog (or both) for best results.

Ninth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 406 yards)

One of the unique things about Pacific Dunes is that depending on the day, the 9th and 10th
holes can play completely differently, with the former having two separate greens (Upper and
Lower) and the latter having two separate teeing grounds (also Upper and Lower).

While I prefer the “Lower” green site, the “Upper” version is still better than the other ninth holes on property (and sets up for the better version of the 10th).

Tenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 418 yards)

Another choice that may not be so popular, this hole gives off distinct Pine Valley vibes… never a bad thing. (Another beer is waiting after walking off of this green, too… also never a bad
thing.)

Eleventh Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 3, 148 yards)

My favorite hole on property, I think the 11th at Pacific Dunes embodies the Bandon experience perfectly. It’s rugged, yet picturesque — daunting, but playable.

I’ll likely never not ask for my picture to be taken hitting this tee shot (I have a near-perfect record of that so far…something that can’t be said for me hitting the green).

Twelfth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 5, 529 yards)

Okay, my Pacific Dunes bias is starting to show. Running parallel to the Fourth, the meeting
point of the Fourth and Thirteenth tees with the Twelfth and Third greens (and the accompanying turn stand) is one of my favorite spots on property.

Thirteenth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 444 yards)

You saw it coming. Just a badass, straight uphill par four framed by the Pacific to the left and
massive dunes on the right with nowhere to hide. A truly sick golf hole in every sense of the
word (especially if it’s playing into the wind).

Fourteenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 325 yards)

Probably the most polarizing hole on property… and one which I happen to love.

We have a tradition of playing this as a “zen hole”, meaning that once our group has holed out on the thirteenth, no one can say a word until we hole out on the fourteenth (something that was suggested by a caddie one year — one who maybe got tired of hearing the moaning the groaning that tends to occur on this hole).

The view from behind the tee box is among the most scenic on property and is also where Mike Keiser decided that this plot of land was the place to build his golf mecca — definitely a good spot to take it all in and enjoy the silence.

Fifteenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 406 yards)

This hole flies way under most people’s radars, but I think it’s one of the most charming at Bandon and is almost seemingly something you would find at the venerable heathland courses of England.

Due to a pair of centerline bunkers, the tee shot requires some thought on which line to take and also which club to hit. The second shot into a large two-tiered green nestled sublimely into a tree-lined hillside is one of my favorites in the world (assuming I avoided the bunkers off the tee).

Sixteenth Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 4, 363 yards)

In short, one of the most epic short par fours in golf and easily the best hole at Bandon Dunes proper.

With a chasm to clear off the tee and a two-tiered fairway to navigate, the tiny green seems like it’s miles away and almost dripping off the cliff into the Pacific, but in actuality, it’s just over 300 yards to the front edge for most. I’ve never seen another hole like it and I can’t wait to play it again.

Seventeenth Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 4, 326 yards)

Almost an opposite hole to the Sixth at Sheep Ranch, the first time we played this hole was from the back of 16th green, dead over the cliffside and into a substantial breeze.

I’m not sure that exact tee box is in play anymore, but even with the hole playing a little straighter, it’s still nestled right up to the cliffs with picturesque ghost trees standing guard along the edge.

Eighteenth Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 4, 469 yards)

A common knock on Bandon as a whole (especially prior to the addition of Sheep Ranch) was that the openers and closers to each course weren’t particularly strong.

The punchbowl-esque green alone gives the eighteenth at Old Mac the nod in my book, and the recent addition of the Ghost Tree Grill and deck behind it makes it even more fun to watch balls bound up and curl
(hopefully) towards the pin.

Ian’s Bandon Eclectic 18

• Par 71: 13 Par Fours, Three Par Threes, Two Par Fives
• Out: 3,414 yards
• In: 3,428 yards
• Total: 6,842 yards

What does your list look like? Where am I wrong? Always happy to debate in the comments,
on Twitter/X, or over a beer at McKee’s (it goes without saying the latter is always preferred…)

Cheers!