Bandon Dunes Golf Course

In our review a few weeks ago of Old Mac, we referred to Bandon Dunes as a “Stiff upper lipped dad” kind of golf course, when comparing it to its other family members. It’s clear we wrote that review the morning before before we played Bandon Dunes for what would be the fourth time, and honestly we don’t think we could have been more wrong. This is the golf course that started it all, if you think about the accomplishments at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (4, soon to be 5 public golf courses in the top 20 public golf courses according to Golf Digest, then Bandon Dunes deserves some serious street cred, if for no other reason, it’s O.G. full on original gangster. And there is a reason for it. This is where it all began, this is where “golf as it was meant to be played” started. To say it another way, this golf course would make the perfect protagonist in an Ayn Rand novel, because without this Atlas’s shoulders for the other courses to stand on, the Bandon experiment would never blossomed the way it has. 

Bandon Dunes Golf Course opened in May of 1999 and was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd with the sole purpose of bringing a true Scottish links golf course to the western shores of the USA, and it does a masterful job at the task. This golf course is the first in a series that is a modern interpretation of an ancient Scottish Links style golf course. As such, the biggest influence on how Bandon Dunes will play will be the wind and the weather. This course can go from kitten to rabid lion in about 20 minutes if the prevailing winds kick up. The gorse may look far off into the distance but with a strong gust of wind your ball can move toward it quickly. 

The gorse is really nasty stuff, stay away from it. We don’t mean that in the golfing sense, we mean that in the literal sense. Your caddies may regale you with stories of people sticking their hands into it and getting jabbed by the very nasty thorns. In fact, the first time we played at Bandon the caddie told us a legend that someone once fell off a cliff into a gorse bush and lost an arm. However, subsequent caddies have indicated that might just be a story to keep golfers away from cliff edges and gorse, wise moves nonetheless.   

When you tee off on Bandon and (even if you have never played it before), it feels like an old friend. If there is no wind, it’s a relatively straight forward shot to the crook of the dogleg and that sets you up for your first vista of a large green complex that will give you an idea of what you are going to be up against for the rest of the day. You can see the ocean off in the distance to your left, but it’s a distant feature that teases you with a foreshadow of your march to the sea. 

Like a small fishing boat that’s slowly puttering through the harbor to the breakwater, you will move through these first few holes getting a feel for this old friend. Hole number 2 is a recently re-imagined par 3 with a very dramatic carry and a great green complex. Hole number 3 will turn you out towards the ocean, and now you are making headway to the impending journey. Hole number 4 is a sublime dogleg right par 4. The smart shot is a layup to the corner, but the bolder players can make a risk reward decision and cut some corner to try to make a smaller number, (weather permitting of course). If you make the smart play you will be rewarded with a dramatic vista when you arrive at your ball, turn right, and see the first of many green complexes with a dramatic ocean view behind. You’re  proverbial fishing boat now past the breakwater and the joyride is about to begin in earnest. Make a good shot here, and you will take that exhilaration on your journey. 

Hole number 5 starts a series of ocean holes that will be the heart of your front 9 experience with dramatic views of the ocean and fantastical golf holes. On number 6 green be sure to take a look at the adjacent golf course with the yellow flags, that’s Pacific Dunes, and if you have not played it yet on your trip take a really good look. Now you turn back toward the clubhouse. Be sure to grab refreshments at the turn, as this is your only way point. 

The back 9 on this golf course is where the real joy ride begins. This time instead of meandering away from the ocean you start your full charge towards it. Straight out towards it on a par 4 hole 10 that can play anywhere from 200 to 900 yards depending on the prevailing winds. When you get to hole number 12 get your camera ready. A devastatingly beautiful par 3 straight out to a large green hanging out over the ocean. Take aim at the pin at your peril, the wind will likely be sideways. Don’t forget to get a photo of your crew on this green complex. By hole number 13 you are approaching the pinnacle of this journey, the waves are starting to crash over the bow of your fishing boat and as long as you don’t get seasick just sit tight and enjoy the ride. From 13 green it will be imperative for you to look back and see the masterpiece that is this fairway, a veritable bouncy house of a fairway that would be a hit at any 7 year olds birthday party. 

Hole number 14 is another par 4 that can play any number of distances, but for the long ball hitters that want to cut the corner it might be tempting to go for the green. But it’s a blind shot. For us, hole number 16 is the star of the show. A shortish par 4 with carry over a ravine to a green that is cantilevered out over the ocean. Soak this up as you are coming to the end of your journey, and be sure to get another picture on this tee box or green. Also, if you have a long ball hitter in the group and the wind is at your back, have them hang one out over the beach to see if they can make the green. 

Now you’re headed back to port; 17 and 18 and also fantastic golf holes that do the duty of getting you back to the clubhouse. As you are coming in from your joy ride, be sure to look over to the right at the 13 hole par 3 course The Preserve and Bandon Trails in the distance beyond the ravine. 

When you are done with your round be sure to grab yourself a souvenir of your journey in the golf shop for Bandon Dunes which is adjacent to the lodge. Note the gift shop in the lodge is just that, a gift shop, the freestanding building is the correct and proper golf shop for Bandon Dunes. 

It’s just that Bandon and Pacific Dunes are literally adjacent to one another that you wind up making comparisons of the 2, and Pacific seems to always win in the end…. But the simple fact is that we think that looking at Bandon Dunes through the shadow of Pacific Dunes is actually the wrong way to look at it. Bandon Dunes is a world class, bucket list, golf course, and frankly for many resort golfers, it will be the one that is more enjoyable to play as it is just a little bit more forgiving, and who does not feel great after posting a number they are proud of. And, hey, what would a trip to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort be without experiencing the golf course that started the legend?

Best Buddies Golf Trip Rankings

• Bucket list rank (from 1 to 5 buckets): 5 buckets 
• Caddies: 9
• Location: 9
• Spectacle/ visual: 9
• History: 7
• New/ancient: modern
• Playability : 7
• Memorability : 8
• Buddy-a-bility : 10
• Service/etc: 10
• Value: 6
• Shopping: 10
• Warm up facilities/Range: 10
• Food & Drink: 9