![]() Old MacDonald, aka “Old Mac,” is the most challenging course, in my opinion. The way the fairway and green is framed among the pine trees off the tee is breathtaking. Number 9 was my favorite hole on the course. ![]() The course starts out along the coast, ventures inland through the hills and pines, and then returns toward the coast for the finish. Of all the courses, Bandon Trails is the least links style of the group. There are so many signature style holes at Bandon, although I really enjoyed the finish from 14 on in. Both Bandon and Pacific Dunes are true classics, every bit as good as the iconic courses along the Monterey Peninsula. I could have easily put Bandon Dunes in the top spot as it is very similar in style to Pacific Dunes. There are so many great holes, but my favorites were numbers 4 and 13 that are cut right along the coastline. It does a great job using the form of the land and natural beauty of the coast to create a fair, fun, and challenging layout. My personal favorite of the bunch was Pacific Dunes. There’s a simple reason why all five appear in the top 20 of the top 100 public golf courses in America (as rated by Golf Digest). Before I do, I want to be clear that ALL the courses are great. I’m going to take a shot at ranking the five 18-hole courses, purely based on my opinion. The only things missing at the Punchbowl are rubber mallet putters, colored golf balls, and a giant windmill. It’s where you gather with the group after a round or before dinner, have a drink or two, and let the games begin. In other words, it’s not an area to take yourself or your putting game too seriously. Fortunately, to make the experience more enjoyable, they serve cocktails out of a trailer adjacent to the putting green. The holes are cut on top of hills and ridges protected by mounds and severe slopes. ![]() The Punchbowl is a putting green containing two 18 hole layouts. What is the Punchbowl? Well, I’m glad you asked. On the other 3 days, after we finished our rounds, we either played one of the par 3’s, spent time at the practice facility tuning our swing and working on our game, or played 36 holes at The Punchbowl. We were there for four days and played 18 holes each day, including 36 on our first day. Outside of hiking, there isn’t much else to do. For example, you don’t have to be a golfer to enjoy the Monterey Peninsula. The distinction is that a destination resort has something to do for everyone, even those who don’t golf. All About Golfīandon Dunes is not a destination resort, it is a golf resort. It’s a great place to work on the short game or enjoy a round with less experienced players. Shorty’s, on the other hand, is a 9-hole course adjacent to the practice facility that is a traditional par 3 course – straight holes, wide fairways, and moderately sized greens. Bandon Preserve is a challenging 13-hole tract cut into the hillside and natural areas overlooking the Pacific Ocean. In addition to the 18-hole courses, there are two Par 3’s on the property. It feels more like a nature hike where you occasionally swing an angled club and chase a small white ball into a round hole four-and-one-quarter inches in diameter. Surrounded by such immense natural beauty, it’s easy to forget that you are actually supposed to be golfing. The courses are walking only, so you won’t see any electric golf carts, tire tracks in the fairway, or cart paths lining the course. There are no houses or housing developments bordering the holes. Each course does a great job incorporating and making use of the coastline and natural land features in their layouts. Each one is unique and challenging in its own right, and they all have incredible vistas of the Southwestern Oregon coastline and surrounding hills. Regardless of where the quote originated, I’m here to tell you that whoever penned that saying has never golfed at Bandon Dunes.īandon Dunes has five championship caliber 18-hole golf courses on the property. Golf has often been described as “a good walk spoiled,” which many attribute to Mark Twain. Wait, let me rephrase that – Bandon Dunes is a place you MUST go. However, I’m going to give it my best shot and will tell you in advance – if you are a golfer and have a true passion, love, and appreciation for the game, it’s a place you have to go. Words cannot adequately describe the experience, nor will I do it justice in this post. Having just returned from Bandon Dunes, I can finally understand and appreciate his fascination with the resort. Exasperated, he finally gave up trying to describe it and said, ” You have to go. While he struggled to find the right words, he used a lot of superlatives. ![]() I told him that I had heard of the place but didn’t know much about it. A few years ago, a good friend asked if I had golfed at Bandon Dunes.
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