[Jon Cavalier]

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
Bandon, Oregon

10th at Pacific Dunes


Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is an amazing place.  Arguably the finest public golf facility in the world, the resort now boasts four full 18 hole courses designed by the finest golf course architects working today:
Bandon Dunes - by David McLay Kidd
Pacific Dunes - by Tom Doak
Bandon Trails - by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Old Macdonald - by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina

7th at Old Macdonald - "Ocean"


Further separating Bandon from other U.S. golf resorts are its 13 hole par-3 course, dubbed The Preserve (likewise designed by Coore/Crenshaw) and its one-of-a-kind putting course, The Punchbowl, designed by Tom Doak.  To my knowledge, no other U.S. resort outside of Pinehurst comes close to matching the number, quality and variety of golf options provided by Bandon Dunes.

13th at Pacific Dunes


At the invite of GCAer Joel Lahrman, I recently spent a short time in Bandon during a wonderful stretch of March weather.  The gorse was in full bloom, sprinkling the wide views with bursts of yellow.  The courses were in perfect shape after a mild winter.  And there was no place on earth I would have rather been.

4th at Pacific Dunes


There is certainly no shortage of photographs of the golf courses at Bandon Dunes floating around the internet. With that said, the purpose of this Omnibus Photo Tour is five-fold:

1. To provide GCA and its readers with a comprehensive, cohesive and clear photographic record of these architecturally important golf courses;
2. To provide a centralized place for GCA discussion of the many standout architectural features of these golf courses;
3. To provide an avenue for those who have been to Bandon and who may lack their own photographic memorials of their trip to reminisce;
4. To provide those who have yet to go to Bandon (or who cannot/will not get to Bandon) an in-depth visual tour of the resort's courses;
5. To provide the group, and particularly those of us who live in the northeastern U.S., with a bit of eye candy (golf porn) as winter torments us with its final death rattles.

16th at Old Macdonald - "Alps"


With this initial post, I have included the full tour of Pacific Dunes (my favorite of the Bandon courses).  In the coming days, I will add photo tours of Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, Bandon Dunes, the Preserve and the Punchbowl in the designated spots below.  My goal is to have the full tour up by the end of the week.

16th at Pacific Dunes


Before we get to the individual courses, a quick note about the resort itself, which is first class in every respect.  The lodging is outstanding and provides options for groups of all sizes, the restaurants are varied and uniformly excellent, and the pro shops (each course has its own clubhouse and shop) are well stocked.  But most noteworthy of all, the people working at Bandon Dunes are some of the happiest, friendliest and most welcoming people that I have ever encountered in my golfing travels.  The Bandon staff add considerably to the overall experience at the resort -- I had built up great expectations for Bandon, and the resort surpassed them in every respect.

5th at Bandon Trails


I hope you enjoy these tours as much as I enjoyed taking these photos.  Thanks for viewing.

18th at Old Macdonald - "Punchbowl"

[Jon Cavalier]

Pacific Dunes
Architect: Tom Doak
Opened for Play: 2001


Pacific Dunes opened in 2001 and immediately skyrocketed up the rankings lists.  It currently holds the title of best overall public course per Golf Magazine, second only to Pebble Beach per Golf Digest, and is considered by Golfweek Magazine to be the best public course built since 1960 (trailing only Sand Hills overall). 



Pacific Dunes occupies the northernmost section of the coastal property at Bandon.  Several of its holes sit hard against the cliffs overlooking the beach.  Most of the holes that sit further inland still provide ocean views.  And as with all the courses at Bandon, the isolation of the property is striking -- there are no houses in view, no roads to be seen, and other than the clubhouse and the course itself, not an inkling of anything man-made to distract from the golf.



In short, Pacific Dunes is simply stunning -- it is one of the most beautiful places to play golf that I have ever seen.  But beyond its sheer beauty, it is also an extremely well designed and very enjoyable golf course.  As with most Doak courses, Pacific Dunes feels very natural -- the course meanders its way through dunes and gorse, making its way out to the ocean and the bluffs and back inland.  The course looks and feels like it was simply laid down over the wonderful existing terrain.



Pacific Dunes
Hole 1 - 304 yards (all yardages taken from the green tees) - Par 4
Pacific Dunes opens with a short two-shotter to an inviting cupped fairway.  A large sandy mound sits waiting to the right to intimidate slicers of the golf ball, but any reasonably struck tee shot should leave only a wedge into the first green.


The first green sits slightly below grade and is protected by mounds in front and sandy areas and bunkering to the sides and rear.  While most players will have a short shot into this green, the putting surface is small and significantly sloped, and approaches will often be played from an unlevel lie.


As is frequently the case at Bandon, approach shots can be played via the ground -- here at the first, the fairway slopes down and bleeds seamlessly into the green.



Hole 2 - 335 yards - Par 4
The ocean first comes into view on the par 4 second at Pacific Dunes.  This is a great strategic driving hole - the wider, safer tee shot is up the right side, but this leaves a more difficult angle into the green over a dune and some bunkering.  Tee shots that successfully take on the left and middle bunkers will have an open approach to the green.


This view from the right of the fairway shows the dune and bunker that must be carried on an approach from this side.


The second green, with the elevated 6th green behind.


This reverse view shows the undulation of the second, as well as the expansive apron surrounding the green.  As with many Doak courses, interesting pin positions are prevalent.



Hole 3 - 476 yards - Par 5
Standing on the third tee at Pacific Dunes is where the beauty of the course really starts to hit the player, and threatens to overwhelm.  The ocean comes into full view to the player's left, with the dunescape ahead and and parts of Old Macdonald to the right.  A spectacular hole, made more so by the flowering gorse.


A wide par 5 with many possible routes off the tee, the third is pocked with pot bunkers throughout its length.  As this is not a par 5 of extreme length, the smart play is to focus on missing the bunkers off the tee and, if laying up, on the second.


This view from a centerline bunker shows the elevated green, perched perfectly between two large dunes. 


The approach is open to the left of the green, but very closed from the right.


Anything long of this green is in trouble, as it will end up deep in a back bunker, buried in long rough on a mound or, if unlucky, rolling a dozen yards or so down the slope behind the green.  A rather intimidating hole for a short par 5 . . .


. . . and yet, so pretty.  What a green site!



Hole 4 - 449 yards - Par 4
A long par 4 which often plays downwind, the fourth is one of several holes which could vie for the title of "signature" at Pacific Dunes.  The safe play is up the left, but the fairway bunkering must be avoided.  The cliffs eat into the fairway not once . . .


. . . but twice on this gorgeous par 4.  The closer one plays to the cliffs, the better the angle into the green.


The cant of the green from left to right allows for approaches to use the terrain, but balls moving left to right and riding the prevailing wind carry a real risk of running through the green and into oblivion.


The internal contours within the fourth green make two putting after an indifferent approach quite challenging.


A gorgeous hole.



Hole 5 - 181 yards - Par 3
The first of five one-shotter holes at Pacific Dunes, but the only par-3 on the front nine, the fifth hole has elements of a reverse redan, as shots up the left side will kick onto the putting surface.  But the green is multi-tiered and only front pins can be accessed in that manner. 


Though the fifth is the second longest par 3 on the course, the prevailing wind is generally helping on this hole, which shortens it considerably.


The green is deep but relatively narrow.  Again, a beautiful site for a green complex.  The sixth hole at Bandon Dunes is in the background.



Hole 6 - 288 yards - Par 4
A brilliant short par 4, this sub-300 yarder has teeth for the unthinking golfer.  The fairway is massive - nearly 90 yards wide at its maximum.  Anything from 40 yards left of the pin to 20 yards right and long of the right fairway bunker is in play.


Anything left will have a blind shot over the massive front left bunker to the shallowest part of the green.


The best play off the tee is to challenge the right side bunker and leave an approach from as far to the right as reasonably possible.  From this angle, the player's approach is down the heart of the shallow green.


Any approach shot or chip that reaches the darker grass at the bottom of this photo will continue to roll some 20 yards down and away from the green, leaving an extremely difficult chip back up the hill to the narrow green.


Anything from a birdie to a triple bogey is reasonably in play.



Hole 7 - 436 yards - Par 4
A long but typically downwind par 4, the seventh hole plays to a generous fairway.


The challenge at 7 comes from the long shot into the green.  Ringed by areas of rough, natural grass, mounds and bunkers, this approach demands precision.


Playing down the left side into the green shortens the carry over the natural areas and bunkering, but the mounding can send even well aimed approaches offline.


The seventh is the opposite of the sixth in many ways, including the green, which is one of the largest and most contoured on the course.



Hole 8 - 369 yards - Par 4
The eighth runs in the opposite direction of the seventh and is typically upwind.  Once again, the golfer has the luxury of hitting to a wide fairway, but once again, finding the proper angle of approach is critical to scoring well on this hole.


A small, deep bunker guards the front of this green, and depending on the day's pin, the approach may be more favorable from the left or the right.  Today's pin is virtually impossible to attack from the right side of the fairway.


The shallow green slopes significantly from high right to low left.


One of the more difficult greens at Pacific Dunes to chip to or putt from distance on.



Hole 9 - 379 yards - Par 4
The ninth plays to one of two different greens - the upper (right) or lower (left).  Though the fairway is extremely wide, the player's aim might differ by as much as 50 yards depending on the green to which he is playing.  Longer hitters playing to the lower left green can challenge the bunkering.


Though the ninth plays to identical yardages regardless of which green is in play, the lower left green plays much shorter.


The approach to the beautiful lower green, with Bandon Dunes in the background. 


The undulating ninth fairway bleeds directly into the contoured lower ninth green, allowing for low, running shots to be played.


The approach to the skylined upper green.


Interestingly, the green to which the golfer plays on the ninth also dictates the tee from which the golfer plays the tenth.  Golfers will likely debate which is the "better" of the two greens and corresponding tees (I preferred the lower ninth green but the upper tenth tee), each route is exceptionally fun.

[Jon Cavalier]

Hole 10 - 163 yards - Par 3
Spectacular.  As this view from the upper tee illustrates, the tenth at Pacific Dunes is unquestionably one of the most beautiful one shot holes in the country . . .


. . . though the view from the lower tee is none too shabby.


In addition to the setting and the large dune to the right of the green, two standout unique features at the tenth green bear mentioning.  The first is the large internal knob in the front left quadrant of the green, which provides for several outstanding pin positions and adds a required degree of precision to the approach.  The second is the beautiful left side bunker -- part of which is an "inverted" mound of sand -- which resembles a crashing wave.


This view from behind the tenth green shows the placement of the prominent knob within the green.



Hole 11 - 131 yards - Par 3
The second of two consecutive par three holes to open the back nine, the short eleventh plays hard up against the cliffs to a small, well-bunkered green.


A large mound in the right rear of the green provides a backstop that will return balls to the middle of the green. 


Beautiful.



Hole 12 - 507 yards - Par 5
The twelfth plays northward between the third and fourth holes, and back toward the large dunes that housed the third green.  Like the third hole, this three shotter places a premium on the angle of approach -- right is favored.


The wide fairway rolls beautifully into the twelfth green, which sits flush against a large dune.


Any approach coming in from the left side of the fairway must deal with the large slope fronting the left side of the green, which can easily kick balls to the back of and through the green.


The view back up the twelfth hole.



Hole 13 - 390 yards - Par 4
One of the most beautiful holes on the property, and one of the best, the thirteenth hole plays northward along the cliffs to a slightly elevated green set at the base of a massive dune.


As seen here, the closer the player's tee shot hugs the cliffs, the better the angle of approach to the elevated green.  Note that shots falling short will roll back down the false front some 20-30 feet.


This view up the right shows the more difficult angle of approach.


The green itself, while large, provides little respite, as its internal contours make two putting a challenge.


An incomparable setting for golf.



Hole 14 - 128 yards - Par 3
The shortest hole on the course, the fourteenth is entirely exposed to the full brunt of the wind. 


Sitting on top of the dunes, the fourteenth green falls away on all sides, making a small green play even smaller and requiring a difficult chip shot after an errant approach.


The reverse view of the fourteenth, with the tee and the thirteenth green behind.



JHole 15 - 504 yards - Par 5
With the prevailing wind behind, this green can be reached in two with two solid shots by most golfers. 


Care should be taken to avoid the fairway bunkers, which are penal.


As does the tenth hole, the fifteenth incorporates a large knob into the green, this time front right.  A unique and fun feature found twice at Pacific Dunes.



Hole 16 - 338 yards - Par 4
One of your author's favorite inland holes at Bandon Dunes, the sixteenth is a short two-shot hole which doglegs gently right.


An overly aggressive tee shot that attempt to challenge too much of the dogleg will find itself far below the green to the right.  Likewise, any shot missing the green short or right will run down to the bottom of the steep greenside slope.


The one-of-a-kind sixteenth fairway. Incredible. Good luck finding a level lie in there.


A beautiful short par 4 by the modern master.



Hole 17 - 189 yards - Par 3
The longest one-shot hole at Pacific Dunes, the seventeenth has many elements of a traditional redan (though it lacks the rear bunkering).  The hole plays out over a large chasm and to a green benched into a gorse-covered hill.  With the gorse in full bloom, the beauty of the seventeenth rivals even the seaside par 3s at Pacific Dunes.


The proper play is to aim short right of the green and use the kick slope to bounce the ball on to the large putting surface.  Note that shots taking the direct line at the pin must contend not only with the extremely deep front bunkering, but also risk rolling through the green and into the gorse.



Hole 18 - 575 yards - Par 5
Following the longest par 3 on the course comes the longest hole on the course.  The tee shot plays through a valley up to a rise next to a deep left fairway bunker.


The long final hole provides plenty of opportunity to get into trouble, but also ample room to maneuver the ball with well-struck shots.  The fairway is wide, but the bunkers are brutal if found.


As the player gets closer to the green, the fairway begins to cant more severely, placing an added challenge on the golfer's short approach.


The beautiful and challenging final green at Pacific Dunes.


A look back at the player's final triumph.



Pacific Dunes is a striking example of what modern golf can be.  Granted, it has its advantages, which include an incomparable setting and a top-shelf architect.  But the principles to be gleaned from Pacific Dunes can be used at other courses.  Wide fairways.  No trees.  No internal water hazards.  Short rough.  An emphasis on angles of play.  Fun greens running at reasonable speed.  Firm and fast conditions.  Together, these things make a round of golf fun.

The Patio at Pacific Dunes, overlooking the Punchbowl - a perfect place to reflect on a round


I hope you enjoyed the tour of Pacific Dunes.  Next up - Old Macdonald.

[Jon Cavalier]

Old Macdonald
Architects: Tom Doak and Jim Urbina
Opened for play: 2010


Old Macdonald is the most recently opened course at Bandon Dunes, but it is already considered by many to be the best.  The course is intended as an homage to the architectural principles of Charles Blair Macdonald.  As such, it is not a replica course, but rather uses the architectural templates of the Macdonald / Raynor / Banks school an adapts them as needed to fit the land, much in the same way that Macdonald himself (and later Raynor and Banks) did.



As stated in the yardage guide, "The goal has been not to copy Macdonald's great holes any more than Macdonald would have settled for carbon copies of the Alps and Redan - but to borrow upon his inspiration and method for our own fine piece of links ground.  Those familiar with Macdonald's work will compare and contrast his holes and our own with their forefathers at St. Andrews, Leven, and Littlestone; others will have the chance to experience for the first time these classic concepts which are the very foundation of the game."



Drawing upon their extensive experience in restoring the classic work of Macdonald and Raynor, Doak and Urbina set about building a course that would allow players to experience this classic golden age style of design while independently providing a fun and engaging golf experience.  The result is an absolute triumph. 



As a devout Macdonald/Raynor fan, I loved Old Macdonald.  It was a thrill playing the modern adaptations of the Macdonald templates in such an incredible setting.  But I also played a round with three people who had never heard of C.B. Macdonald, and two proclaimed Old Macdonald their favorite course at Bandon.



At over 250,000 square feet, the greens at Old Macdonald are by far the largest in the United States.  Coupled with the firm conditions and tight fairways, Old Macdonald allows for use of the ground game like few courses this side of the Atlantic.  The golf course is a blast to play, and is proof positive that the classic principles of design are more than adequate to provide an engaging experience when adapted to modern standards.

Old Macdonald
Old Macdonald occupies the northernmost part of the property at Bandon.  Its clubhouse is about 5 minutes by shuttle from the main resort. 


Hole 1 - 304 yards - Par 4 - "Double Plateau"
No hiding the ball at Old Macdonald - the player sees just what he's in for right from the start: namely, super-wide fairways and massive greens.  The course begins inland of a massive line of gorse-covered dunes, which obscure the majority of the course (which sits to the west).


Old Macdonald begins with a favorite template of many C.B. Macdonald fans -- the double plateau.  Fortunately, the pin on this huge green is visible from the tee, allowing the player to pick the preferred angle of approach.  The middle fairway bunkers are in play for mid- to long-hitters.


The elevation changes in the faithfully recreated double plateau green are dramatic.  A principal's nose bunker guards the front left of the green.  Another bunker catches balls that run through the valley in the green.


A fun opener, and a great hole to set the tone for the round.



Hole 2 - 162 yards - Par 3 - "Eden"
The largest Eden green I've ever seen, and a beautiful par-3 in its own right, the third is guarded on the left by a rough bunker and in the middle-right by the deep, revetted Strath bunker that plays much larger than its actual footprint.


This bunker collects balls from far and wide.  The contouring and elevation change in this massive green is tremendous.


Eden indeed.



Hole 3 - 345 yards - Par 4 - "Sahara"
One of your author's favorite holes at Bandon, the third offers a unique and compelling take on the Sahara template.  The third calls for a completely blind tee shot over the sand dune to the wide fairway shared by the third and fourteenth holes.  Anything from a ball to the left of the cedar to the right side of the exposed sand is playable.


The old Port Orford Cedar stands sentry at the top of the bluff, and lords over most of the round at Bandon.  The tree is visible from nearly the entire course.


Once the player crests the dune, the huge expanse of Old Macdonald is revealed.  Parts of every hole on the golf course are visible from this spot.


Good drives on the proper line will catch the slope of this heavily contoured and sloped fairway and may tumble down to within putting distance.


It can be difficult to tell where the huge greens start and the fairway stops.


A look back up the incomparable third fairway. 



Hole 5 - 472 yards - Par 5 - "Hog's Back"
So nice to see a well-executed version of the Hog's Back template.  Here, a drive that remains on top of the centerline ridge will kick forward for more distance, while tee shots to the side will tumble down into the valleys, leaving a blind shot from an often crooked lie.


While the fairway is wide as a whole, the hog's back itself is fairly narrow.  But hitting it provides a valuable benefit on this long par 4 hole.


A nasty center bunker waits in the middle of the fairway some 50 yards short of the green . . .


. . . while a catch basin waits to collect approaches left short of the putting surface.


A superb half-par hole.



Hole 5 - 134 yards - Par 3 - "Short"
The shortest hole at Old Macdonald, and one of the largest greens you'll ever see.  Look at all those potential pin placements!


This mammoth green has a bit of curl to it as well.


This is probably the easiest pin on this green, and one of the only flattish spots on which to putt. A lovely rendition of the short template.



Hole 6 - 520 yards - Par 5 - "Long"
The longest hole on the course follows the shortest.  Playing directly into the prevailing summer wind, the sixth forces the golfer to decide whether to take on Hell Bunker with their second shot.


Hell Bunker dominates the second shot and obscures the view of the green from most parts of the fairway. 


The bunker is aptly named - your author speaks from experience.


The sixth traverses some of the least interesting land on the property, and it is a credit to Doak and Urbina that the result is one of the most interesting holes on the course.  A large knob guarding the green front right makes the approach from the right side blind and redirects shots left short in all directions.


This large bunker center rear catches any approach that runs through the front-to-rear sloping green.  It is not an ideal place to be -- again, your author speaks from experience.  Twice.


Like the fifth, the sixth green is a masterwork.



Hole 7 - 345 yards - Par 4 - "Ocean"
The seventh is one of the few holes at Old Macdonald not based on a Macdonald template, and it is also one of the best holes on the property.  The drive out into a wide, rippling fairway is all about positioning (and avoiding the deep fairway bunker to the left of the large hill on which the green sits). 


The size and steepness of this dune is difficult to grasp in a photo, but the relative size of the flagstick gives an idea of its massive scale.  Any approach left short will tumble all the way back down until it hits a bunker or reaches the bottom of the hill.


Tough pin today.  Though the green is large, it also contains a fair amount of slope.  Chipping to this pin from the back of the green is terrifying.  A tough par.


Until the seventh, the course plays mostly inland away from the ocean.  This aptly named hole gives the golfer his first real taste of the sea.  For a golfer on a first time trip to Bandon and who happens to play Old Macdonald first (as did your author), the feeling of ascending the seventh green at Old Macdonald rivals any in golf.



Sidebar - Tom Doak's Sheep's Ranch
After playing the seventh, if the golfer looks upshore to the north, a beautiful view of Tom Doak's mysterious Sheep's Ranch is provided (along with a view of a hell of a lot of gorse). 



Hole 8 - 170 yards - Par 3 - "Biarritz"
There remain several great Biarritz holes in the country - the ninth at Piping Rock, the ninth at Yale and the fifth at Fishers Island are a few of the best.  In your author's opinion, the eighth at Old Macdonald can stand with any of the holes in this group.  It is an exceptional example of the Biarritz template. 


The front portion of this large Biarritz green is sloped toward the swale, to encourage shots that run down and through the trough.


The wide channel bisecting the eighth green.


Shorter hitters can use the back of the knob front left of the green for extra forward kick.  A wonderfully fun hole to play.

[Jon Cavalier]

Hole 9 - 352 yards - Par 4 - "Cape"
The ninth turns back in a southerly direction and begins a sequence of holes that plays back and forth across the open area of the property.  The ninth curves gently right around some rugged bunkers and gorse bushes.


These bunkers are nasty.  In fact, missing the fairway right at the ninth is one of the few places on Old Macdonald where a golfer can lose a ball.


Playing out to the left leaves a longer approach but a better angle up the open mouth of this green.


The contours within the ninth green provide a challenge as well as an aid in directing greenside shots and putts toward or away from the intended target.



Hole 10 - 440 yards - Par 4 - "Bottle"
The tenth plays to one of the widest fairways on the golf course, but the large fairway is dotted with four penal bunkers that run from short left to long right.  Care must be taken to challenge the bunker suitable for the individual golfer's abilities.


The bunkers crossing the fairway are deep and high lipped - sometime playing out backward is the only play. 


The difficult ninth green is set atop a small dune, with the surface falling away to the right of the green.  The land allows a running approach up the left side, which will catch a slope and redirect to the center of the green.  But anything short right will bound down the hill and away from the putting surface.


This view from the left side of the ninth green shows the substantial high right to low left of the ninth green.  An overly conservative miss to the left side of this green leaves a treacherous putt.



Hole 11 - 399 yards - Par 4 - "Road"
If ever there was a hole where the position of the tee shot mattered, this is it.  If the pin is right, play right.  If it's left, play left.  Note that the fairway is wider than it appears, as the gorse bushes down the right side come to a halt short of where many players can carry their drives.


This angle, from the right of the fairway, is the ideal position for today's pin.  While the player must still contend with the substantial false front, he is also afforded the widest angle into the green and can play away from deep revetted bunker.


This position, on the other hand, is not ideal.  Note that it is not simply the deep bunker that provides the thrills here, but the brilliantly constructed green. 


A look back down the long eleventh green.



Hole 12 - 205 yards - Par 3 - "Redan"
Playing with the prevailing summer wind, this classic redan green can be difficult to hold even with well struck approach shots.


Running the ball on to this green is possible, and in some cases, preferred.  The redan kick slope impacts balls that land on the green or short of it.


Everyone loves a well designed Redan, and the twelfth at Old Macdonald fits the bill.



Hole 13 - 319 yards - Par 4 - "Leven"
This short par four plays to a green squeezed between two dunes. 


While the safer play is down the bunkerless left side of the fairway . . .


. . . the right provides the better angle into this severely sloping and heavily contoured green.


The large wraparound berm that runs down the left side and around the back of this green provides a backstop that allows the player to bring an approach shot back to the center of the green.


Even approach shots that land halfway up the left dune will bound happily back on to the green.  A fun, exciting hole.



Hole 14 - 297 yards - Par 4 - "Maiden"
A short par four with a gargantuan fairway, the fourteenth plays back up the massive dune that the player initially crossed while playing the third hole.  The player can play as aggressively left or as conservatively right as he chooses.


The inclined fairway is rippled throughout, adding a degree of challenge to what is typically a wedge approach.


The wide, shallow fourteenth green is benched into the side of the massive dune.


The back to front slope and internal contours of the fourteen provide an added element of difficulty on an otherwise short hole.



Hole 15 - 482 yards - Par 5 - "Westward Ho"
The aptly named fifteenth hole turns once more toward the sea.  From a tee high on the face of the dune, the fifteenth falls to the valley below and swings right around a deep sandy scar.


This par 5 is reachable in two for longer hitters. 


But care must be taken to avoid the fairway bunker short and right of the green.


Not where you want to be.


The green is backstopped by the top of the dune which separates the seventh green complex from the fifteenth.


Shots that roll through the green are gathered by this grassy trench, a nifty little feature which illustrates the care that went into designing the greens at Old Macdonald.


A very beautiful and enjoyable hole.



Hole 16 - Par 4 - 433 yards - "Alps"
The sixteenth tee is the northwesternmost point at the Bandon Dunes resort, and begins the sweeping trek homeward. 


The large encroaching dune provides the "Alps" feature here, and renders blind all but the longest tee shots that squeak past it on the right.


The view of the 'Alps" feature from the middle of the fairway.  The directional post on top gives the player a general idea on the center of the green.


The beautifully-sited sixteenth green, nestled between a surrounding ring of dunes, is revealed upon passing the dune.  The green is partially backstopped to contain long approaches.


The view from behind this exceptional hole reveals the short grass behind the alps feature that can assist shorter hitters in reaching this green in two.  While this hole remains controversial to some who are not familiar with the Macdonald's Alps template, it is surely a favorite of those who are.



Hole 17 - 515 yards - Par 5 - "Littlestone"
Playing with the prevailing summer wind, the seventeenth is reachable in two for players willing to challenge the hazard reaching into the right portion of the fairway.  While the fairway does provide ample room, this is one of the more intimidating tee shots on the course.


If these bunkers can be avoided, a good score is likely on this hole.


If not, unlikely.


In your author's opinion, Old Macdonald closes with two of the best greens on the property.  The seventeenth is fronted by a bunker and a slope that will either facilitate a ball to a back pin or kick it past a front pin.  Exposed knobs right, left and behind this green lend their substantial influence to the putting surface.


The view from the back portion of the sizable seventeenth green illustrates the beauty of the setting.



Hole 18 - 426 yards - Par 4 - "Punchbowl"
The final tee shot at Old Macdonald must avoid the fairway bunkers on both sides.  Any tee shot on grass will have a good look at this last green.


And what a green it is.  Ringed with mounding, the eighteenth green slopes several feet from its elevated left side to its lower right.  Long approach shots can be hit into the mouth of this green on the left and run all the way down to today's pin in the bottom right corner of this green.


The view from the right rear of the punchbowl green reveals the tumbling slope of the green.


Having walked right past this green on the way to the first tee, the golfer has been anticipating playing it since the beginning of the round.  The experience more than lives up to billing.



Old Macdonald is the rare course that would be both a thrill to play once and and an enjoyable experience to play every day.  For lovers of classic, golden age architecture, Old Macdonald provides an opportunity to see those principles interpreted and adapted by one of the brightest minds in modern golf architecture.  For those that aren't (admittedly rare in this audience), the course is simply a fun, unique and beautiful place to play golf.  In either regard, Old Macdonald is a resounding success.



I hope you enjoyed the tour of Old Macdonald.  Next up - Bandon Trails.

[Jon Cavalier]

Bandon Dunes . . . coming soon.

[Jon Cavalier]

Bandon Trails
Architects: Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw
Opened for Play: 2005

Among the four full courses at Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails stands out as the most different from the group.  Though the course starts just south of the Bandon Dunes course and plays through dunes for its first two holes, the course quickly leaves the shoreline dunes for the wooded areas in-shore. 



The uniqueness of Bandon Trails among the courses at Bandon Dunes, coupled with the beautiful terrain and the outstanding Coore/Crenshaw design, make this golf course a favorite among many Bandon visitors.  Within our group of 8 players, I believe fully half listed Bandon Trails as their favorite of the Bandon courses.



One notable difference to consider is that Bandon Trails has more elevation change than the other courses at the resort.  It is not a brutal walk by any stretch, but since many players are cramming in 36 or more holes, it bears mentioning that Bandon Trails can make for a more difficult walk at the end of a long day.  The back nine climbs to the fourteenth tee, plunges back into the valley, and then climbs again to the sixteenth green.



Variety is one of the attributes that makes Bandon Dunes so special, and Bandon Trails provides more variety than any other course at the resort.



Bandon Trails
Hole 1 - 356 yards - Par 4
Playing southward through dunes, the first hole plays as a slight dogleg right to an elevated green.


The fairway is wide, but level lies are rare.


The view to the west after ascending the first green is one of the best on the property.


The writhing first fairway, as seen from behind the green.



Hole 2- 166 yards - Par 3
The massive landing area short of this green is largely obscured by the large surrounding dunes.


More room than appears from the tee . . .


...though missing left presents difficulties.


The first of a fantastic set of one shot holes at Trails.



Hole 3 - 532 yards - Par 5
This gorgeous par-5 begins the course's transition from Dunes to hilly woodlands.


The centerline bunkers provide additional challenge and interest for the second shot.


Interestingly, none of the bunkers at the third actually touch the green.


A beautiful setting.



Hole 4 - 363 yards - Par 4
A lovely hole, the fourth plays out to a diagonal ridge bisecting the fairway.


Drives that carry this ridge or play to the left will have a view of the green.  Drives that miss right will leave a blind approach.


Three bunkers wait long right to gobble overly aggressive approaches.


This view from behind the green reveals the scale of the fairway ridgeline.



Hole 5 - 124 yards - Par 3
A beautiful short par 3.  Trees have been removed over the years to open up gorgeous views in this area of the course.


Incorporation of the surrounding features into the greens adds great interest to Bandon Trails. On a different day, this ball may have ended up as a tap-in.


The wonderfully contoured fifth green.



Hole 6 - 359 yards - Par 4
Amazing what a small, well placed bunker can do to an otherwise simple drive.


Playing to the high right of that bunker provides a view of the green but a crooked lie.


Note the seamless transition from wide fairway to green.



Hole 7 - 406 yards - Par 4
A terrific and difficult par 4, the seventh plays up a long and well bunkered fairway to an elevated and sloped green.


The green is open in front, allowing players to work long approaches in along the ground while using the greens contours to get close to the pin.


The huge seventh green slopes significantly from back to front.  Putting back to a pin from the rear of the green is slippery.



Hole 8 - 299 yards - Par 4
After the long par 4 seventh awaits the short par 4 eighth. A fantastic risk/reward hole.


Though this green is reachable for many players, missing comes with a high cost.  Anything left is likely lost.


The entire hole is designed to encourage players to take on the green, perhaps foolishly.



Hole 9 - 522 yards - Par 5
The ninth is a classic par five which provides a bit of a breather for the golfer.


The wide fairway is bunkered, but not oppressively so, and the hole continues to provide width through the green.


Even the green complex is wide, with fairway ringing the putting surface for yards in all directions.


The serene ninth hole.



Hole 10 - 393 yards - Par 4
The tenth presents a very wide fairway, but the closer the player hugs the left. . .


. . .  the better the angle and the shorter the approach.


The large tenth green may lull players into a false sense of security on the approach.



Hole 11 - 429 yards - Par 4
This lengthy par four presents the only internal water hazard at Bandon Dunes.  A rolling dogleg right around a waste area and a greenside pond.


Having played several rounds without so much as thinking about a pond, the impact of the water hazard hugging the left of the green plays large . . .


. . . though it is quite pretty.


While the eleventh is one of the longest two shot holes at Trails, the terrain and the open front of the green allows most players to hit the green in regulation.



Hole 12 - 235 yards - Par 3
One of the longest par 3s on the property, the twelfth gives the player a massive amount of room to miss with the tee shot, particularly to the right . . .


. . . but this large greenside knob makes recovery from misses right very difficult.


From rear, the player sees that short is the best place to miss this large green.



Hole 13 - 374 yards - Par 4
Accuracy is critical for both shots on this rumpled two shot hole.


Left is better off the tee, as it allows the approach to be played up the center of this narrow green, which falls off substantially on both sides.

Approaches missed left will run up to twenty yards down this steep sideslope.


And chipping from the sides of this green is no easy task.



Hole 14 - 306 yards - Par 4
The first thing the player notices on this controversial short par four is the sheer beauty of the view.  The ocean and dunes to the right and rear, mountains in the distance straight ahead, the fourteenth tee is one of the prettiest spots at Bandon Dunes.


Tee shots short right will leave a steeply uphill, blind approach.  The left leaves a better angle.


The green is small and treacherous.  Anything missing right or long will roll forever, and anything left leaves a delicate chip from a small depression to the narrowest part of this green.  2 or 20 - both are in play here.



Hole 15 - 367 yards - Par 4
The ideal line off this tee is at or right of the cross bunker . . .


. . . which will allow an approach up the mouth of the green.


This beautifully bunkered green is one of the prettiest on the course.


In fact, the stretch of holes from 14 to 17 is uniformly gorgeous.



Hole 16 - 494 yards - Par 5
A short par 5 on the card, the sixteenth plays like it's 100 yards longer.  It's into the summer wind, and its drastically uphill.


The slope in this wild fairway is STEEP and can add distance to a tee shot up the right.


The green is well bunkered and contoured, as this view from the left side shows.


The toughest walk at Bandon, but undeniably a standout par 5.



Hole 17 - 159 yards - Par 3
The last of the one shot holes, the seventeenth presents a narrow green with a false front that must be carried.


Distance control is at a premium.


There is not much room to miss here, and no great spot to do so.


Spectators add to the pressure.



Hole 18 - 363 yards - Par 4
The final hole at Trails plays back through the dunes and up to the clubhouse.


The fairway is riddled with mounds and lumps, making level lies rare.


The large final green provides one last challenge.



As noted above, Trails is different from the other three courses at Bandon. As a result, opinions on Trails vary more widely than those of the other courses. Some consider it the best course at Bandon. Others consider it their least favorite among the four.  But there can be little reasonable debate that Bandon Trails is an exceptional golf course in its own right, and that few who play it will place it anywhere but at or near the very top of the resort courses they have played.

The 5th and 17th Holes


I hope you enjoyed the tour of Bandon Trails.

[Jon Cavalier]

Bandon Preserve
13 Hole Par 3 Course by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
Opened for Play: 2012


Bandon Preserve sits on a nook of cliffside dunes between Bandon Trails to the East and Bandon Dunes to the north.  The setting for this little gem is spectacular -- every hole has views of the cliffs and the ocean.  The course itself has everything a golfer could want from 150 yards and in (the longest hole from the back tee measures 147 yards) including shared greens, huge undulations, blind shots, ground game opportunities, and wind.



There isn't much I can tell you about this collection of one-shot holes -- the photos themselves do a better job than I could.  But I will tell you that anyone who misses out on playing the Preserve on a trip to Bandon Dunes is doing themselves a major disservice.  As with the Punchbowl below, the Preserve is one of those elements that makes a trip to Bandon so special.  The uniqueness of a short course in such a beautiful setting; the opportunity to add to long travel day with a quick loop; the fun of plunking down a few wagers with your foursome (or fivesome, or eightsome - closest to the pin, anyone?); or perhaps best of all, a solo walk around these thirteen holes at dusk, with only your wedge, your putter and your thoughts of rounds played and rounds to come.




Hole 1 - 134 yards (back); 90 yards (front)
A player knows right from the start that Coore & Crenshaw treated this thirteen holer with the same love and care that they do each of their full size projects.



Hole 2 - 150 yards (back); 93 yards (front)
The second at Preserve is as good as any par 3 at the resort.


The view from behind the second.



Hole 3 - 87 yards (back); 65 yards (front)
This diminutive par 3 is the second-shortest hole at Preserve.



Hole 4 - 118 yards (back); 83 yards (front)
This gorgeous hole starts a three hole stretch which takes the player down across the property to the edge of the dunes.


The fourth shares its green with the seventh hole, with the putting surface as a large "L" shaped green.  This view is of the long side of the "L" used by the fourth hole.


The full green.



Hole 5 - 142 yards (back); 95 yards (front)
A gorgeous hole.  Putting from the tee is an option here.



Hole 6 - 131 yards (back); 77 yards (front)
The sixth is benched into the side of the dunes bordering the property . . .


. . . and provides some of the best views at Preserve.



Hole 7 - 147 yards (back); 119 yards (front)
The longest hole at Preserve, the seventh can play entirely blind (depending on which section of teeing area the player chooses).


A side view of the seventh green.



Hole 8 - 63 yards (back); 40 yards (front)
The shortest hole at Preserve plays to a tiny punchbowl green.


This hole must see more aces than any other at the Resort.



Hole 9 - 134 yards (back); 88 yards (front)
Perhaps the prettiest hole at Preserve, the ninth plays directly toward the ocean and the endless field of gorse below.


The ninth also boasts one of the most contoured greens at Preserve.



Hole 10 - 120 yards (back); 93 yards (front)
The tenth plays to a green fronted by a large mound which obscures a large section of the putting surface.


The view from the mouth of the tenth.



Hole 11 - 142 yards (back); 95 yards (front)
The eleventh plays along the edge of the property and begins the return to the clubhouse.


The views to the left of the eleventh are breathtaking -- the lone tree near the sixteenth green at Bandon Dunes is center here.



Hole 12 - 132 yards (back); 108 yards (front)
Two framing bunkers short right and short left guard the mouth of the punchbowl-like twelfth green.


As seen in this photo from behind the twelfth green, shots played up the right side will carom on to the large green.



Hole 13 - 109 yards (back); 75 yards (front)
If you've never hit a 100 yard approach to a green with your putter, this is your chance.  All downhill and fronted by a rolling downslope leading to the mouth of the green, a well-struck putt from the tee will leave a birdie opportunity.


Just make sure you avoid the bunkers.


I cannot rave highly enough about the Preserve.  If I lived near it, I would play it every day.  And if you make the trip to Bandon, I strongly urge you to make time to play this little thirteen hole gem, and I promise you you'll regret it if you don't.





The Punchbowl
Putting Course by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina
Opened for Play: 2013


While it may not seem like a significant add-on for a golf resort with four and a half world class golf courses already in place, the Punchbowl will provide some Bandon visitors with their most lasting memories of their trip.  Sitting just outside the Pacific Dunes clubhouse and sharing part of its surface with the course's practice green, the Punchbowl is an ideal place for a group to gather after a long 36 holes to share drinks, grab a bite to eat, and settle the day's lingering bets before dinner.


The course is 100,000 square feet of wild putting.  Unlike some permanent putting courses (Crystal Springs, Seaview) with defined corridors of play, the Punchbowl is an open green, which allows the holes to be set up differently each day.


In a nice touch, Bandon Dunes has made the Punchbowl is free to all resort guests.  The staff at the Pacific Grill will bring food or drink down to those playing.


The Punchbowl even provides its own scorecard, complete with handy "Stymie Measure."


I preferred the Punchbowl to Thistle Dhu at Pinehurst (which is a great putting course in its own right) simply because of the extreme contouring and elevation change within this green.


Useful double drink holders are provided.


A beautiful place to close out a day at Bandon Dunes.


National Golf Links of America
Fishers Island Club
Sleepy Hollow CC
Somerset Hills CC
Eastward Ho
Myopia Hunt Club
Old Town Club
Whippoorwill Club
Ballyhack
Garden City Golf Club

[Benjamin Litman]

Good God, Jon. You've outdone yourself, which I didn't think was possible. I've never been to Bandon, but for a few minutes this afternoon, you made me feel like I was there. Thank you, as always.

[Thomas Dai]

Splendid. Well done. Thanks for sharing. Can't wait to see the '...coming soon' sections.
atb

[Jim Nugent]

Jon the Wizard performs his magic once again.  If his golf game is half as good as his photo tours, you guys better watch out. 

[Jon Cavalier]

Jon the Wizard performs his magic once again.  If his golf game is half as good as his photo tours, you guys better watch out. 

You are entirely safe.

[Greg Taylor]

How does he do it?

There wasn't another person in the pics. It must have been early doors.

[Peter Kelly]

Wow...spectacular report; thanks. I'm headed to Bandon in June for my first trip. After seeing this tour I called and added a day, and two rounds (including a second on PD) to what was a 3 night trip. I wish I was leaving tomorrow.

[Matt Bielawa]

I'm tempted to just go ahead and delete all the pictures from my recent trip there.  My best picture is about 10 times worse than Jon's worst!  Incredible photography Jon.

[jeffwarne]

Those are some amazing photos-wow.

March is a pretty good time for me schedulewise.
How does the weather(on average) in March compare to say October,November, December?
The appeal of March would be the longer days

[JLahrman]

How does he do it?

There wasn't another person in the pics. It must have been early doors.

I played 36 holes with Jon and I still don't know how he does it. He gets himself into all sorts of unique spots on the course to take photos, yet never slows the group down one bit.

Another one of our group said "The best picture I took was of Jon taking a picture!"

[JLahrman]

Those are some amazing photos-wow.

March is a pretty good time for me schedulewise.
How does the weather(on average) in March compare to say October,November, December?
The appeal of March would be the longer days

I've been to Bandon twice, both times in March so I can't really compare to autumn. On both trips the weather was in the low 50s, relatively calm mornings with the wind starting to kick up around 11 AM. On this most recent trip, we had about 10 minutes of rain total in 3 days. More the first time (and a bit of hail), but I was never drenched.

We had the first tee times of the day, and our second tee times were 5 hours afterwards which we made with no trouble - even had time for a quick sit-down lunch. We got back in at about 5 or 5:15. It was light until almost 7:30, which gave us plenty of time to play the Punch Bowl. The true masochists went back out for another 9 holes. It was pretty dark out on the range and putting green while warming up in the morning, that was the only downside (and a minor one at that).

We also had the wind blowing both ways (played Bandon Trails in summer wind on Monday afternoon, went back out for seven holes on Wednesday afternoon and it was blowing the other way).

Combine that with the very reasonable rates (http://bandondunes.com/green-fees2015), and March is the month for me at Bandon.

I'm not one to give praise lightly...but Bandon is just spectacular. You just have to go, at least once. It makes me want to not play golf for a few months when I get back home. The golf around my home just seems like such a step backwards. Because I spent all my golf budget for the year on my trip, and I owe my wife big time for soloing it with our two young kids, I doubt I'll play 10 rounds the rest of the year. It was worth it.

[Benjamin Litman]

As I just mentioned to Jon privately, the principal problem with these pictures is that they've made me spend the last several hours not only looking at them, but seriously contemplating taking off the rest of the week from work to take advantage of (a) what looks like ideal weather in Bandon through Sunday and (b) the pre-April reduced rates that Joel mentioned. I did just file two briefs today, so, apart from what would be a complete lack of advance notice, my employer would have to understand, right? A man can dream, or just keep looking at Jon's pictures.

[Sam Krume]

As someone on the other side of the pond I have always dreamed about playing Bandon. After seeing these photos, I have shown the wife and she has finally succumbed to my pestering and has said "go play Bandon, it looks like you will be a pig in s<>t"

[JLahrman]

You guys know you need to go. You might as well just do it now.

I'm loving the Pac Dunes photos. I've played the course three times, but every time in the morning and in overcast weather. Those have to be afternoon shots that Jon put up, and the sunlight really makes the course look fantastic. I've never seen the course look so good.

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

Like most photos, even ones as good as these, they can't capture the size and elevation of the dunes - especially number 6 and 13.  They are truly massive in person.

I love number 13 even though I had my worst score there. After a piped drive I shanked it into the giant dune on the right and took 4 shots to get out.

[Sam Krume]

Like most photos, even ones as good as these, they can't capture the size and elevation of the dunes - especially number 6 and 13.  They are truly massive in person.

I love number 13 even though I had my worst score there. After a piped drive I shanked it into the giant dune on the right and took 4 shots to get out.

Have you a course in mind that the dunes are comparable too, say a Royal County Down or a Royal Birkdale?

[Bryan Izatt]

John,

Nice pics - they bring back good memories.

One clarification about your comments on the "prevailing wind".  There are two distinct prevailing winds - one from the north in summer and one from the south in winter.  The holes play entirely different in the two seasons because of the wind.  The short 14th, for instance, was a wedge downwind and a 6 iron into the wind.  And, the wind can often blow hard there - I once played in February in a 50 mph wind.  The last time I was there for the KP (when Joel played) there were actually days when the wind was down - I didn't think that was possible based on a previous February trip and another July trip.

[JLahrman]

John,

Nice pics - they bring back good memories.

One clarification about your comments on the "prevailing wind".  There are two distinct prevailing winds - one from the north in summer and one from the south in winter.  The holes play entirely different in the two seasons because of the wind.  The short 14th, for instance, was a wedge downwind and a 6 iron into the wind.  And, the wind can often blow hard there - I once played in February in a 50 mph wind.  The last time I was there for the KP (when Joel played) there were actually days when the wind was down - I didn't think that was possible based on a previous February trip and another July trip.

That is all true. I had to hit 6-iron on 14 at Pac Dunes during this most recent trip. It came close to being a decent shot just short and right of the green...until it trickled down almost to the 13th fairway, stuck in a sandy lie with a steep face right in front of me. I predicted to my brother that it would take me three more shots to get it onto the green. I was right. Throw in a three-putt from 12 feet thanks to a murderous pin position, and I had an easy 7.

Playing Trails with a summer wind was illuminating. I love 4, 6, and 8 as short-ish par 4s. But they play VERY long into the summer wind. Man is Trails tough in the wind. I love that course but it beats me up.

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