The Best of Bandon: Ranking Each Course at Bandon Dunes
Bandon Dunes is a special place that I had the opportunity to experience for the first time this past July. A trip that was two years in the making finally happened and I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. Since we went in July, the temperature never got lower than 55 degrees and we didn’t have any rain so maybe in some weird way, never getting to experience the wild weather at Bandon is something that I missed out on (still windy? YES) However…….the piece of land, the caddies, the food, the staff, and of course the buddies you go with all play a part in making it and incredible trip.
With that being said, it’s time to give you MY RANKINGS. And yes I said my rankings because everyone has preferences of what they like in a golf course. There are a total of 7 golf courses at Bandon Dunes but two of them are par 3 short courses so I am not going to rank those. I want to start off by saying that this is no easy task. Trying to rank some of the best public golf that the United States has to offer is like asking me to pick my top 5 favorite ice creams, they are all good! This is always a fun debate with fellow golf addicts, so let’s get into my order.
#5 Sheep Ranch
Let me start by saying this is a beautiful piece of property, maybe even the most majestic on the entire resort. It is a Coore and Crenshaw design that is just breathtaking. It has some of my favorite memories of our entire trip. It contains holes on the water, rugged terrain of an organic links, a plethora of gorse, and a great mixture of holes, it has such a high ceiling. For me it just wasn’t in the same condition as the others, and since it doesn’t have a single bunker on the course it felt a bit naked to me. It is the newest of the courses out at Bandon Dunes and it just hasn’t settled yet. The greens when we played it were a bit bumpy and unpredictable. Due to its location on property, it has a ton of potential to grow on me the more I play it. I love the name Sheep Ranch as well as its logo. In fact I even bought a headcover for one of my woods. My favorite holes: 2, 6, 9, 11, 16, and 17.
#4 Bandon Trails
Bandon Trails is a lone wolf when it comes to comparing it to the other Bandon Courses. It uses multiple topographies as it starts in the sand dunes, enters the meadows, and then it winds itself into the coastal forest before finishing again in the dunes. It is truly unique when compared to all the others and really has a cult like following of golf purists. There is a heavy emphasis on strategic golf which favors some golfer’s preference. However, this is my ranking and I had it towards the bottom and here is why. I live in MN which has many options for “forest golf.” The Brainerd area for example, gives us a lot of strategic concepts where we think through the shaping of holes and decide how aggressive of lines we want to take and what shot shape we want to hit. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still not the same, but I get a similar vibe. Coast golf and links golf is just something that I can’t simulate when I am back home and that is why I tend to have those towards the top of my rankings. It does have some of the best par 3’s on property though and to me the best opening hole at Bandon. My favorite holes: 1, 5, 8, 14, 16, 17
#3 Bandon Dunes
The OG, the blueprint, the Godfather of the entire resort, Bandon Dunes certainly gives you all the feels. You can taste the Pacific Ocean as you make your way towards the coastline. It reveals itself in a way that makes you appreciate the infinite body of water. I played some of my best golf on this course and I think the biggest reason why is that I didn’t really think about golf. With the amount of wind you face, you are required to hit golf shots and not think golf swing. The creativity needed flows out at Bandon Dunes and it adds another element of fun while you play. Hole 16 was one of my favorite holes I played the entire week. The only reason why I don’t have this course higher is because I don’t think the non ocean holes quite have the character that my top 2 courses have. Favorite Holes: 4, 5, 8, 12, 16, and 17
#2 Old MacDonald
This course was the very first course we played, so it set the tone for the rest of the trip. Little did I know, it was going to be one of my favorites. Old Mac as its called is loaded with character. A Doak design, this course offers a plethora of strategy due to the many nuances and different templates on the greens (was an ode to Charles Blair Macdonald and Seth Raynor). Pin places play a big role in determining your angles of attack as well as your chances of getting up and down or two putting for that matter. Golf for me is more enjoyable when you get to be creative, and Old Mac forces that more than any course on the property. If you understand you're not here to just post a score, but rather hit shots you wouldn't see at your home course than you will appreciate Old Mac like I did. The massive fairways also make up for the difficult greens by giving plenty of room off the tee.
And let’s not forget about the famous ghost tree hole. It is like a kid on Christmas morning! You get to the tee box and spot the tree much like you would on X-mas morning when coming down the stairs. After you hit your tee shot, you walk over the crest to see the vastness of land much like opening the presents that have been waiting. Old Mac doesn’t have as much land on the coastline and so it doesn’t quite reach #1 for me, but it definitely has a special place in my heart and has a kick ass logo! Favorite holes: 3, 5, 7, 11, 14, 16, 18
#1 Pacific Dunes
I want to preface this ranking by telling you that I played 36 holes at Pacific Dunes and less at all the others. Pacific Dunes was the 2nd course built at Bandon Dunes and gets plenty of positive pub and for good reason. I believe it is a combination of the other 4 in some way shape or form. Fantastic design, a variety of holes and scenery, a mix of strategy and shot making. A Doak design that appears to be built naturally to the landscape (hint: it’s not), it takes you on a wild ride in and out of the coastline. The unconventional par 71 routing provides one par 3 and one par 5 on the front nine and four par 3s and three par 5s on the back nine. The course features a redan par 3, a sub-500 yard par 5, a nearly 600 yard par 5, and two of the world's best coastal par 4s (#4 and #13) that make you feel like you’re on an intimate walk as you hold the ocean’s hand throughout the duration of tee to green. Truly a date unlike any I’ve ever been on! Favorite Holes: 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 13, 16, 17
What are your rankings??? Let me know in the comment tab below!
Travel Talk: Bandon Dunes
Check out the new Podcast on our latest episode!
Never got below 55 and no rain?! I can't wait to compare my experience and rankings!