Pacific Dunes

This course was another beauty at Bandon Dunes. The layout is interesting yet very fun and challenging. The day we played it poured rain all day and yet the greens did an unbelievable job of absorbing the water. I would highly recommend making a day out of this and playing the punchbowl before and after the round!

I had one day (and two rounds) to play at Bandon... which left me with the unenviable task of figuring out which courses to play and which to pass on. Pacific Dunes (and Sheep Ranch) were the ultimate choices... and I couldn't be happier with the decision to play PD.

Before I begin with the course, let me first talk about amenities and service. Every interaction I had at Bandon was sensational, the service was simply amazing. Additionally, the Punch Bowl putting course is situated right at the first hole of Pacific Dunes, you should absolutely plan to show up early and partake for two reasons... 1. it's fun! and 2. well... lets start the course review there

[2]the Greens at PD (also at Sheep ranch, so I assume everywhere at Bandon) are no joke. They are fast, firm and contain character, and it is a huge advantage to putt around at the Punch Bowl for a bit and get used to them before you go out in the course. It's very easy to give up several strokes adjusting to the greens. Having said that... they were in terrific shape when I played and rolled consistently and fairly all the way around the course.

The sand play, by and large, is good; however there are some spots - particularly in the fairways - where you can get into some rather significant trouble (no way to play out and you are forced to waste a shot just getting out)... I managed to do this to myself once and my playing partner did as well.

The fairways were terrific as well and the native areas, while feeling outright dangerous at times (gorse can be quite prickly) were reasonable... you really have to blow a shot most places to be heavily penalized. Of note though, PD has several sets of tees ranging from ~3900 to ~6700 and there are a lot more ways to get in trouble from the back than the front... choose your tees wisely, especially i the wind is whipping around.

I'd also recommend at least one caddie in the group, they're on course knowledge can absolutely save you strokes and heartache (and did for our group more than once), given what you are spending for your golf etc. it's a great insurance policy toward an enjoyable round of golf.

My favorite hole was probably the par 3 eleventh, running along the ocean and playing over a small canyon the view is breathtaking (pro-tip: avoid the bunker and you'll probably score better than I did). However, there are so many fantastic holes it's not difficult to see why this course is ranked in the top 10 of almost every national ranking.

I also loved the design/layout of the meandering course where you'll find #2 and #16 running parallel and #4 surrounded by #11, #12, and #13.

Bandon isn't free... although it does get cheaper is you play a couple rounds in a day... the "re-round" discount applies even if you play a different course on property as I did... but it is worth every penny for the experience. Next time I'm planning on getting in the Old Mac and Bandon Dunes courses (at least)... and then I'll be back again... it's certainly the kind of place your go back to as often as you can afford it. If you're into golf, and golf experiences, I can't recommend Bandon (and Pacific Dunes in particular) strongly enough.

Pacific Dunes deserves the top ranking, of all the Bandon courses (for now, Sheep Ranch to be better??)

The layout, shot value, and endless views of the Pacific Ocean...almost too good to be true! The greens were absolutely perfect and staff is beyond great.

Make sure you play Pacific Dunes (if you can't play them all) if it is your first trip to Bandon.

Some truly spectacular ocean views on a challenging links course. I enjoyed every hole. The greens were fantastic!

Pacific Dunes is a breathtakingly beautiful course on the Oregon coast. You can go wrong with any of the courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The deer roaming the course on the cliffs above the water will leave you speechless. The greens are incredible with sweeping views and challenging par 3’s. I highly recommend visiting Bandon Dunes and playing all of the courses.

After dreaming about making the trip for years, I finally made a trip to Bandon Dunes. The whole trip was a fantastic experience for me. The firm and fast conditions make this kind of golf a blast to play. Target golf goes out the door when you can putt the ball from 30 yards away. Embrace the ground game and your score will thank you.

Pacific Dunes is one of the most beautiful courses I've ever seen. I say that even having played one hole in hail and gale force winds (the rest was gorgeous weather). You can hit most fairways without much trouble, but you need to put your tee shot in a spot that'll set you up with a good shot at the green. The greens are difficult, but once you have a feel for them, a bump and run might be your best option to get close. The bunkering and minimal tree coverage make every hole look dramatic and long, even the par threes. Despite this being the worst scoring round of my trip, Pacific is right up there at the top with my favorites. Now I'll just have to get used to ordinary golf again. Listen to the reviews. This is one of the best courses you'll ever play!

This was my 2nd round on the trip and had read about how it was so highly thought of. The routing, the greens and the sight lines off the tees make this a truly unique course. Doak gives you room off the tee but there are humps in the fairway that can shoot the ball sideways making the fairways narrower. The back 9 routing starts with back to back par 3s. The fact they both play near the ocean takes advantage of the land they were working with. Overall the back nine has 4 par 3s, 3 par 5s and only 2 par 4s. (13 is a visually great par 4). The green complexes are tricky but not unfair, it’s a great defence on some holes (1&2 come to mind). Bandon Dunes is a more fun, less penalizing course but Pacific Dunes is more of a test with lots of unique holes and views thrown in.

This course is a must for any avid golfer who wants the challenge of a true links style course. Weather was great but the wind added to the challenge. Not cheap but worth it. Staff go out of there way to please you.

So similar that I have trouble recalling differences...yet I loved both and would play either in a minute! The magnificent views of the Pacific, the wonderful blending of the sand dunes, and the marvelous links grooming of the greens and surrounds is mesmerizing. But oh, the gorse! If you haven't seen gorse before, you have no idea what it is. It is the Hades of flora!

Really tough to pick the better course, original Bandon or Pacific. Pacific is a fun walk and a bit quirky with 4xpar 3 and 3x par 5s on the back. The views are spectacular. It was almost disappointing to play with virtually no wind the second time we played it. But heck I'll take one good score while there.

Don't forget to grab breakfast -- terrific breakfast sandwiches in the restaurant or to go. Don't forget a double order of peppered bacon!

Everything you think it would be including the views .For great golf on the ocean it rivals the Monteray , Cabo Kiawah and puerto Penasco courses.

Anybody who doesn't give Pacific Dunes five stars on GA is a lunatic. It is the class of the resort and a true thrill to walk. I played it on an overcast day in 40 mph winds where balls were blowing around on the greens and sand was flying out of bunkers. We still had a great time. I can't wait to see it in its full glory in the sunshine.
There are a couple severe green complexes I could quibble about, but the way it plays like a pure links on the coastal cliffs is the reason the hashtag #whyIlovethisgame was created in the first place. It's every bit the bucket-list experience at one-third off the price of a round at Pebble Beach or Shadow Creek.

Pacific Dunes is without a doubt one of my favorite courses ever. With spectacular ocean views combined with first class design, you can't help but feel like you are experiencing a little bit of heaven. 10 and 11, back to back par 3s, are two of the best holes ever designed from a visual standpoint.

One of the best walks you'll ever take, and be sure to take a caddy as the guys are all phenomenal.

Pacific Dunes was my favorite of the courses we played at Bandon Dunes. The layout, scenery, and overall experience was truly one of a kind.

I have wanted to visit Bandon since I started playing golf. I was al little nervous at first as I'd never play at a course quite this nice. I went to the practice center in the morning and saw plenty of people hacking it up so that made me less nervous. My caddy was a young guy who looked a bit like the love child of Chaning Tatum and Christian Slater, Mason, a super cool dude. I didn't care how well I played but besides a few three putts I played OK. At one point I was so into the scenery and just taking everything in I forgot what hole we were playing and Mason said, "that's how its supposed to be." The course was immaculate. I mean just perfect. I did however see a few weeds in the fairways and was disgusted but Mason apologized so I let it go. Long story short I had an awesome time and will most definitely make the trip back to play the other courses, but with a few buddies next time.

The entire Bandon Dunes Golf Experience will be the best golf experience of your life, whether you are a traveling PGA Tour professional or a 25-handicap that enjoys playing when possible, you need to put Bandon on your bucket list. My advice is to give yourself enough time to enjoy all their courses, if you are going all that way to get to Bandon, don't cut yourself short on the experience as you will miss out on something special. Pacific is certainly their signature course, as every hole brings a new experience. When you are done playing Pacific, you will have 18 unique golf stories to tell your friends about when you get home. The views are breathtaking, course condition outstanding, and service terrific. The caddies are great - and you will want to listen to them! It's amazing what the ball will do once it hits the green if you aren't familiar with the course! Do yourself a favor and get to Bandon!

Pacific Dunes is without question my favorite course, and #4 is my favorite hole in golf. The views are outstanding, and the design unique enough to hold your attention the entire round. I was lucky enough to take my Father there, and it was the golf trip of a lifetime. The entire resort is a MUST PLAY if you love golf!

I was giddy to finally play here, after hearing all of the endless chatter from colleagues and friends ... and wow. Just wow. If, for some reason, you can only play one round at Bandon, tee it up at Pac Dunes. Though it's short from the green tees (6,142), it is still plenty tough. That's what makes it so fun to play -- there are 280-yarders that look like birdie holes (but turn into stressful pars) and 440-yard par 4s that you're trying not to make triple. You can reach the par 5s with two big hits. The consecutive par 3s to begin the back nine, with views of the water, are as good as it gets. A tip: Above all, you really have to be precise with your irons here, because your ball can trickle into some of the most dastardly greenside bunkers you'll ever encounter. Now, for the REALLY important stuff: Make sure you order the Crispy Oyster sandwich for lunch at the Pacific Grill. It is, no exaggeration, the best sandwich I have ever had. And secondly, make sure you play the 36-hole Punchbowl course, with a few cold beers handy. So fun.

It was my favorite course on the property the first time I played there 13 years ago and it remains my favorite. You just cannot beat the beauty, especially the ocean holes. They're all spectacular but my favorite is 10-11, back-to-back par 3s just on the Pacific Ocean. Breathtaking. (This time around I birdied the 11th, which is my favorite whole of all 72 holes there.)

This is the best resort experience in the United States and I've been to a lot of them.

(PRO TIP: When you're done, go play the punchbowl. It's a 36-hole putting green where you can take a drink and play for skins with your buddies. Tremendous.)

I love all the courses in the area, but Pacific Dunes really stands out for me. Beautiful setting, well-maintained and a decent pace of play. What more could you ask for?
The Bandon golf Mecca is a bit out of the way, but if you love golf, you have to put it on your Bucket List.