Bandon Dunes

When I first played Old Mac a decade ago, I'll admit that I despised it. A second time has brought a new appreciation. It's good fun, although not at the level of the other Bandon courses. It's the only Bandon course I'm giving four stars. Its biggest scarlet letter is the 16th hole, a 455-yard brute where nobody makes par. You might as well add another tee 20 yards back and call it a risk-reward par 5, where only the longest hitters attempt to take on the massive dune guarding a blind green. The rest of us mortals can layup to the right side of the green/fairway like we do currently, and try to get up and down for a decent score.

Something about Pacific Dunes just speaks to me more than the other courses at Bandon Dunes. Maybe it's the back-to-back par 3s near the ocean? Maybe it's the two coastal holes that cozy right up to the cliffs? Whatever it is, inject it straight into my brain. Although it's difficult, I could play Pac Dunes every day until the end of days and not tire of it.

I've heard golfers complaining that Shorty's takes too long with 19 holes in play. C'mon, people! Get a grip. This is Bandon's best short course. It's got the best dunes on property, which allow for peekaboo tee shots and greens tucked into shelves. It's as fun as golf gets. You've got 19 chances to make a hole-in-one. Your odds don't get any better than that.

For many years, the insider tip to enjoy a Bandon trip was to play The Preserve twice. That's how much golfers loved its scenery and fun shot-making. With Shorty's now open, The Preserve probably doesn't need to be played twice, but that won't deter from its appeal. The mix of blind shots, uphill swings, downhill wedges and putting off of the final tee box give The Preserve a personality all its own. Both my playing partner and I came within inches of making an ace to three-putting for bogey. That speaks to the entertaining adventures really good par 3 courses like The Preserve provide.

All of Bandon's courses play along the water except Trails. That makes this experience an outlier, a different look and feel that many love. There are a few quirks along the way - tee shots over roads, an emergency shuttle ride up to the 14th tee and a 14th hole that might be too extreme for its own good. Despite these handicaps, it's one of the best rounds at Bandon. Don't miss it.

Bandon's original golf course is the resort's best to some people. It's a great course, but I'd put it third or fourth in my book. It's strength are the three finishing holes.

This was the last course we played on our trip. It did not disappoint! It is a links style, like Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald and Sheep Ranch. There are many natural bunkers and gorse to contend with but the fairways are very wide open and provide an easy target. The holes along the coast are completely breathtaking. The layout and routing of this course seems more challenging than Bandon Dunes. The fairways and greens were in great shape but several tee boxes need attention. The helpfulness and friendliness of the staff was top notch. We started in sunshine than had a fog bank roll through and then had sunshine again!

I played this course at Bandon Resort because it was a different style, parkland and mountainy compared to links style, than the other courses here. It is far more hilly than the rest. In fact, they have a cart to take you up a steep hill at one point. The fairways and greens were in superb condition but a few of the tee boxes are consistently in the shade so not in good shape. The layout is more straight forward than the links courses. The entire staff was super friendly. The highest point on the Bandon Resort property is on this course and you can see all the way down to the ocean. If you get tired of the links style do yourself a favor and play this course.

First, the breakfast buffet at the Tufted Puffin is great! Every staff member we encountered, from waitresses to a golf pros, was cheerful and helpful. The course was a links style as advertised with lots of natural sandy areas and coarse grass, very different than the parkland courses I'm used to. The fairways and greens were in great condition. Some of the tee boxes were covered in crab grass hence the lower rating for the conditions. The weather is always a factor. We started with a double rainbow. Then had a sunny day and then had a fog bank roll in just as we got to the coast. But it cleared in a few minutes and the sun came out again. Fortunately, we did not have much wind but the day we left it was blowing 20mph consistently. The course was definitely challenging but the caddies were very helpful in keeping us pointed in the right direction. It is absolutely a bucket list course/resort to play as there aren't too many places where your tee shot can end up in the ocean! If the greens fees were half the price I would probably travel from the east coast to play here each year.

With the addition of Shorty's, Bandon just got even better (if that is possible)! The distance of the holes doesn't matter...you need hit the right part of the green or the hump/bumps will take your ball all directions.

This is just flat out enjoyable, even when you 3 putt (and you will). I played here after only being open 2 months, and the tee boxes were allready quite beat up. Not sure if they will need to put mats down to address this, but this course will be played a ton!

I can't see how anybody rates any Bandon course as anything less than 5 stars, they are literally some of the best golf courses in the world and maybe the best collection of 5 in one place on the planet. The only critcism I have of trails is that after playing it many times it is course that struggles the most with conditioning on the greens. often patchy and bumpy witch I attribute to lack of sunlight in some spots especially in the winter when I play. Very minor criticism however. Trails is is a spectacular walk amongst the trees and dunes and has some of the best topography at the resort. This is my 2nd favorite course at the resort. As I stated in the title I think Trails has the best collection of par 3's on property, just visually stunning. Looking forward to my next trip over New Years this year. pro tip (some of the best weather of the year can be found in December/February as well as the best rates only drawback is you can get some frost delays and with the shorter hours it's harder to play 36 holes in a day.

Not my type of course. Hard fairways. Rock hard greens and blind holes. Played it twice but could probably be played with just a putter and driver. You can putt from 60 yards off the green on most holes. Even the caddies had problems reading the greens as they were very hard, inconsistent and in generally poor condition.

This course has no bunkers, other than grass, however there are some significant elevation changes. It is fairly wide open but because of the elevation changes it makes in challenging. Like all the courses at Bandon the fairways are cut extremely tight if there is any grass at all leading to weird bounces. Definitely not a top 100 golf course in U.S..

A lot of nicer courses for less money.

This course winds through a forested area and is somewhat challenging. Some sand bunkers were soft causing the ball to bury, while others had shrubbery growing in them making it difficult to find the ball. The fairways were mostly O.K. but some areas had no grass at all.

There are some great ocean views on the last four holes but other than that I was not really impressed with the course. Fairways were mediocre at best. Greens were good but inconsistent for speed however they had recently been punched. We did have good weather which we were told we were very lucky. For a course this expensive I would have hoped the fairways would be much better and I certainly do not like a five hour round when you have to walk. This course is way overpriced.

I loved Old Mac alot. It is a great course to play early in the morning as the sun is rising. You get some great pictures of the Ghost Tree on hole 3.

The course is awesome and maybe the toughest walk but it doesnt appear that way looking at from Pac Dunes. Hole 3 is awesome is the ghost tree, hole 4 is a super tough hole with a difficult green but if you just dunk it from 150 out for a 2 it makes it alot easier. 5 is a short par 3 with a crazy 3 tier green. 7 is a great spot on property looking out into the Pacific.

Back nine is great too 11 is a an ode to the road hole at St A's. And 16, 17 and 18 are just a great finishing stretch where you could make birdies in the right spot or doubles if slightly out of position.

I was a big fan of old mac definitely a morning course so you can avoid the wind. Great to pair it with Bandon Trails in the afternoon.

When your caddie says Bandon Trails is a mix of Pine Valley and Augusta National, you really pay attention to all details. Many people say Bandon Trails is the best course on property, I can totally see why. It didnt quite to it for me, I think the views of the rest of the place really set it apart for me.

Bandon Trails is amazing though, cut through the woods but the woods are never in play. They are just a beautiful back drop. The course is an outstanding conditions with some amazing views of the whole property, especially the special spot before hole 14 where Keiser was taken to see the property.

Trails is a great course to play in the afternoon because you are mostly blocked by the wind. Unless its out of the North then your all uphill into the wind on the last 4 holes.

I loved holes 5, 14, 17. Caddies said most of the odd holes are the best. Love Bandon Dunes because some could have Trails as the best or as the Worst, its all in the eye of the player.

At the start of the Preserve I wasnt overly wowed, but as you get to about hole 4 and 5 it gets really good. You start get into the crazy greens where you have to used your imagination and humps and bumps to get the ball close. Hole 7 was crazy with front left pin. It was 140 yards but if you missed it rolled back 80 yards...no joke.

As you finish I highly recommend putting on hole 13. It is super fun from 100 out just whack the putter and see what happens.

I am a fan of par 3 courses that make you think and have crazy holes. This course get me from 4-13 and I really enjoyed it. Not sure $75 worth but still good.

Round 2 at Bandon was on the original course, Bandon Dunes. Which to me had the best hole #16, and the best stretch of 3 holes 15,16, 17. An amazing course to play in the afternoon as you finish along the coast besides whole 18.

Bandon is a great track with a terrific layout. When you try to pick your favorite course on property its nearly impossible. I loved Bandon and it was 3rd best for me.

The first couple holes I though were really difficult. Lots of uphill short holes but played very long. Once you get to hole 3 you can now breathe and start to make some birdies. 4 is a great hole with the infinity green. Then you get your picturesque holes on 5 and 6. 9 is a fun par 5 to end just avoid the pot bunkers.

Back nine is outstanding too. Like I said 15,16 and 17 are the best 3 hole stretch on property. 12 is no easy one either.

Course conditions were outstanding and puffins grill is a delicious place to eat. Love love Love Bandon.

Pacific Dunes was the first course my group played, and my way a treat it was. It is a great test of your entire game. Need great tee shots, solid iron play, and good putting as these were the fastest greens on property.

I loved the layout a mixture of by the ocean and a little bit in the trees. The infinity greens at the ocean are breath taking every time you see them. Come play in March when the gorse bush are a beautiful yellow color...but dont go near it every.

Holes 3,4,5 really get you going as you are right on the bluffs of the ocean. If you can get through this stretch, then you come across some scoring holes. Once you make the turn and get back to 10,11,12,13 those holes are some of the best on property. Again a challenge but if you put your ball in the right spot you can have a decent round.

As you come to the finish I suggest a layup on 16. Not worth the risk. Finally picking the correct tee boxes are huge. We had good weather so we played 1 tee box up on the front and the tips on the back nine. In hindsight should've just stuck with the green box. Sea level is a real thing.

Highly suggest Pacific Dunes as a morning round. Love love love this resort.