Bandon Dunes Golf Resort
A Review of Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Trails Courses
Jul 7, 2009
David McLay Kidd bristles at the term "links-style" when referring to a golf course, in particular the one he designed, Bandon Dunes, in Bandon, OR. "This is not links-style," he said, "This is links golf, as good as anything in the British Isles."
And all three courses at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort live up to that lofty billing. From the deep pot bunkers, thick fescue rough and large greens, right down to the unrelenting ocean wind and gorse bushes - native to the Oregon coast as they are on the coast of Scotland.
Bandon Dunes Golf Course
Standing on the first tee, the golf may think he's looking down a fairway at St. Andrews or Carnoustie. The course blends into the seascape so well, it looks like it has been there forever. A sea of sand dunes and mounds roll through the fairways and rough, challenging the golfer to find a flat lie. The wind, slopes, and elevation changes must be factored into every shot. Once on the green, the golfer must make sure his or her read of the break and speed are near perfect, or else their putt may end up rolling right off the green. Out of the three courses, Bandon Dunes also provides the best views of the Pacific Ocean, particularly along the breathtaking, signature 16th hole.
Pacific Dunes Golf Course
Pacific Dunes is the most challenging of the three courses. It is similar in style to Bandon Dunes, but the slopes and elevations changes are more severe. As a result, the course plays longer than its 6,633 yards might indicate. The views of the Pacific Ocean are less prevalent than Bandon Dunes, but no less spectacular. Architect Tom Doak made terrific use of existing dunes and deep natural bunkers to create another terrific Scottish links experience.
Bandon Trails Golf Course
Bandon Trails is a bit of a departure from its pure coastal links neighbors. Designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, It begins on the dunes, like the other two courses, but routes its way through a beautiful coastal forest, full of lush evergreens and bushes. The course finishes back near the coastline, with a spectacular, dune-laden 18th hole. Its architecture is minimalist as well, retaining lots of the natural, wind-swept features of the meadows and forest it graces. Large, hazardous bunkers and rolling fairways and greens keep the golfer firmly entrenched in the Scottish links experience.
Coming Soon
A fourth course is due to open in 2010 at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. "Old Macdonald" will be a tribute to Charles Blair Macdonald (1856-1939), the father of American golf course architecture and founder of the U.S. Golf Association, and it will feature many of Macdonald's signature hallmarks that he built into courses such as National Golf Links of America in Southampton, New York.
Amenities in Bandon
For those who need a place to stay in Bandon, the resort offers 4-bedroom cottages on the grounds. Foursomes may find it cheaper to find a rental property in the quaint town of Bandon itself, however.
The beautiful clubhouse is home to dining and cocktail options at the Lodge, as well as McKee's Pub and the Pacific Grill, the latter of which offers a 360 degree view of the Pacific Coastline.
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