Reviewing Golf Digests' list of the Top-10 Golf Courses in Washington and Oregon

Bandon Dunes
Round Lake Drive, Bandon, OR 94711
6,732-yards/Par 71/Slope 143/Rating 74.1

Bandon Dunes was built by Scotsman David McLay Kidd in 1999, and was the resort’s sole golf course until Pacific Dunes came on the scene in 2001, stealing a bit of Bandon Dunes’ thunder. Kidd’s design has taken a back seat to Doak’s in the most recent rankings, but not by much, and it remains close as to which golf course is ‘better.’

Bandon Dunes has teeth, or at least it did the day we played it, where Pacific Dunes lacks some. We played in a foggy mist, which made for interesting photos, but lagged in the visibility category. At times on the tee boxes, whoever had the honor simply guessed as to the direction of the hole (*note – we were using pushcarts, and caddies would have been a good idea).

The fog and mist was heavy during our review of Bandon Dunes

The fog, however, wasn’t to blame for me hitting the wrong club and leaving myself a downhill, 30-foot putt for birdie on the 189-yard, par-3, 2^nd hole, only to putt my ball off the green, leaving me a 30-yard sand wedge away for par. And it wasn’t to blame for my sliced tee shot into the gorse/beach on the 389-yard, par-4 17^th hole. I likely would have done both on a sunny day. The fog and mist were just, there.

Regardless, the golf course was beautiful. The ball’s flight was limited, but its amazing roll seemed to make up for the lack of distance. Neither Bandon or Pacific Dunes plays very long, so length off the tee was not really an issue, but it always helps. Having a short-iron, or wedge in your hand, as opposed to a 6-iron, when approaching the tricky greens at Bandon Dunes opens up more scoring opportunities, so long as it’s not in that 50-70 yard range, where your best play is probably a 9-iron, or putter.

Since it was the first of the resort’s four courses we played, Bandon Dunes gave us our initial education into the dynamics of links golf and by the time we were ready for Bandon Trails, had us chipping with the putter, and effectively playing the bump and roll. Of the four golf courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails played the firmest, and fastest, hence the quick education.

Bandon Dunes is worthy of it’s #7 ranking in Golf Digest’s Top 100. Despite it’s proximity to Pacific Dunes, it had a distictly different look and feel, which in a way seemed even more Scottish-like than Pacific Dunes, especially on that foggy day.

Signature Holes: the fog took its toll on the photos, unfortunately. .

#3 — 543-yard, par-5: this hole was chosen because of it’s difficulty from the tee, and because of its misty nature the rest of the way.
  

#6 — 161-yard, par-3/#7 — 383-yard, par-4: everyone picks these holes as their favorites. On a clear day each of these holes sits directly above the Pacific Ocean. Based on these photos, who would know?
  

#17 — 389-yard, par-4/#18 — 543-yard, par-5: slam and bam. The 17th will ruin your day, and the green on the 18th will put a cherry on top. If you are fighting the driver and/or putter, the finish at Bandon Dunes will finish you.
  

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