Golf Courses: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Five Killer Courses in one review! The Legend of Bandon Dunes grows every year.  This fantastic golf resort located on the coastline of Bandon, Oregon, was created in the spirit of Scotland's ancient links courses.  Though it may never become as legendary as the Old Course in St. Andrews, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is as close as the USA can come to that status.  There are several courses at the resort so lets take a quick look at all of them. Bandon Dunes The first course to open at the resort, Bandon Dunes was designed by David McLay Kidd, a Scottish golf architect.  The course's native dunes are shaped in the same fashion as courses in the northern UK, routed in a natural way.  Like St. Andrews, winds are always a factor. Bandon Dunes has four sets of tees: Black, Gold, Green and Orange.  The tips measure at 6,732 yards with a difficult rating of 74.1 and slope of 143. Par value is 72.  A tough challenge. Pacific Dunes Pacific Dunes opened in 2001.  The course plays differently from the other courses at Bandon, from a shot making perspective.  Course architect Tom Doak utilized the rippling contours of the seaside dunes, leaving them just as they were found. Pacific has the same tee selection: Black, Green, Gold, Orange.  The black tees, tips, measures at 6,633 yards with a rating of 73.0 and a slope of 142.  Par value is 71. Bandon Trails Bandon Trails opened in 2005.  Many feel that "Trails" is the best course at Bandon.  Trails was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, or Coore/Crenshaw as they are typically referred to.  The course starts on a massive sand dune, then proceeds into a meadow.  The vegetation and terrain is rugged and the course along with it.  There are more trees on this track. Trails also has the same tee configuration: Black, Green, Gold, Orange.  From the tips the course measures at 6,765 yards with a slope of 133 and rating of 73.7.  Par value is 71. Old Macdonald Old Macdonald Golf Links is the newest full-course at Bandon.  The course is designed in honor of course architect C.B. Macdonald by modern architects Tom Doak and Jim Urbina.  The course features Scottish style massive greens and very tough bunkers. The tee setup at Old Mac is a little different: Black, Green, Gold, Royal Blue, Orange.  The tips (black) measure at 6,978 yards with a slope of 133 and rating of 74.1.  Par value is 71.  This course is a very tough challenge. Bandon Preserve Bandon's Preserve course is a very fun and unique track.  The Preserve is a par-3 course with 13 holes.  Proceeds from this course are dedicated to benefit The Wild Rivers Coast Alliance which supports projects protecting rich lands and waters of The South Coast. There are three sets of tees on this par-3 track: Black, Green and Orange.  The longest hole is the 11th, at 152 yards.  Total yards for the 13 holes is 1,468.  There is no slope or rating. Practice Facility The resort features a 30 acre practice facility which allows players to practice "every shot required on our five courses."  PGA instruction is also available. Caddie Services Caddies are available and recommended at Bandon.  That's the way the game is best experienced. Getting There Bandon, Oregon isn't the easiest place to get to and there isn't much in the way of lodging and amenities close to the course.  But golfers who travel there don't care.  The golf experience is other-worldly. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort 57744 Round Lake Drive Bandon, OR  97411 888-345-6008 http://www.bandondunesgolf.com