Bandon Dunes, Oregon, USA

www.bandondunesgolf.com

Black tees par 72, rating 74.1, slope 143, 6732 yards
Orange tees par 72, rating72.4, slope 128, 5072 yards

This is the eponymous and original course of the four at this resort.  Designed by David McLay Kidd it was opened in 1999 to rave reviews and immediately entered the list of the top 100 golf courses in the world.  It currently lies 70th.

The infinity green at the par 4 fourth hole

Today was a cool day with little wind and a lurking sea mist.  Bandon Dunes lies on undulating sand dunes and makes clever use of the landscape.  The turf is softer than Old Macdonald as it is a combination of fescue and bent grass but the fairways are still fast running.  The 2nd hole is a testing par 3 with a carry over marram grass to an elevated green guarded by a small front bunker.  The 4th affords the first sight of the ocean and is a par 4 dogleg to the right with an infinity green overlooking the Pacific.  Reminiscent of the Castle course at St Andrews, also designed by David Kidd, the 5th hole follows the ocean and has mounds of marram grass which must be negotiated to reach a corridor between the dunes leading to the green.  The 6th is a tricky par 3 where an accurate shot is required to hold the green.  We were distracted here by a sighting of dolphins surfing the waves and soaring Turkey Vultures.  The ninth is a straightforward par 5 which returns the player to the clubhouse.

Theere is a distracting backdrop to the 6th green

The 16th is the signature hole

The second nine is the more spectacular of the two.  The first five holes are inland but typical links holes.  The 15th is a simple but testing hole with a deep bunker set into the elevated green on the right and a large dune on the left.  A stroll to the back of the green reveals wonderful views of the coastline only surpassed by the views from the course's signature hole, the par 4 16th.  The drive is over a ravine to a fairway crossed by a diagonal ridge of marram grass.  The second is to another infinity green with the best views on the course over the Oregon coastline and massive
sandy beaches.  The 17th is a dogleg to the right with a deep gully on the right which will swallow a wayward shot.  During the gold rush the creek at the bottom of the gully was mined by around one thousand men.  The final hole is a par 5 with the green nestled in front of the clubhouse.

The 18th green.  The clubhouse blends well with its surroundings

at this understated resort

Worth playing?  Yes - in a beautiful setting at a resort dedicated to golf.  Quite special.