The Best 18 at Bandon Dunes

[Michael George]

John Kavanaugh's comparison of Dismal and Sand Hills got me thinking.

How about ranking the best holes at the 4 courses at Bandon Dunes by the number of the hole.  I know it is kind of like picking between steak and lobster, but here it is:
 
1  Bandon Trails (2nd - Bandon Dunes)
2  Bandon Trails (2nd - Pacific Dunes)
3  Old MacDonanld (2nd - Pacific Dunes)
4  Pacific Dunes (2nd - Bandon Dunes)
5  Bandon Dunes (2nd - Old MacDonald - I love that green)
6  Bandon Dunes (2nd - Pacific Dunes)
7  Old Macdonald (2nd - Pacific Dunes)
8  Old Macdonald (2nd - Bandon Trails)
9  PacificDunes (2nd - Bandon Trails)
10 Pacific Dunes (2nd - Old MacDonald)
11 Pacific Dunes (2nd - Bandon Trails)
12 Bandon Dunes (2nd - Old MacDonald/Bandon Trails - tie)
13 Pacific Dunes (2nd - Bandon Trails)
14 Bandon Trails - I don't get the criticism - I thought it was a really fun hole (2nd - Old Macdonald)
15 Old Macdonald (2nd - Bandon Dunes)
16  Bandon Dunes (2nd - Old Macdonald - I like #16 at Pac Dunes but still don't know how you hold that green on your approach.  Hit short and it goes down right, hit left and it goes in back bunker, hit on green and it rolls off back - scorecard killer)
17 Bandon Trails (2nd - Pacific Dunes)
18  Old Macdonald (2nd - Pacific Dunes)

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's an earlier thread on this topic:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46623.0.html

[Michael George]

Sorry for the repeat.  Add my picks as the last post to that string.

[John Kavanaugh]

Sorry for the repeat.  Add my picks as the last post to that string.

It is not a repeat.  Your thread only allows the number of the hole to correspond to its actual number.

I find this more interesting and relevant since more people have played Old Mac since November of 10.  One thing: In the good ole days of the site you would have laughed into Coos Bay for loving the 16th at Bandon Dunes.  This hole was initially seen as a mistake and was somewhat fixed.  It is still seen by many an old school intellectual as a bad hole.

Without doing research.  My favorite 1st and 17th are at Bandon Dunes.   I still have not played Old Mac.  My favorite finisher is the free course at the back of the driving range.

[Michael George]

John:

I thought #16 at Bandon Dunes was a great hole.  I played a couple of weeks ago in a singles match.  I hit utility to the left and my approach rolled through the green, making bogey.  My opponent hit driver and rolled it 5 yards over the green into the junk.  He found it and chopped a chip onto the green for par.  No single way to play the hole.  Plus, it is the most visually striking golf hole that I have ever played.  Just gorgeous.   Actually played a 3rd round that day just so I could go back to 16 and hit 10 balls off the tee to see if there was a best way to play the hole.

While I thought Trails was my least favorite (but still one of the best that I have played), when I went hole by hole, I was surprised because there was not 1 hole on Trails that I thought was bad.

[John Kavanaugh]

Michael,

Did they fix 18 on Trails.  It was a bad hole when I played there.

[Terry Lavin]

Michael,

Did they fix 18 on Trails.  It was a bad hole when I played there.

I played there this May and it was still a bit of a mess, IMHO.

[Sean Leary]

What have they done on 18 at BT to fix it, anything?

16 at BD is much better now IMO..

[Kalen Braley]

What have they done on 18 at BT to fix it, anything?

16 at BD is much better now IMO..

I admit, I'm showing my ignorance here...but what was the issue with 16 before as opposed to what it is now?  I recall seeing some of the original pics of it when it first opened and I thought it looked epic.  Perhaps someone in the know could start a thread on this.

I really need to get back to Bandon to play the rest of the courses...

[Sven Nilsen]

Michael:

Wasn't suggesting the exercise shouldn't be continued, just adding some reference points.  Here's another older thread on the topic:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,46629.0/topicseen.html

Just glancing over my list I already have a few revisions.

[Michael George]

John:

It was probably my least favorite hole on the course.  While I am generally a minimalist on design, some earth moving to provide some more definition to the hole is probably needed.  As I played it, I thought of the shute through the dunes on #1 at BT or #5 at BD and why the hole could not deliver the same effect.  Seemed like a natural with the land there.  

However, I didn't think it was a bad hole.  If you hit 2 good shots, you had a chance for birdie or par.  I drove the ball well on the hole both times and was in the fairway.  I just hit 2 terrible approaches and bogeyed both times.

[Sean Leary]

What have they done on 18 at BT to fix it, anything?

16 at BD is much better now IMO..

I admit, I'm showing my ignorance here...but what was the issue with 16 before as opposed to what it is now?  I recall seeing some of the original pics of it when it first opened and I thought it looked epic.  Perhaps someone in the know could start a thread on this.

I really need to get back to Bandon to play the rest of the courses...

There was no room left at all, just a sliver of fairway, then gorse or long grass.

[Eric Olsen]

the last time I played BT, in April, the tees at 18 were brought up, which made it easier to carry the hill and position your second shot, but there were still issues with the collection area.  Number 18 and 14 are the only reason I wouldn't rate BT number 2 at the resort behind PD.  Really don't like either hole.

I have played there at least once a year every year since the original BD opened in 1999.  My top 18 would be as follows:

1:  BT
2:  PD
3:  OM
4:  PD
5:  BT
6:  PD
7:  PD
8:  PD
9:  PD lower green
10:  BD
11:  PD
12:  BD
13:  BT, PD, OM tie
14:  PD
15:  OM or BT, tie
16:  PD
17:  BD
18:  OM

[Michael George]

Eric:

I am surprised by a couple of your choices:

#5 - I think this hole on Bandon Dunes may one of the best holes at the resort.  The approach shot through the dunes is a wonderful effect.

#7 - I think this hole on Old Macdonald is one of the most unique holes in golf.  People will dispute whether it is a "fair" golf hole, but in this day where so many golf holes look similar, this one is totally unique.  It is for this same reason that I love #14 at BT.

#13 - I like #13 at OM, but #13 at PD and BT are extraordinary.

[Kalen Braley]

Michael,

Thats why its Eric's top 18 and not yours!! 

[Anthony Gray]

  I think the opener at Pac is way superior to the others.

[Michael George]

Kalen:

That is why I said I was surprised at his choices.  Also, for future reference, I like the  more than the  . (LOL).

The purpose of the string was to get into a discussion as why someone may not make the obvious choice of say 13 at PD and we could actually get into a discussion of design elements.

[Tim Bert]

Many of these change every week for me:

1 - BT (this one always stays the same for me)
2 - PD (pretty consistent here for me as well though I like OM too)
3 - OM (could go PD as well)
4 - PD (toughest decision top to bottom of all the holes for me; my fav #4 changes weekly)
5 - PD (love BD as well)
6 - PD (love OM too)
7 - OM (getting to repetitive to keep saying PD)
8 - BD (could go PD some days)
9 - PD (worst quality top to bottom of any of the hole #s for me)
10 - PD (10 at BD grows on me a little every visit)
11 - PD (love 11 at BD too)
12 - BD (these four rival #9 for least compelling choices)
13 - PD (really like OM and BT too)
14 - PD (lots of parity here and my answer can swing between all 4 courses)
15 - BT (rotates between BT and PD depending upon the day of the week)
16 - OM (in a landslide)
17 - BT (really close with PD)
18 - OM (the only closer I really like at the resort)

[Will MacEwen]

what the heck...

1.  BT
2.  PD
3.  PD
4.  BD
5.  BD
6.  OM
7.  BT
8.  PD
9.  OM
10. BT
11. PD
12. BT
13. BT although PD 13 may be my second favourite hole on the property
14. PD
15. OM
16. BD but also a big fan at BT
17. BT - used to love BD but they moved the green tees up and cleared on the left
18. PD although I also like BT

As much as BD gets the weak sister treatment here, it was in contention on several holes.  7, 10, 11, 12, and 13 in particular.

[Tom_Doak]

  I think the opener at Pac is way superior to the others.

Anthony:

That's funny, because I don't.  I think the opener at Old Macdonald is the best one I've ever built.

I know it's not as sexy as the opening hole at Bandon Trails through the dunes, but I think it's a better hole.  In the summer, downwind, I think the hole at Bandon Trails is a bit funky ... you have to get it up onto the green, and then it's liable to go right through the back.  But, I've only played it once in those conditions.

[Ben Jarvis]

I played the 1st hole at Bandon Trails in July with a 3-club wind. Played a little awkward. Old Macdonald was my favorite opener. Everything is in front of you, you're able to swing freely, but a bogey may result with a lapse in concentration - the way an opening hole should be.

[Cristian]

I've done this in a previous thread, wondering if I will make the same choices...

1 BD
2 BT, but not in winter time ;-) (also love PD)
3 PD (OM and BT are close, very strong number at the resort)
4 BD (an underestimated hole?)
5 BD
6 PD
7 OM (very comfortable win for me)
8 OM
9 OM (one of the weaker hole numbers at the resort?)
10 BD (dito)
11 PD
12 BT
13 PD (one of the strongest hole numbers?)
14 BT (let's say I love quirk, just too bad it is so far away from 13 green, also like BD14)
15 OM
16 OM
17 PD (Best par 3 at the resort for me)
18 OM

[Michael George]

My amateur analysis of each opening hole:

I picked #1 at Bandon Trails because of the dramatic effect of hitting through the dunes on the uphill approach.  However, I believe it is too much of a dogleg left off the tee.  The same shot can have totally different results because of how narrow that landing area is.  In addition, I don't know if it is possible to get close to a front pin.  I tried twice with my 56 degree and the ball bounced to the back of the green both times.  If you bounce it up, you are taking too much of a risk with the false front.  However, all in all, I think the best opener at the resort.. 

#1 at Old MacDonald is my 2nd favorite opening hole.  First, along with Bandon Dunes, it has the best opening tee.  Just a classic walk from the trailer to tee and it really gives you the identity of the course from the start as the tee is a continuation of the fairway.  Immediately felt like I was playing a Scottish course by this walk and the tee.  It is a fairly easy hole, which is not bad for an opener, especially the drive.  The approach is fun with the large front bunker, but not too difficult.  However, with the wind and green, too many birdies are protected.  Very solid hole, just does not have the spectacular feature of BT through the dunes.

#1 at Bandon Dunes was my 3rd favorite.  The lack of definition to the right of the fairway I think hurts the hole.  In addition, I think the green complex could use some work.  The green complexes at #1 and #2 at Bandon Dunes are too similar in how you approach them and putts - one should be modified to create more differences between the two.  Again, a solid hole, but nothing too noteworthy either.

#1 at Pacific Dunes is my 4th favorite opener.  First, the walk to the first tee is the worst at the resort.  I don't know if it was possible, but if it was lower and closer to the pro shop, I think it would have a better feel to it.  I love the contours of the fairway and green complex.  They are the best of any opener at the resort.  However, I am not sure that the fairway bunkers are needed on the right and left of the fairways.  The contours of the fairway are so dramatic and the run offs to the right and left are so clear that I think deep swales would have served the hole better than bunkers.  By using bunkers, it takes most of the decision making on the tee away from the player - as most players will hit a 3 wood or utility club to make sure that they don't go in them.  My caddie immediately took the driver from me on the tee (which I did not like on the first hole of the best golf course that I have ever played).  If they were swales, the player would not see the harm as clearly and may be inclined to use a driver more. 

Just one man's humble opinion.

[Jeff Taylor]

Made birdie @ OM #1 by hitting it way left (accidentally). The middle pin is accessible by using the right plateau as a backstop.