I stand by what I said previously -- the opening of Pac Dunes has allowed spillover play to maintain the overall standing of the original 18.
But Matt, this makes absolutely no sense. Bandon Dunes course has gone DOWN in "overall standing." You get that, right?
As for whether it ought to be in the extreme elite, heck you yourself said (a) that it should be in second fifty, or whatever; and (b) that none of this really matters as it's just very small decimal points.
Rather contradicting yourself, aren't you? First you say it doesn't belong among the elite, then you say there's so little difference in the rankings that such don't matter....
Hey, it's no big deal. You think Bandon Dunes should be ranked as you say. Others believe (including me) it ought to be a little higher. I think you're right in the one statement that there's very little difference as one goes through the rankings. So it's just a difference of opinion in the end....
Right?
One more thing... you say:
The original 18 at Bandon is devoid of anything remotely called interesting green contours, shapes or dimensions. They are end results with little real meaning or definition. Ditto the areas just off the greens in terms of chips and pitches you might need to play when missing the greens.Do you really believe this? Wow, I couldn't disagree more. I found plenty of interest in the greens thre and in terms of chips and pitches, well...I guess a Scot who routinely plays pitches off tight tight turf over and around deep stacked-sod bunkers might find Bandon to be routine, but good lord does that not describe nearly all Americans. I could chip and pitch all day at Bandon and never get bored... Little meaning and distinction? Seriously? Wow you have REALLY lost me this time.
TH