Barnbougle Dunes, Pacific Dunes and others

[Philippe Binette]

In the topic on geographical bias for courses, I ask a question that I hate to ask but:

for those who have played those course: how do you compare Barnbougle Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Sand Hills...

I just want to know if they are close one from another as far as quality and fun. Just to know if the rankings (especially between Pac and Barn) would be similar...

If Barnbougle will be under evaluated for being Australian...

[THuckaby2]

Can there be more than a dozen people on the planet who have played all three of those?

That's going to be interesting to see.  Because if a dozen exist, I'd have to guess 10 post here.

 

I've played Sand Hills and Pacific Dunes.  I'd put it this way:  Pacific Dunes is a wonderful golf course, but there is only one greatest course on the planet - and it's in Nebraska.

TH

[Ben Cowan-Dewar]

Philippe,
I have played PD and BD and will play Sand Hills this week for the first time. Pacific and Bandon have a very different feel to them, in my mind.

Pacific Dunes elevation works up and off hills - the climb to the 2nd and 6th green, the tee shots of the high points at 14, 17. However, Barnbougle's elevation changes through the dunes seem grander, though I would be interested in whether there was much difference in total elevation.

Both are tremendous pieces of property, among the finest modern properties I have seen. In terms of quality, I found both to be similar, with different pros and cons for each. When I played Barnbougle in Nov/Dec of last year, the fescues were very thick, which perhaps took away from the fun a little bit for others, but did not bother me. I imagine the grasses will come into their own over time.

[Chris Kane]

Ben, I havn't been back to Barnbougle since January, but apparantly they've cut back the marram grass significantly since then.  

[Mike_Clayton]

Philippe.

I have been fortunate enough to play all three.
They are all fantastic.The biggest difference is the routing of Sand Hills and Pacific Dunes see holes tackling the winds from markedly different directions.
At Barnbougle there are two out and back nines and the wind almost always comes from the same direction.
On the rare days the first four are downwind it's a great change to the way the holes play.
The greatness of Sand Hills was illustrated to me  when in a single day 16 was driver/3 wood/punch 5 iron in the morning and reachable with a long iron in the afternoon/evening.

Barnbougle never changes like that.

[Big Pete]

I have been fortunate enough to play all 3 as well .
I had played a lot of good courses around the world when I played Pacific , and I thought it was the best I had played or seen !
 It inspired me to get involved in the development of Barnbougle Dunes , and having seen Tom and Mike bring the dream to life , and now seeing the project mature , my passion for the place is undiminished and clouds any possible unbiased comparisons .
I played Sand Hills in 2003 and that was an experience I will never forget .
How do you compare them?
No need IMO , just appreciate that they are , wonderful places to play golf - not just great courses , but destinations that will bring you experiences you won't forget...