[CHrisB]

Thanks to everyone for their answers. Before posting this as a topic I thought about what title I'd choose and I chose "What does Pacific Dunes lack?" instead of "What are Pacific Dunes' weaknesses?" because I wanted the world's best courses to be included in the discussion. But I didn't choose "What Do the World's Best Have that Pacific Dunes Doesn't?" because the world's best are so diverse that there isn't a discrete set of traits that they have that PD doesn't.

Basically, I had just played a course that was such a complete experience I found myself saying, "If the consensus is that there are 25-30 courses in the world better than Pacific Dunes, then I'd sure like to know what else these rankers think Pacific Dunes would have to do to be considered among the very best."

I've read some very good answers here and I appreciate everyone chiming in. I sure don't think the course lacks anything, but in a discussion group like this I think it can be instructive to take the opposite stance and see what comes out of it.

[W.H. Cosgrove]

I was going to make some snide and sexist remark about cart girls but thought better of it.  Particulary in light of the earlier comments about the young lady in the snack shack on the coast.  

If forced to give PD something it lacked, I would have to say Tradition.  For the Bandon complex to achieve the it's highest position, it will have to host a major event.  Probably a US AM or a Ryder cup.  The Ryder Cup is probably out of the question because the Bandon Coos Bay area lacks the infrastructure to hold that kind of group.  The Casinos would probably thrive however.

But a US Am held on both courses with match play ending on PD would do the trick.  A national televison audience would be stunned by the Oregon Coast in August.  That kind of notoriety wouldn't do availability and good though.

I do have an opinion on what makes PD really great.  The greatest quality of the course to me is the alternation between broad vistas and intimacy.  #2 as an example of intimacy and #12 as a broad expanse.  This always gives me a feeling of adventure!

[Norbert P]

I do have an opinion on what makes PD really great.  The greatest quality of the course to me is the alternation between broad vistas and intimacy.  This always gives me a feeling of adventure!

  Beautifully said.   Back in February, I played with a couple of cool cats from Iowa/Arizona who had played Sand Hills.  I've had the good fortune to play there myself so naturally we bantered back and forth about its glorious virtues while we played Pacific Dunes.  Eventually, the question came to what we thought was the best course - PD or SH - of which, Terry of Arizona said Sand Hills, of which, I agreed with him, SH takes the top for design, but I couldn't help but mention that PD has more moods.  (SH's mood is a continuous feeling of awe.)

5th at PD for intimacy and the Ladies Tee at 9 for expanse, I feel must be mentioned.

[DJames]

I don't think PD or BD lack a thing.  They are incredible and challenging courses and I wish that I were in a position to play them often because I doubt if I would ever tire of them.  

Ratings are so subjective and IMHO have a popularity contest element to them.  

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