'Doak Tees' @ Pacific Dunes?

[Dan Herrmann]

I was out at Bandon last week (had a absolutely wonderful time), and, was looking for the secret tees while playing Pacific Dunes.

Our caddie for 5 rounds, Andy (ask for Andy 'Mankato' if you're out there) told us that Tom Watson played PD earlier this summer and shot 77/78 from the tips, which apparently can strech the course to 7100 yards.

I was told that the Doak Tee on #1 required a tee shot over the clubhouse.  Is that where the stairs on the way out of the parking lot leading up a hill lead?

Also - where are the other Doak Tees?  I found a couple, but far from all.

This could end up being like those Disney-philes that look for hidden Mickeys everywhere at Disney World!

[JohnV]

Here is the view from the "Doak Tee" for #1 which is behind the 18th green.

[Tom_Doak]

First off, there is no way to stretch Pacific Dunes to 7,100 yards from any tees we built.  If there were a set of "Doak tees" they would be shorter than the current back tees.

However, there are a few tees we built just for certain conditions, as Dan alludes to.  The tee for the first hole (behind the 18th green, very near the windscreen for the patio) was built for winter downwind conditions; the hole is 400 yards with 290 to the crest of the fairway, so it was never intended to be used much.

Other tees not on the card:

#4 and #13, there is a tee near the snack bar which allows either hole to be played at about 500 yards.  It's really for #4 in the summer conditions, but it's not as pretty as the tee out on the point at 460 yards.

#5, there is a tee up on the right, making the hole play only 100 yards at a funky angle, at Mike Keiser's suggestion.

#8, you can play off the back of #8 at Bandon Dunes, which adds about 20 yards.

#11, we leveled out a spot on the apron behind the sixth at Bandon Dunes, so you can play from there at about 170 yards.

#12 can be played from the back tee on #5 ... no longer, but shortens the walk, as long as you are a gentleman and don't play down #4 fairway.

#15 has two small tees way up on top of the dune near #3 green ... a much longer walk to play #15 shorter but at a cooler tee shot angle.  These are mostly overgrown by gorse now, since no one ever detoured up there.

#18 has its back tee just above the 17th green on top of the dune, which is 661 yards.

Mike Keiser has suggested a couple more back tees with some prodding from his USGA buddies, but I've discouraged him from adding any more tees for now.  I think Pacific is more highly regarded by club professionals and by Tour professionals BECAUSE it is short enough that they have a chance to shoot a reasonable score in the wind, and a low score on the rare calm day.

[Kyle Harris]

Hidden tees... absolutely perfect.  

[John_Conley]

and if you play it backward you can hear "evil, satanic golf balls need to be rolled back"

[johnk]

Having played once with Tom, I think the appropriate course length for the "Doak Tees" would be about 6500yds.  He's a dangerous 10, after all...  

[Tom Jefferson]

Hadn't heard any story that Mr. Watson was here this summer, rather that he played Bandon/Pac last summer from the tips, in a full bore summer wind, and shot 75/77.

The only tee I have played as described by T. Doak is 18, at 661, which stretches that tremendous finishing hole WAY out of my league.

Beautiful summer weather here in Bandon....fog in the AM, sunny, and fairly light breezes.

Greens and turf coming along at the practice center 3 par...sand in the bunkers now.


Tom

[Jonathan Cummings]

In a no-wind condition Pac probably plays the easiest of the three courses and most in need of lengthening for the long players.

JC

[Tom_Doak]

But how often is it not windy?

This is exactly what Pat Mucci is talking about in his other thread ... it's not the low handicap guys who are always pushing to make today's courses longer and tougher.  It's the 10-handicaps who think everything should be tough.

[Dan Herrmann]

I played 3 days and it was always very windy, especially, as you know, in the afternoon.  In fact, I'm still using the Chap Stick to deal with my winburned lips    [equipment suggestion -  my Sonartec MD hybrid produced awesome shots into that Bandon northerly wind, and I highly recommend it]

The numbers I heard from our caddy Andy were definitely anecodotal, so take them for what they are.  

It's the first time I'd been back to Bandon since 2001, and the visit confirmed my opinion that Pacific Dunes is the best  course I've ever played.

Tom - thanks for the clarification on the tee boxes!