All I have is this fact. I played Pacific Dunes in an alternate shot format with a 22 handicap partner and was never in a bunker. Are the bunkers just eye candy (ie: marginally strategic) or did I just get unexplainably lucky. The format was we both hit tee shots and then hit each from each others drives and alternate on in from the best ball. Please note that this is not an opinion and simply a fact of my single round at the course.
John,
I would say that you simply got extremely lucky. I have played the course a bunch of times and going hole by hole these are the bunkers I would consider to be very much in play that I have hit alot of balls in myself and seen alot of balls hit into.
The left greenside bunker collects balls that are on the left short side of the green on #1.
On #2 both bunkers are quite in play off the tee. A long slightly pulled drive that does not carry the left fairway bunker will almost certainly go into it. That bunker is very deep and is pretty much a 1 shot penelty at best. The center fairway bunker is also deep and makes reaching the green almost impossible. Near the green anyone short on the right side will find that bunker.
On #3 the bunkers in the middle of the fairway see a ton of balls depending on wind and the bunker on the left side of the fairway between 150-120 out sees a ton of pulled or hooked lay up shots. That is also a very tough bunker to get the ball to the green. The short right side bunker also collects pretty much any ball that lands 25 yards or less short of the green and is not on the extreme left side of the fairway.
On #4 the left side fairway bunker sees a ton off balls as people aim away from the cliff or simply bail out left.
The bunker to the left of the #5 green sees alot of balls, anyone that aims on that left side line and hits it too far will find that bunker. The 2 on the right side also see alot of balls, anyone who hits a fade that is running away from them their ball will roll into one of those bunkers unless it finds the small patch of grass between them and rolls to the bottom of the hill.
On #6 the right side fairway bunker is a great deterent for anyone wanting to take the optimal right line off the tee but is not aggressive enough with their swing or club selection. This bunker makes for a very tough 4 on a short hole. Conversly anyone that pulls a driver or hard fairway wood downwind will find the left greenside bunker where again you will have a very tough 4 even next to the green in 1.
On #7 the bunker to the front left of the green will collect any approach shot that lands on the left 1/2 of the fairway in front of the greeen or any shot that lands short with a draw. I have been in that bunker downwind more times than I care to remember.
On #8 the greenside bunker is brilliant and makes the hole what it is. I have seen many many balls hit into that bunker.
On #9 the left bunker on the face of the ridge will catch any ball that is pulled and not hit extremely solid when going for the bottom of the split fairway.
On #11 all the bunkers around the green are very much in play. The 2 on the left side right before the cliff collect most balls that run out in that direction. The one on the right will catch any ball hit hard just right of the green.
On #12 the bunker in the middle of the layup area makes that hole what it is imo. Also the bunker short of the green sees some action into the wind and I have seen many balls hit into the 2 fairway bunkers to the left of the driving area when the black tee is on the bottom left.
On #13 the bunkers on the right are very much in play for anyone hitting too much of a fade or bailing out away from the cliff. The greenside bunker on the right also sees alot of balls for the same reasons.
#14 the bunker to the right of the green is deep and nasty and any ball fading that lands on the right side of the green will end up in there. The one on the left side of the green also sees alot of action.
On #15 the 2 bunkers in the layup area make the hole what it is and catch many mishit layup attempts.
On #16 the bunker behind the green to the left is nasty and catches any shot that is running out too much. Good luck getting up and down from there as the green is hard, small and sloping away from you with a big falloff awaiting any shot hit even a little too hard.
On #17 the short right bunker catches any shot that lands short and too far left. If you are far enough right it will bound onto the green.
On #18 the fairway bunkers on the left of the landing area will catch any ball hit in that direction.
Also the bunkers long and on the left side of the green also catch alot of balls hit that are running out too much. Interestingly I have only seen 1 or 2 balls ever hit into the bunker short and right of the green.