SPDB:
I also like Winged Foot immensely, but the varying weather conditions at Bandon can ALWAYS make for interesting golf. I'll give a slight edge to WF for its tightly defended green complexes, particuoarly when you need to reach them with a long iron or wood on the big par-4's, but you must have total control of the ball in playing the duo at Bandon.
The one lone thing I don't find appealing at WF is the conversion of two holes into par-5's (9 & 16 on the West). The purpose has always been to increase the difficulty meter. That same strategy could also be done at Bandon -- both par-5's on the back side could be reduced to long par-4's.
If you take the West at WF you probably have a fair edge over Bandon, but conversely Pac Dunes is clearly stronger than the WF / East in my opinion.
This is the kind of epic battle you could go round and round with at any 37th hole!
In my mind it's a coin flip but if pressed I'd lean to Bandon / Pac Dunes because I'm partial to the proximity to the ocean and the always challenging condition provided by man and the Almighty.
Arguably, played from the tips in Open conditions, the West at WF NEVER suffers fools lightly. Much is made of Woods and his record four-round total at Augusta let's not forget what Davis Love III did in '97 at the PGA -- first time 270 was broken at WF -- impressive stuff regardless even with the conditions being a bit wet that week.
P.S. Olympia Fields deserves a good watch because the changes made to the Open (North) course in 03 are very solid and the South, while being a bit shorter and relatively tame gives plenty of punch on a few holes.
Rich -- had to mention Stow. Lots of fun to play and the quality of the terrain is really neat. I've always loved the 9th hole (462 yard par-4) on the North Course, among a few others. The South has the better terrain, but the North has a bit more punch for the better player.
