By Lisa Vlooswyk
Bandon Dunes is an enticing and incredible destination that should be on every golfer's bucket list and every buddy's trip to-do.
I have had the good fortune of playing some of the world's greatest links courses in Scotland and Ireland…and this is truly the most authentic links style golf on this side of the pond. In fact… if you found yourself standing on many of the tee boxes you would indeed need to convince yourself that you were still in North America.
The wind swept undulating raw terrain in sight and sound of the sea, make all four courses at Bandon Dunes links golf that you will never forget and that will never satiate you.
The property is owned by greeting card mogul Mike Keiser a true golf enthusiast. The first course on property is its name sake Bandon Dunes. Opened in 1999 to rave reviews this David McLay Kidd design is truly spectacular natural golf. McLay Kidd was asked by Keiser to create something authentic and true to the Scottish tradition. His reply was "No real estate, no golf carts, no clubhouse on the beach" and so it was.
This resort is about golf. It has no frill but clean and comfortable accommodations, no fancy day spa or pool and certainly no Pilates classes. You can't purchase homes on the course, you must walk but may hire a caddie and the club house is smarty situated in a central location, leaving the ocean views for those teeing it up.
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On Bandon Dunes course nearly every hole offers an ocean view and the fescue and Irish gorse that line most of the course give you a whimsical feeling. Many of the fairways are generous and the greens large but don't let that lull you into submission. Club selection is vital especially when the seemingly ever present winds begin to blow. At times you will have a 3 club wind and knowing where to make your misses will keep the big numbers off your card.
The four par 3's are perhaps the best set I have ever played on one course. They encompass stunning views, elevation changes and strategy. Though, my favourite hole of all 72 on property is the 16th on Bandon Dunes. It's a post card come to life with an enchanting vista especially when the sun begins to set and the warm hues intensify the bountiful colors and punctuate the coastal view. It requires thoughtful club selection off the tee and is risk and reward at it finest.
The second and highly anticipated course on property Pacific Dunes designed by Tom Doak was opened in 2001. Pacific Dunes is often rated as the finest among the four tracks and deserves every honour. The 4th hole runs along the Pacific ocean and truly is St. Andrews meets Pebble Beach. Spectacular is the only word to define it. The 9th hole is an engaging par four with variety offering two greens. Check the signage as to which one is in play that day. That hole is followed by breathtaking back to back par 3's that are anything but a walk in the park. The natural shaped bunkers throughout the course, though attractive, are thoroughly penalizing. You won't be able to play Pacific Dunes just once. You will feel you left too many shots out there that you need to try again, yet you never leave disappointed.
The third track on property is vastly different than the first two. Bandon Trails, a Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw deign, debuted in 2005. This course comes full circle. It begins off massive dunes peppered with natural grasses, followed by generous meadow land, and transported into dense forest lined fairways almost reminiscent of mountain style courses. The holes in the back stretch bring players back to the dunes, with an up hill finish on 18 that that if you clear the ridge on your tee shot, will leave you a short iron in and a satisfied walk up to the green. |
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#16 at Bandon Dunes |
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#13 at Pacific Dunes |
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#17 at Bandon Trails |
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#7 at Old MacDonald |
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The final piece of perfection at Bandon Dunes is the newest member of the family, Old Macdonald. Opened in June of 2010 designed by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina, it is a tribute to the design elements made famous by heralded course architect C.B. Macdonald. The first two holes are a solid warm up to prepare you for the roller coaster of golf amusement that begins as you tee of on #3. The blind tee shot up hill over a sand ridge around an ominous looking tree is where the fun really begins. As you make it to the top of the ridge and are pleasantly surprised how far you have rolled towards the green you are forced to pause to take in the overwhelming undulating rolling links framed by views on the expansive pacific and you may find yourself thinking, "How lucky am I?"
The course constantly challenges your game and your mettle. The view from the 7th green is picture perfect and it would behove you to ensure you have enough distance to clear the severely sloping green edges that happily kick back greedy shots.
This course is simply fun to play. It highlights the importance of mastering the ground game of bump and run off tight lies and large undulating greens. Unlike many North American courses you will want to check you 60 degree wedge at the door opting for the lower trajectory shots and a premium is placed on your short game where 100 foot putts are not inconceivable but may be reality. There is also not the lush thick fertilized grass of many North American style courses. In fact rough and apron seamlessly blend into fairway and green. This course is fast becoming one of the most popular tracks to play on site.
Several accommodations exist on property including a variety of room variations for single, double and quadruple occupancy ranging from rooms with king beds, two queens, suited rooms and cottages. There are several full service restaurants and lounges on site. Not to be missed is an after round cocktail at the Lodge in the Tufted Puffin Lounge over looking the 18th green of Bandon Dunes while you reminisce about the days play, followed up by Grandma's Meatloaf at McKee's Pub and capped off with an evening of cigars and scotch in the Bunker Room where cards and pool are often in the mix.
Bandon Dunes brings golf back to its roots. As their tag line says…and all who play her can verify…it's "Golf as it was meant to be."
Lisa is the 6-Time Canadian long drive Champion, a Golf Entertainer and a Motivational Speaker. Lisa can be reached through her website at www.lisalongball.com.
03/11
