The fourth eighteen-hole course at Bandon Dunes Resort had a tough act to follow, as all three of its predecessors were ranked among the top 100 courses in America, and all of them had more oceanfront exposure. Our goal was simply to create a different experience that would capture 25% or more of the total rounds played, which we did by building a bigger, wider course with huge greens, where it’s rare to lose a ball or even have to look for one.
The design of the course honors the style and favorite templates of the father of American golf architecture, Charles Blair Macdonald, whose masterpieces include The National Golf Links of America, Chicago Golf Club, Piping Rock Club, The Creek Club, and Mid Ocean in Bermuda — the last four of which Tom Doak has also served as consulting architect. Interestingly, some of the holes that have been most praised — like the short par-4 3rd with its blind tee shot, and the “Alps” 16th with its blind approach — include features that are usually dismissed as outdated by modern designers.
