It’s not too often you get to play the number 2 ranked golf course in America, a consensus top 20 golf course in the world. Pacific dunes certainly lives up to the billing. Tom Doak crafted a course that looks as if it has been there for a thousand years.

My favorite thing about Pacific Dunes Is the variety. While the whole course is build on sand dunes, you travel from forest to dunes to ocean to dunes to forest again throughout your round. Also, the back nine is incredibly fun and unique with 4 par 3’s and 3 par 5’s.

It’s two best par 4’s are certainly two of the best in the world. The fourth hole is your introduction to the ocean and it is memorable. With massive bunkers on the left and the Pacific Ocean on the right you have no choice but to step up and hit a straight shot with confidence. Anything right is “off the continent” as my caddie liked to say.


View from the tee down the fairway of the par 4 4th.

While the fourth gets the most acclaim, The 13th is my favorite hole on the course. The right side of the hall is framed by 40-50 ft sand dunes that grow in size as you get closer to to the green. The Pacific ocean on the left temps you to drive dangerously close to the sand dunes on the right. A good shot will hit it down slope and roll a considerable distance, however, the further you go the more blind and uphill your second shot will be to a green perched right on the ocean.


Par 4 13th

I would say that Pacific Dunes has the best set of par threes at Bandon dunes resort, a statement that should not be taken lightly. Particularly special are the back to back par 3 10th and 11th holes. Although the par 3 14th and the “redan hole” 17th are also fantastic. The 17th is probably the most stunning redan hole I have played


Par 3 10th hole.


Par 3 11th


17th at Pacific Dunes

All in all there is not a single bad hole On the course. If you ever get the chance do whatever you need to do to play it...and throw your scorecard out the window.




Par 5 3rd

My favorite course a Bandon dunes is still the original, but Pacific dunes is a world class all the way and a very close second.