88 (World) / 45 (U.S.) / 10 (Public) Old MacDonald

December 1, 2014

One thing I love about Bandon Dunes, and one of the numerous reasons it is my favorite golf resort anywhere in the world, is that the four courses are uniquely different in styles and layouts. All four courses are world class and hold their own against most other courses on the list. Combining them all into one destination makes Bandon Dunes Golf Resort truly special.

The fourth course at Bandon Dunes pays homage to golf course architect Charles Blair Macdonald by asking one simple question: What would Macdonald have created had the Oregon Coast been his canvas? Inspired by Macdonald's iconic work, course architects Tom Doak and Jim Urbina crafted a course that seeks the answer upon vast greens, among myriad angles of play, and from the depths of fierce bunkers. By celebrating these classic concepts of design, they honored the traditions of this game we all love.

Entry sign to the course.

Initially, much of the land was shrouded in gorse but as the thick, dense vegetation was pulled back some startling landforms that were three to eight feet tall (ideal for golf) were found underneath. Despite being the fourth course built on the Bandon property, the land and its characteristics were most assuredly not the fourth best. Debate as to which of the four courses enjoys the best property from which to build a course is a matter of ongoing debate. Each property has its own defenders, be it the diversity of Bandon Trails to the number of cliff side holes afforded at Bandon Dunes to the sandy blowouts at Pacific Dunes and now the rippling land features, scale and long views at Old MacDonald.

Flag used on the holes at Old MacDonald.

At around 255,000 square feet, the greens at Old Macdonald are far and away the largest set of greens in the United States, and they provide the course with an unusual amount of flexibility in course set-up. There are five sets of tee boxes at Old MacDonald.  From back to front, they are Black, Green, Gold, Blue, and Orange. I opted to play from the green tee boxes for both rounds and all distances are from those tee boxes.

The opening hole at Old Macdonald, named "Double Plateau", is a short par-4 that plays to 304 yards and has a wide fairway. Before hitting your tee shot, consider your distance to the bunkers and check the hole location to position yourself for the best angle into the green. When playing into the wind, you will likely need to add one or two clubs to get back to the hole.

A look down the fairway from the 1st tee box.

A look into the 1st green from 75 yards out.

The second hole, named "Eden", is a par three that plays to 181 yards. You will likely be hitting into the prevailing win. The hole features a back-to-front pitched green that is guarded by a deep revetted bunker at front right, as well as another bunker left.

A look into the green from the 2nd tee box. 

A look down onto the 2nd green from the top of the hill on #3.

A look towards the blind tee shot from the 3rd tee box.

This par 4 third hole, named "Sahara", plays to 345 yards. The blind tee shot over a sand dune leads to a fairway that falls away from you and down to the right. Ideally, you want to draw a driver around the old Port Orford Cedar and give yourself a chance to get near the green. A hybrid or middle iron off the tee will likely leave you a short iron for your second shot.

A look down the fairway from the top of the hill.

A look into the green from 150 yards out.

A look into the green from the bottom of the hill, approx. 75 yards out.

A closer look onto the green from the backside.

A look down the fairway from the 4th tee box.

A good tee shot is critical on the long par four, 4th hole, named "Hog's Back", plays to 472 yards. The best angle for the drive is over the left ridge. Anything short or right will fall off leaving a long, blind second shot. There is more room to the left than you think so no need to be too concerned with the shot left.

A closer look at the left side fairway bunker.

A look at the second shot if you hit the drive short or to the right. 

A look into the 4th green from 220 yards out. 

A look into the 4th green from 75 yards out.

A look back onto the 4th green from the top of the hill.

The par 3 fifth hole, named "Short", plays to 134 yards. It is the shortest hole on the golf course plays to one of the largest greens. You want to pay particular attention to the hole location as there are several distinct areas to leave your golf ball. When in doubt, aiming for the center of the green is a good option.

A look into the green from the 5th tee box.

A look down the fairway from the 6th tee box.

The 6th hole, named "Long", is the first par 5 on the course and plays to 520 yards. Aptly named, the longest hole on the golf course plays directly into the summer wind. You definitely want to avoid the large cross bunker in the middle of the fairway that sits 100 yards from the green by laying up for position. The best angle into this green is from the left side. It will likely take three well-played shots to get home on this hole.

A look down the fairway towards the 6th green approximately 50 yards short of the cross bunker.

A closer look at the cross bunker.

A look into the 6th green from 75 yards out. 

A closer look at the undulating 6th green.

A closer look at the green-side bunker. 

A look up the fairway from the 7th tee box.

The par four seventh hole, named "Ocean", plays to 304 yards - all uphill. Playing this hole for a good score is more about the second shot than the first. A large fairway with more room to the right, your best aiming point from the tee is the gorse to the right of the green complex. Your second shot here needs to take into account the distance, wind and elevation change. Be sure to take enough club to get you all the way up to the green.

A look onto the 7th green from just off the right side.

A look at the back side of the 7th green and the hidden bunker. 

After playing the 7th hole, you get a stunning view of the ocean on the walk to the 8th tee box and snack shack. The walk was very similar to the walk from hole 4 to 5 at Barnbougle Dunes.

A look down the ocean between the 7th green and 8th tee box.

The par three 8th hole, named "Biarritz", plays to 170 yards. Playing from an elevated tee, this green has a deep swale that will come into play for most players. The best shots will be played with a lower trajectory and land short of the swale, rolling down and through to the back third of the green. A two-putt on this hole is a feat of its own.

A look into the green from the 8th tee box.

A closer look at the swale on the green.

A look down the fairway from the 9th tee box.

The par four ninth hole, named "Cape", plays to 352 yards. The hole is a sweeping dogleg to the right, with bunkers and gorse on the inside corner that punishes those who get too aggressive. The safer you play it, however, the longer the approach shot becomes.

A closer look at the right-side fairway bunkers.

A look into the 9th green from 100 yards out.

A look down the fairway from the 10th tee box.

This 440 yard par 4 is named "Bottle". This hole gets its namesake from the two sets of bunkers which narrow the landing area for the drive. A long carry up the middle or a ball funneled down the right side will avoid the bunkers and leave you in the fairway. The second shot is to an elevated green that plays smaller than it looks.

A closer look at some of the fairway bunkers.

A look into the 10th green from 120 yards out.

A closer look at the 10th green.

A look down the fairway from the 11th tee box.

The 11th hole, named "Road", is a 399 yard par four. It receives its name due to the resemblance of the famous Road Hole at St. Andrews. A tee shot placed down the right side will leave the best angle in for the second shot. Anything from the middle or left side will force the player to contend with the deep bunker near the front left-side of the green.

A look into the 11th green from 100 yards out.

A closer look at the 11th green. 

A look into the green from the 12th tee box.

 The 205 yard par three is named "Redan".  The tee shot plays into a plateau green running from front-right to back-left. If you can curve the ball, landing it on the front right and chasing it back, will give you the best chance at making par. A bunker sits on the left side of the green to collect balls that weren’t played high or long enough.

A closer look at the 12th green. 

A look down the fairway from the 13th tee box.

The 319 yard par four is named "Leven". The green is nestled in between two sand dunes. The best position is just past the bunker in the right-center of the fairway, leaving a full shot into the hole. The green slopes from left to right.

A look into the 13th green from 150 yards out.

A look into the 13th green from 120 yards out.

A look down the fairway from the 14th tee box.

This 297 yard par four, named "Maiden", plays entirely uphill. You will want to pay attention to the hole location as there are "wings" on the left-side and right-side that demand a precise approach. There is a lot of fairway to the right which should create the best angle for a back left hole location.

A closer look at the fairway bunkers. 

A closer look at the fairway bunkers.

A look onto the 14th green from the hill just behind it. 

A look down the fairway from the 15th tee box.

The par 5 fifteenth hole, named "Westward-Ho", plays to 482 yards and straight into the setting sun. A tee shot hit towards the left-center of the fairway will give you a chance to get near the green in two. There is a bunker on the right side of the fairway that sits short of the green. You might consider taking an extra club as you are hitting to an elevated green that is tiered.

A look into the 15th green from 100 yards out.

A look back onto the 15th green from the hill behind it.

The sixteenth hole, named "Alps", is a par four that plays to 433 yards. This can be a long and difficult par four, especially if the winds are up. A big tee shot hit down the right side may leave you with a view of the green. If you are down the middle or left side you will have a blind approach shot into the green. After you have tapped in, be sure to ring the bell so the group behind you knows the green is clear.

A look down the fairway from the 16th tee box. 

A closer look at the blind approach into the green.

A 150 yard look into the green from the right side of the fairway. 

A look into the green from 100 yards out. 

A look down the fairway from the 17th tee box.

The par five seventeenth, named "Littlestone", plays to 515 yards. This par five gives players two options off the tee – the conservative play is down the left side, avoiding the bunkers in the middle. A ball that is driven towards the right side needs to carry the waste area to reach the fairway. If successful, you will have a direct line to the green and could reach it in two. The bunker short left of the green tends to collect a lot of balls that are not hit with confidence.

A closer look at the bunkers in the middle of the fairway.

A look towards the green from 200 yards out. 

A look into the green from 125 yards out.

A look down the fairway from the 18th tee box.

The par four 18th, named "Punchbowl", plays to 426 yards. This strong finishing hole plays downwind in the summer and requires a drive placed just left of center. From here a mid-iron shot should be played left of the intended target. Take enough club to get all the way to the hole as the green lies in a bowl and shots will feed back to the center.

A look into the 18th green from 120  yards out.

A look into the 18th green from 75 yards out.

After playing each of the courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort twice, I think I have settled on Old MacDonald being my favorite. It is likely due to my love of links courses and this one plays very much like a links course.  Truth be told, you can't go wrong with any of the four. It just depends on preference of course type. The more I play the four different courses here, the more my appreciation grows for all of them. I look forward to my return on my annual pilgrimage back to Bandon every year.