Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: A Guide to the Original Course
The original course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort opened in 1999 and changed American golf. Here is its history, its best holes and how to make the most of a visit.
Before there were five big courses, two par-3 courses and a putting course on the Oregon coast, there was just one. The original course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort opened in 1999 and changed American golf, proving that people would travel a very long way to walk a true links on the sea. This guide to the Bandon Dunes course covers its history, how it plays, the holes people remember, and some practical tips for your first trip.
Whether you are planning to play it, or shopping for someone who just came home from Bandon talking about nothing else, it helps to know why this course in particular holds such a special place.
The Story Behind the Bandon Dunes Course
Bandon Dunes was the idea of Mike Keiser, a greeting card entrepreneur who wanted to bring the walking, wind-blown golf of the British Isles to America. In the mid-1990s he bought a large stretch of coastal land in Coos County, near the town of Bandon in southern Oregon, hours from any major city. Plenty of people thought it was too remote to work.
For the first course Keiser chose David McLay Kidd, a young Scottish architect with a Gleneagles connection and very few designs to his name. Kidd has said himself that he had not done anything of note before. The course opened on May 19, 1999, and the praise was immediate. It launched Kidd's career and convinced Keiser to keep building: Pacific Dunes by Tom Doak followed in 2001, then Bandon Trails by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw in 2005, Old Macdonald by Doak and Jim Urbina in 2010, and Sheep Ranch by Coore and Crenshaw in 2020.
From the start the resort has been walking only, with golf carts allowed only for medical reasons. That decision is a big part of the experience.
What the Course Is Like to Play
Bandon Dunes is a links in the traditional sense: firm, sandy ground, fescue grasses, open views and a round shaped by the wind. From the back tees it plays to a par of 72 at a little over 7,200 yards, and there are several shorter sets of tees that make it far friendlier for most golfers.
Kidd designed the routing as a journey through the landscape. The round starts in a low area behind the lodge, climbs to a high point at the par-5 3rd tee where you can see the Pacific and much of the course, and then reaches the bluffs for the first time at the 4th. Several holes run right along the cliffs above the ocean, while others weave through dunes and native grasses.
The wind is the real architect. According to Kidd, it tends to blow from the south in winter and the north in summer, so the course you play in August can feel very different from the one you play in January. In summer, he notes, the 5th, 11th and 15th play straight into the breeze and become the hardest holes on the card.
The course has also softened over the years. Much of the gorse that once lined the fairways has been removed, and foot traffic has loosened tight landing areas, such as the 5th, that were narrower in 1999. It is still a demanding links, but lost balls are less common than early visitors remember.
Signature Holes at Bandon Dunes
The 4th: first sight of the sea
A par 4 that doglegs right toward the ocean, the 4th finishes at a green on the bluffs with nothing but the Pacific behind it. For many golfers it is the moment the trip truly begins.
The 5th: through the dunes
The 5th runs between dunes with the ocean along the left. Mounds sit in the fairway, and a solid drive up the right side leaves the best angle in. Reviewers often name it one of the best holes on the property.
The 14th through 17th: a match-play stretch
Kidd grew up on match play in Scotland, and this run of holes shows it. The 14th is a short par 4 with a wide fairway pinched by bunkers, giving several ways to play it. The 15th is a do-or-die par 3, often into or across the wind, with trouble short and left.
The 16th is the most photographed hole at Bandon Dunes: a short, reachable par 4 along the clifftop, with the ocean right and the green perched near the edge. Kidd's advice is to borrow from the Road Hole at St Andrews and aim long and left, then pitch back. The 17th follows, a downhill par 4 to the biggest green on the property, roughly 80 yards from front to back.
Championship History
Bandon Dunes has been a regular stop for USGA championships. It was the primary course for the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur, the 2020 U.S. Amateur and the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur, and it hosted the 2025 U.S. Women's Amateur. That record speaks to how well the course tests elite players even as it remains enjoyable for everyday golfers.
Tips for Visiting Bandon Dunes
- Plan to walk. Carts are not part of the experience here. Comfortable, waterproof shoes and a light carry bag make a big difference over multiple rounds.
- Consider a caddie. Caddies are part of the culture at Bandon, and local knowledge of lines and wind helps a lot on a links you have never seen.
- Dress in layers. Coastal Oregon weather can change quickly. Rain gear and a warm layer are worth packing even in summer.
- Pick the right tees. Wind can make a course play much longer than the card says. Moving up a set is rarely a mistake on your first visit.
- Use the ground. Firm turf rewards bump-and-run shots and putting from off the green. Leave your high-spin habits at home when the wind is up.
- Play the original. With so many famous courses at the resort, it is tempting to skip ahead. Start where it all began.
For current tee times, rates and lodging, check the resort's official website at bandondunesgolf.com.
A Bandon Dunes Print for the Wall
Our Bandon Dunes print shows the original course in a clean mid-century style, with every hole drawn and numbered from real map data, so you can trace the walk from the lodge out to the bluffs and back. It comes in 12x16, 18x24 and 24x32 inches, unframed on museum-quality matte paper or framed in black, white or green and ready to hang. If you are building a wall for the whole resort, browse our Bandon Dunes Golf Resort prints. Golf Print House is independent and not affiliated with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
FAQ
Who designed the Bandon Dunes course?
Scottish architect David McLay Kidd designed the original Bandon Dunes course, which opened in 1999. It was one of his first designs and launched his career.
Can you ride a cart at Bandon Dunes?
The resort is walking only. Golf carts are allowed only for medical reasons, and many golfers choose to play with a caddie.
What is the signature hole at Bandon Dunes?
The short par-4 16th along the cliffs is the most photographed, though many golfers also name the 4th and 5th, where the course first meets the ocean.
Is Bandon Dunes hard for average golfers?
It can be in strong wind, but multiple tee options, wide playing areas and firm ground that lets you run the ball onto greens make it very playable. Choosing a shorter set of tees helps.