Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — Pacific Dunes
Bandon, United States
18 Holes · Par 71 · USD 175–395 · Links
— About
About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — Pacific Dunes
Pacific Dunes is Tom Doak's defining work and, by many measures, the finest golf course he has designed. Opened in 2001 as the second course at Bandon Dunes Resort, Pacific Dunes immediately joined the world's top-10 rankings and has rarely left them. Where the original Bandon Dunes course captures the Scottish links spirit, Pacific Dunes is a more rugged, elemental experience — Doak used the natural terrain with minimal earthmoving, routing the course along towering oceanside dunes and through gorse-filled corridors that drop dramatically toward the Pacific. Seven holes play directly along the coastline, with the ocean visible or in play from virtually every hole on the back nine. The par-3 11th is among the most breathtaking holes in American golf: a downhill shot to a green perched on the edge of the ocean cliff, with the Pacific filling the entire background. Doak's green complexes are complex and provocative — ground-game approaches are rewarded, overly aggressive aerial assaults are punished, and the natural fall of the land is always visible in the design. Pacific Dunes is walking-only, caddie-encouraged, and — like all courses at Bandon — free from the modern resort amenities that can dilute the golf experience. A round here, especially in morning mist with the surf audible below, is among the most memorable in American golf.
- Tom Doak's finest work — debuted in Golf Magazine's Top 10 in the US and has rarely left since 2001
- Seven holes directly alongside the Pacific Ocean cliff — the greatest oceanside stretch in American golf
- Par-3 11th: downhill to a cliffedge green with the Pacific as the only backdrop — one of golf's great par-3s
- Minimal earthmoving design: Doak shaped the existing duneland, not built over it
- Walking-only, caddie-encouraged — the most immersive links experience at Bandon Dunes Resort
History
Tom Doak was commissioned to design Bandon Dunes Resort's second course after the original Bandon Dunes course had established itself as a phenomenon. Doak explored the adjacent duneland and found an even more dramatic set of landforms along the ocean cliffs — he moved relatively little earth, instead routing the course around the natural peaks and valleys of the coastal terrain. Pacific Dunes opened in 2001 and immediately entered Golf Magazine's US Top 10, where it has remained ever since. Many architects and writers consider it the finest Doak design anywhere in the world.
Signature Holes
The par-3 11th is Pacific Dunes' signature moment — a downhill shot from an elevated tee to a green perched on the edge of the ocean cliff, with the Pacific as the only backdrop. At low tide the beach below is visible; in heavy swells the spray reaches the green level. The par-4 3rd plays along the top of the highest dune ridge, with the ocean visible for the full length of the fairway. The green complexes throughout are among Doak's most creative, offering multiple approach angles and rewarding the player who uses the natural fall of the land.
Best Time to Visit
June through September is the prime season, though Pacific Dunes' clifftop exposure means wind is a factor year-round. Autumn is particularly dramatic, with the surf heightening and the ocean mist creating atmospheric morning conditions. The resort's accommodation books quickly in peak season and multi-night stays are common.
Playing Tips
Like all Bandon Dunes Resort courses, Pacific Dunes is walking-only — caddies are available and strongly recommended given the complex routing through oceanside terrain. The 11th tee requires some care in windy conditions. Book tee times through the resort; multi-course packages are the standard approach for visiting golfers who want to play multiple Bandon layouts during a trip. Green fees range from USD 175 to 395.
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Visit Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — Pacific Dunes
Bandon, United States
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Practical Information
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — Pacific Dunes
How much does it cost to play Pacific Dunes?
Green fees range from USD 175 to 395 depending on season and tee time. Multi-round resort packages offer the best value for visiting golfers playing multiple courses.
Is Pacific Dunes or Bandon Dunes considered the better course?
Both rank in the world's top 20, but Pacific Dunes is frequently cited by architects and writers as the finest of the five Bandon courses for its dramatic clifftop terrain and Doak's creative routing.
Can you walk Pacific Dunes without a caddie?
Walking is the only option — carts are not permitted at any Bandon Dunes Resort course. Caddies are available and highly recommended; pull carts are an alternative.
What is the signature hole at Pacific Dunes?
The par-3 11th is the most celebrated hole — a downhill tee shot to a clifftop green with the Pacific Ocean as the entire backdrop, one of golf's great par-3s.
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