The Black and White TRUEs will be available for pre-order in August 2010

On the course, the TRUEs are closer to the ground than any other performance golf shoe on the market and Ryan Moore believes they have helped him perform very consistently on Tour since he put them in play.

Ryan was so excited about the TRUE linkswear concept that he decided to become a part owner in the company and he is very passionate about the product.

“I’m wearing TRUE linkswear golf shoes because they’re the lightest, most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn. I’m a feel player and every part of the way I experience the game of golf, from the teebox through the green depends on having a solid connection with the ground. These shoes provide that connection in a way I’ve never felt before. I was so excited to learn about this golf shoe concept, and when I finally got to wear the shoes for the first time, I knew I wanted to wear them on Tour.”

The TRUEs are built on a barefoot platform which means they have a wide toe box to allow each toe to function individually and they also have maximum surface area contact with the ground which is proven to improve balance and traction. The TPU “ergo-traction” sole has been designed to work with your body during the swing and while walking between shots. Because they are closer to the ground than other golf shoes, TRUE linkswear ensured that the upper was built from 100% Full Grain Waterproof Leather paired with a seam sealed water proof membrane with Outlast lining. The goal was simply 360 degree waterproofing and the feedback thus far has been very positive.

Ryan Moore rocking the TRUEs on Sunday - Screen shot from CBS Coverage

The TRUEs will be available for Pre-Order in late-August 2010 through TRUE linkwear.com and the shoes will arrive in October.

For more information please visit the TRUE linkswear website.

If you are a passionate walking golfer who is looking for comfort while playing Bandon Dunes, Ballyneal, Ballybunion or your home course, then I wholeheartedly believe the TRUEs will be a great fit for you.

Rob Rigg

President and Co-Founder – TRUE linkswear and Founder of The Walking Golfers Society

Par 71

7,147 Yards

Architect: Tom Doak (Renaissance Golf Design)

Private – Opened in 2006

Few courses in North America can stir a walking golfer’s soul like Ballyneal, which boasts golf that is so pure and natural that Old Tom Morris would approve wholeheartedly.

Ballyneal is still somewhat of a hidden gem that is slowly being discovered as golfers venture into the chop hills of North Eastern Colorado, about 3 hours from Denver International Airport. The club is private, laid back and only reached after driving several miles along a dirt road located a few minutes south of Holyoke.  While you may be “in the middle of nowhere”, the passionate walking golfer will feel very much “at home”.

A simple sign and gate indicate where you turn off the dirt road to Ballyneal

Ballyneal was carefully routed over and around the chop hills by Tom Doak – and this could very well be his masterpiece. It is probably the most natural course I have ever played in North America because it melds seamlessly with the environment as the golfer journeys through a unique and beautiful landscape. Dave Hensley and his team keep Ballyneal playing firm, fast and fun by using very little water and only managing the fescue as necessary on fairways and greens. The experience at Ballyneal is heightened by an excellent staff that create a laid back and welcoming atmosphere at the club. It is, absolutely, inland dream golf on a course that changes day to day and hour to hour as wind and weather move through the property.

Looking across the 9th Green to the 10th Hole after a thunder-storm had quickly passed through

Ballyneal is so pure that there are no yardage or tee markers. It is a match play course with serious distance elasticity depending on the wind and where you happen to put your peg in the ground. Creativity abounds at every green and many approaches can be played along the ground or through the air. While Ballyneal is not a “true seaside links” it certainly plays like one.

For a walking golfer, there can be only be a handful of experiences that rival time spent at Ballyneal – especially if you are on the property with friends.

Please enjoy the photo tour below.

Hole #1 – Par4 (382 – 320 yards)

A straight-forward opener with a long carry from the back tees that can be avoided from the front tees located adjacent to the Turtle Bar (off photo on the right). The left side of the fairway leaves a better angle but you have to take on the trouble.

First Tee at Ballyneal.

Approach to First Green at Ballyneal - Don't run it off the left side!

First Green at Ballyneal.

Hole #2 – Par 4 (490 – 360 yards)

The second plays very long into the wind and much shorter downwind as the drive can get quite a bit of roll out.  There is plenty of room to run the ball on to the front of the deep green.

Second Tee at Ballyneal.

Approach to the 2nd at Ballyneal

View of the right to left sloping 2nd Green at Ballyneal.

Hole #3 – Par 3 (145 – 90 yards)

A thoroughly enjoyable short one shotter into a green that sits in a natural bowl.

Tee shot on the 3rd at Ballyneal

The bunkers on the 3rd are rugged and beautiful

There are no flat spots on this green - it is pure fun

Hole #4 – Par 5 (573 – 360 yards)

An all-world tee shot to a strip of fairway running off into the distance below. With a kind wind the green is reachable in two for the long hitter. Otherwise lay up to the left and give yourself a full wedge to the elevated green.

The most captivating tee shot on the property at the 4th.

I do not believe a golfer could ever tire of watching their tee shot float out over the yuccas towards the fairway below

The three shotter is reachable with a strong second that runs up to the green

A lay up will leave an uphill approach to the plateau green with a false front

Looking back to the 4th tee from the green

Hole #5 – Par 3 (165 – 100 yards)

The pot bunker dominates play into a green that has a steep bank on the front left and back right.

The 5th calls for a precise tee shot to the undulating green

Hole #6 – Par 4 (480 – 370 yards)

A challenging two shotter, especially into the wind from the back tees. The green is on a plateau that falls off to the right side but there is room to miss on the left. An up and down for par is no easy task.

The many teeing options make Ballyneal special - this is the tips on the 6th

From the teeing ground above the 6th unfolds before you.

From the left side of the green it is apparent how subtle yet challenging the undulations at Ballyneal can be

Hole #7 – Par 4 (352 – 285 yards)

Perhaps one of the most “fun” holes in golf – the 7th at Ballyneal is an absolute gem. The reachable two shotter has one of the most interesting greens I have ever seen. One could spend hours hitting different shots in and around the green complex.

Even on the tee there is a hint that this is a very special golf hole

As you turn the corner - the E green greets you

Saying this is one of the most "fun" greens in golf is an understatement

Hole #8 – Par 5 (515 – 340 yards)

The fairway funnels about 300 yards off the tee with safety on the left and daunting bunkers on the right. The terraced green is reachable with two well struck shots, and that is where the real fun begins.

The 8th is another all world hole - the tee box selection dictates the challenge

A drive short and right of the cross bunkers can leave a long and blind second

A drive long and left makes the three shotter very reachable in two

On any other course, the 8th would be the most fascinating green complex, but such is the quality at Ballyneal that it is not

Looking back along the 8th from the 9th Tee - Brilliant!

Hole #9 – Par 4 (362 – 315 yards)

The 9th is driveable with the “right” wind but two large dunes pinch the landing area about 285 yards off the tee so a precise strike is necessary to run the gauntlet. A hybrid or fairway wood is usually a good play, leaving a short iron into another challenging green.

Tee shot on the 9th at Ballyneal

Looking back on the 9th - note how the dunes pinch the drive and force accuracy off the tee from the ambitious golfer

Hole #10 – Par 4 (509 – 380 yards)

A hollow on the left collects all but the longest and straightest drives that successfully challenge the huge bunker on the right side of the fairway. Note that the green cants sharply from left to right.

Tee shot on the 10th at Ballyneal

A running approach is preferred and the bank on the left side can be used by the skillful golfer

Looking back over the rumpled terrain it is obvious how important the ground game must be at Ballyneal

Hole #11 – Par 3 (200 – 125 yards)

A very elastic one shotter than can play slightly uphill from the back tees or severely uphill from the front tees. Missing left is a huge mistake, as is going in the bunkers on the right. Thump, thump – thump, thump.

The 11th calls for an aerial approach to a firm plateau green

And another angle from the lower teeing area - even more daunting

The view across the green to the chop hills is quite captivating

Hole #12 – Par 4 (375 – 240 yards)

The hole may be drivable with a tailwind if you can hug the left side and run it onto the green. Anything leaking right will find a hollow and a blind approach over bunkers to a very undulating green. This is a great match play hole.

The 12th may be driveable with an accurate strike down the left with a tailwind

A drive that kicks right will leave a blind approach

The green moves from right to left and a bunker lies in wait for anything that runs across the putting surface with pace

Hole #13 – Par 4 (510 – 330 yards)

Another all world tee shot, especially from the tips where only a sliver of fairway is visible.

The play is usually down the left even if its means accepting a blind approach. The front right bunker and a huge swale effectively prohibit a shot into that side of the green from anywhere but the left side of the fairway.

An all world driving hole awaits the golfer at the 13th

The centerline bunker is unforgiving and leaves a long approach

A big drive leaves a manageable distance to the pin, but it might be blind

A large swales divides the green at the front - how fun is this putt?!?!?

From behind, the size and movement of the 13th green is more evident

Hole #14 – Par 4 (362 – 300 yards)

A real thinker’s hole that is short on distance but puts a premium on accuracy and strategy.

The 14th tee shot presents a conundrum - short left, take on the center-line bunker or go long and wide right

Short left leaves a longer approach, but it is more direct with safety left of the pin

The angle from the right side is very challenging and demands the utmost accuracy to get it close

Hole #15 – Par 3 (237 – 135 yards)

Another super elastic one shotter that is a joy to play. If you get it in the bowl you will, in theory, have a chance at birdie, but three putts are also very common on this wildly undulating green.

The 15th is a wonderful one shotter to a huge punchbowl green

There are severe undulations within the front, side and backboards that surround the green

Hole #16 – Par 5 (546 – 410 yards)

The finishing stretch starts with a three shotter that can be reached in two from the mid and forward tees with a helping wind. The hole doglegs sharply to the left between two fabulous dunes – and the green is no pushover.

The 16th is a shortish three shotter with a sharp dog leg left

After a long and accurate drive the green is reachable but surrounded by trouble

A drive too far can bring this nasty bunker into play and force a lay up

The fronting bunker is deep and ominous

Looking back it is more obvious how the gap in the huge dunes dominates strategy for the hole

Hole #17 – Par 4 (481 – 365 yards)

The penultimate hole is probably one of the best on course, which is a high compliment. A big drive can split the upper and lower terraces of the fairway and leave a short to mid-iron approach. Anything that kicks to the right will be blind and/or in the fairway bunker visible off the tee. The best play is often to the left side of the green on the approach.

Ballyneal concludes with two strong finishing holes

The approach is quite open if you can keep your drive on the left side of the fairway

Looking back you can see how the fairway falls away, leaving a difficult and blind approach over bunkers

Hole #18 – Par 4 (463 – 375 yards)

Perhaps Doak’s finest finishing hole? The 18th is a fantastic finale for a close match. The drive has some “cape” qualities as the golfer is rewarded for biting off more of the waste area to get a shorter iron into the green. However, the right side of the fairway leaves a better angle, especially to a front pin, provided you do not push the drive too far. Two deep bunkers front the green which slopes quite steeply from the back. Depending on pin position, the approach shot can be an all or nothing last gasp to halve the match.

The home hole sweeps from right to left in a "cape" like movement

A wonderful final hole in a match - Do you take on the pot bunker fronting the green?

Looking back on 18 - it is evident that a drive to the far side of the fairway can leave a longer but easier approach

Both Society member David Mihm and I agree that Ballyneal is as pure a golf experience as you will find on this side of the pond. David is happier than me because he DOUBLE EAGLED the par 5 8th!

Having finished a round at Ballyneal there is nothing a walking golfer would rather do than walk right back to the first and tee it immediately. Ballyneal receives a 3.5 out of 4 for walkability, because the routing is so strong that elevation changes are barely noticed. Most of the green to tee transfers are very short – in fact – you can often tee it a few club lengths from the hole. 54 holes a day at Ballyneal should not be a problem for the fit walking golfer.

The Architecture and Aesthetics at Ballyneal are world class. While there are no ocean holes, the chop hills provide a spectacular setting for the game. As mentioned, the course is routed seamlessly over the terrain and paced wonderfully. A more fun or interesting set of green complexes may not exist anywhere else in the country. Ballyneal is an easy 4.0 out of 4 for Architecture and Aesthetics.

In terms of Strategy and Playability, Ballyneal receives full marks. The fairways are wide enough to handle strong winds, but strategy is always important off the tee as ball placement provides a significant advantage on most holes. Ballyneal is the type of course where the stick will have to work to score well, because it is tough to get the ball close to the hole on approaches, but the bogey golfer, if he plays smart, can navigate the course while playing to his handicap.

Ballyneal is The Walking Golfer’s Top Modern Golf Course in the United States. It is a walk that should not be missed if you ever have the chance to play there.

TWG Rating for Ballyneal:

3.5 / 4 – Walkability

4.0 / 4 – Architecture and Aesthetics

2.0 / 2 – Strategy and Playability

9.5 / 10 – Total

All Photos by Rob Rigg (2010)
Review by Rob Rigg (2010)

The real question is - Why do you need 14 clubs?

Just because that is the maximum allowed by the USGA does not mean a golfer needs 14 of them to play to their potential.

I carry between 8 and 11 clubs when I play and I know it makes me a better golfer because my handicap dropped by 10 strokes over the course of a season while doing so.

If you want to carry, but need to shed some weight, dropping a few clubs from your bag is the best way to reduce stress on your body. On average, every club you carry weighs at least one pound, so you can drop about 6 lbs from your bag by using a half set.

If you cannot play without 14 clubs, then consider using a push cart which is easier on your body than carrying and much healthier for you than riding in a cart.

Scratch SB-1s and a MacKenzie Walker - the most beautiful combination in the game.

These are the clubs that live in my MacKenzie Walker or MacKenzie Llama:

Driver: 9.5* Adams Insight Tech a4 Tour Proto 9015D – UST AxivCore Tour Red X 79 Series

The driver is the longest and most difficult club to hit in your bag,  so it is important to get fit by a professional to ensure that you are playing with the “right” one.

During the fitting process, your launch angle, spin rate, shaft flex, etc. will be optimized by trying out various head and shaft combinations. You will also get a feel for the club’s balance and the sound at impact which is important.

If you are between flexes, then I would encourage you to err towards a stiffer shaft for more accuracy in as light a weight as feels comfortable to maximize club head speed and distance.

Also, think about playing with a shorter driver if you are directionally challenge – most Tour pros are using 44 or 44.5 inch drivers, while most amateurs have 45+ inch drivers. That does not make sense.

3 Wood: 15* Adams 9033 HF Low Launch Proto – UST AxivCore Tour Green 85 X

A 3 Wood is a versatile club off the tee and from the deck, and if you find a favorite it can live in your bag forever.

Make sure the shaft is stiff enough to give you the tightest dispersion possible – accuracy is vital with fairway woods.

Hybrid: 20* Adams Idea Pro Black 9031 – Aldila RIP HYBRID 85 X

I recently dropped my 3 iron (unless I am playing a “links” course) in favor of a hybrid. While I really like hitting my 3 iron, the versatility of a hybrid out of the rough and around the green, along with the increased forgiveness, prompted me to start gaming one. A growing number of Tour Pros use at least a couple of hybrids so . . .

Irons: Scratch SB-1 in Driver/Slider Grind with KBS Tour 6.5 X Shafts – 25*, 30*, 35*, 40*, 45* 50*

As a walking golfer, one of the things I enjoy about a round is being immersed in the experience. The grass under my feet, the relaxing scenery of the course, the companionship of friends, and the way the golf ball comes off the club face, especially on a pure strike.

Personally, I play to feel those occasional pure shots while striving to make them more regular. A forged blade maximizes my ability to feel the golf ball at impact, understand why I missed, get better, and be creative on those knock-downs, trap draws and punch shots that a golfer will need to conjure with only a half set in the bag.

The Scratch SB-1 “Super Blade” is an iron forged from 1018 carbon steel which is the softest on the market. The SB-1s provide buttery feel and also reasonable forgiveness, at least for a blade, because the center of gravity is behind the sweet spot and away from the face.

Scratch offers three iron grinds that you can match to your swing type, which I believe is unique amongst manufacturers. In addition to the SB-1, Scratch offers the AR-1 (a forged cavity back blade) and the EX-1 (a larger forged blade with a deeper cavity).

Forged irons are harder to hit than offset cast “game improvement irons” but I feel strongly that playing a forged blade or forged cavity back can make you a better golfer in the long run, provided you have some time to practice, while thoroughly enhancing your playing experience.

With irons, I would err on the side of “stiffer” rather that “flexible” when it comes to shafts. I switched to an X shaft from an S and improved my shot dispersion significantly. I really like the KBS Tour shaft because it feels solid at impact and provides a strong trajectory.

Wedge: 58* Scratch 1018 Forged in Driver/Slider EGG Grind with KBS Tour 6.5 X Flex

It is vital to feel comfortable and confident with your wedges which is why Scratch have found a real niche in the market. Loft, bounce, grind, etc. can all be customized to fit your game which is ideal, and every club is hand ground in soft 1018 forged carbon steel.

Many pro golfers play with four wedges, but do amateurs have time to master that many? And at about a pound each is it really worth the extra weight in your bag?

My 58* can be laid open easily for flop shots, is great out of bunkers and around the greens and is trustworthy from about 110 yards in – a PW and SW is enough for me.

A confident short game will not only shave strokes off your score, it will add a lot of enjoyment to your round. Getting up and down for par on a regular basis is a great skill to have and very beneficial for your handicap and wallet.

SB-1 Blade and TRUE linkswear Shoes

Putter: Ping Karsten C67

The Putter is probably the most important and personal club in the bag because it is used on every hole and at least twice as often as any other.  I think a putter’s feel, both at address and at contact, is key. So if you find a head shape or design that you like, it might be a good idea to stick with it.

I grew up playing with a Titleist Bulls Eye so the Ping C67 is a logical modern putter for me because of the mid-shaft design which provides a similar look at address. To each his own certainly applies here.

So the 8 to 11 clubs I play with are Driver, 3 Wood, Hybrid, 4i, 5i, 7i, 8i, 9i, PW, SW and Putter.

The loft progression in my “full” set is 9.5*, 15*, 20*, 25*, 30*, 35*, 40*, 45*, 50*, 58* which is well balanced and manageable on the course. I rarely wish I had another club in the bag because the distance gap is too big. The 5* loft increments also make it easier to pull up to four clubs, leaving 8, and still have a good feel for distance.

There are many golfers who have scored their best round ever using ten or fewer clubs. One of the benefits of walking is that you experience every step of the course which heightens your senses and, in my opinion, significantly improves your sense of “feel”, which can only enhance your shot-making creativity.

Try dropping a few clubs from your bag and watch your game improve over time which will only increase your enjoyment, while minimizing the weight that you carry around for eighteen holes.

Par 71

6,944 Yards

Architects: Tom Doak and Jim Urbina, with Karl Olson, Bradley Klein and George Bahto consulting.

Cost: $220 for 1st round of Day at Resort, $110 for 2nd, $0 for 3rd (rates lower in off season). Caddies are available for $55 plus tip.

Old Macdonald, the fourth course at Bandon Dunes, opened for play on June 1st, 2010.

I had the pleasure of teeing it at Old Mac on opening day, playing a total of 39 holes, and it was easily the most fun I have ever had on a golf course. I had thoroughly enjoyed the preview round and the full eighteen was, umm, eight holes better.

There are a mix of photos from the preview round and opening day below.

"Sahara" Bunker and "Eden" Green

Old Macdonald is a tribute to C.B. Macdonald, who many consider the father of modern golf in the United States. In order to bring the “highest caliber” of golf to the shores of America, Macdonald traveled across Great Britain and played many of its renowned links courses. On his own course designs, such as The National Golf Links of America on Long Island which opened in 1910, Macdonald used “hole templates” such as the Redan, Short and Alps that he found on courses in England and Scotland.

The course that Tom Doak and Jim Urbina have designed at Bandon Dunes, at the direction of Mike Keiser, has incorporated the spirit of many of Macdonald’s template holes into a spectacular routing which borders Pacific Dunes towards the northern end of the property.

Karl Olson, former super at NGLA, Bradley Klein, long-time architecture focused writer for Golfweek, and George Bahto, author of the C.B. Macdonald biography “The Evangelist of Golf”, have also worked with the Renaissance Team to ensure that Old Macdonald adheres to the spirit and passion of the man it is built to honor.

Old Macdonald is a wonderful golfing experience and very reminiscent of links golf on the coast of Scotland as the course is quite open, has wide playing corridors, is subject to wind, and calls upon the golfer for creativity in shot making.

The course is walkable, with several ascents but mostly flat to rolling terrain. The scenery, which includes blow out bunkers, ocean views and some amazing tree specimens, contributes even further to what is already an “all world” round of golf. I would not be surprised if Old Macdonald becomes a favorite of many golfers who travel to Bandon Dunes.

Sahara Bunker with Snare Tree in the background

Hole #1 – “Double Plateau” – Par 4 (341/213 yards)

The opening hole at Old Mac is a nice introduction to the round as the golfer is greeted with a wide fairway and rather accepting green.

As you gaze across the landscape from the first tee it feels like you are playing a course that has been around for many years, with edges roughed by nature over time.

Hole #2 – “Eden” – Par 3 (181/102 yards)

Eden is a short to medium length one shotter depending on the wind and pin position. The revetted bunker front right is probably the most challenging to play from on the course, but rather fun to go in (especially if you make an up and down).  The green is about 38 yards deep and runs front to back in three tiers.

Tee shot at "Eden"

Hole #3 – “Sahara” – Par 4 (375/217 yards)

As you can see in the photos at the top of the post, the Sahara bunker is a beauty.

The third tee lies just off the back of the Eden green and the golfer is tasked to strike his ball up over a 40 ft ridge to the left of the bunker. The ideal ball flight is just right of the snare tree and down to the sloping fairway.

The dune that this hole runs across is spectacular, with long grass, sand, gorse and old trees creating a fascinating landscape.

Dunescape on the "Sahara" Hole

The large green is sunk into a little bowl with side and back boards to help keep the ball on the putting surface. The tees for “Hogback” are just behind the green in the short grass, a very linksy touch.

Approach to the "Sahara" Green

Hole #4 – “Hogsback” – Par 4 (504/283 yards)

“Hogsback” is a long two shotter that can easily turn into a three shotter if the drive is not pured and appropriately placed on the left side of the large spine that runs along the length of the hole. This a fun tee shot and the reward for crushing one is a long walk between drive and approach.

I played this hole with the wind during the summer and recall going driver, 9 iron. On opening day we played against the winter wind, although it was June, and I went driver, driver off the deck, and then putter from 50 yards.

"Hogsback" Tee at Old Macdonald

The natural beauty of the site at Old Macdonald is staggering as is evident in the photo below.

Blow Out bunkers on "Hogsback"

Both of these drives took advantage of the slope and were over three hundred yards. The approach is challenging as a deep swale runs across the front of the green which means any shot that lands short, which is a necessity with a tailwind, needs to land in the trough or upslope to kick onto the green without running over.

Approach to "Hogsback" Green

The wind is just ripping at the flag below, links golf at its best. The swale will catch any approach that lands too short and an uphill chip creates a difficult up and down.

Swale guarding the Green on "Hogsback"

While the green may look large and flat, there is a mix of undulations that must be taken into consideration while putting. Once again, the greenside bunkering looks like it has been there for years.

"Hogsback" Green

Hole #5 – “Short” – Par 3 (160/100)

The round continues with an entertaining one shotter across a little valley to a mammoth double green that slopes severely, in levels, from back to front. The green is surrounded on the sides by huge bunkers that should be avoided at all costs. While the green is massive , it can be difficult to find the proper level, especially in strong winds.

View from Tee to Green on "Short"

The two tee shots below are safe as they found the correct tier, while another drive long and left will face a massively sloping downhill putt that could easily run down past the pin to the front level, or off the green.

Severely sloping Green on "Short" with ninja Caddie in background

"Short" and "Bottle" combine to form a huge double green

The “Short” green is actually a massive double which links up with the putting surface on the “Bottle” hole. The grand undulating contours that can be found on many Old Macdonald greens are obvious in the picture below. The scale of Old Macdonald is overwhelming, in a very good way, for any golfer who is used to playing tree lined courses at home.

Hole #6 – “Long” – Par 5 – (555/354 yards)

The view from the tee on “Long” will make any links golf junkie excited – a wide open vista with clumps of gorse, fescue, bunkers, ridges, mounds, and the ocean somewhere in the distance.

View from Tees on "Long"

A well placed drive on the left side of the fairway leaves a view to the pin in the distance, but the right side is the safest option although it forces the golfer to face down Doak and Urbina’s rendition of the “Hell Bunker”, which is spectacular.

The "Long" Fairway with the Hell Bunker in the distance.

The “Hell Bunker” crosses the fairway about 120 yards from the center of the green. It is probably the most intimidating man made feature I have ever seen on a golf course. After a big drive, the golfer has a big decision to make on the second, as the bunker confuses lay up strategy because of its size.

Downwind, the green is very reachable and the bunker should not come into play, but against the summer headwind it can bare its teeth.

"Hell Bunker" from the Fairway on "Long"

Railroad ties have been implemented to keep the earth in place.

View into "Hell"

Once past the bunker, a green awaits that is a lot more undulating than meets the eye.

Green on "Long"

Hole #7 – Ocean – Par 4 – (393/195 yards)

From the tee, this looks like a short but challenging uphill slog to a green located up on a plateau. Into a 30 mph wind, the second hole plays a lot longer than its yardage, while it can play quite short with a helping wind from the south – making 3 wood and then putter from the fairway a decent play.

Tee shot on "Ocean"

The approach is blind from the bottom of the hill.

View up from the "Ocean" Fairway

At the top, an incredible view awaits, especially on a clear day.

A rewarding view from the "Ocean" Green

There is not a lot of room to miss long although there are bunkers that may catch an errant shot that rolls off the back. The green is expansive with sideboards on the left and right. The vista is one of the best on the entire property.

View across the "Ocean" Green down the Coast

The “Snack Shack” at Old Macdonald has a panoramic view of the Pacific and provides a great angle to check out the Sheep Ranch to the north.

The best placed "Snack Shack" in the World

Hole #8 – “Biarritz” – Par 3 (181/121 yards)

With a cross-wind whipping, the golfer is happy that the putting surface looks so big. Little do they know that a large swale located in the middle of the green will make a putt from the wrong section extremely difficult. In true “Biarritz” fashion, the deep swale is complemented by bunkers that guard the green on the side and the back.

"Biarritz" Tee at Old Macdonald

The trough in the middle of the green is amazing to behold for any golfer who has never seen a “Biarritz” before. Doak and Urbina have done a fabulous job of integrating this template into the rugged environment along the Oregon coast by tweaking the shape of a “typical” Biarritz green to ensure that the swale looks quite natural.

"Biarritz" Green

The tee shot caught in the valley has a big climb to get to the hole. Clearly, this is not an undulation but a deep scar in the green that is several feet below the other sections of the putting surface.

"Biarritz" Swale at Old Mac

Hole #9 – “Cape” – Par 4 (416/231 yards)

The “Cape” is a heroic hole that challenges the golfer to bite off as much land as he can on the drive. This inland version is much tamer than its predecessor at the Mid Ocean Club in Bermuda, but it is still a decent hole. A safe play to the left will leave a mid to long iron approach, while a long drive that skips past the bunkers can leave a gap wedge into the green if you have a tailwind.

"Cape" Tee at Old Macdonald

An errant drive may find one of these timeless fairway bunkers. You will not find a lot of fluffy sand on Old Macdonald.

Fairway Bunker on "Cape"

These large greenside bunkers wait patiently for an offline approach, although the contoured green can defend itself well enough on its own.

Approach to "Cape" over right rough

Hole #10 – “Bottle” – Par 4 (365/323 yards)

Off the tee, the golfer encounters a series of bunkers that cross the fairway at longer intervals, beginning short-left and ending far-right. So you must be realistic about distance in order to choose the safe and appropriate line, always factoring in the wind.

"Bottle" Tee at Old Macdonald

The approach is to a raised green that is protected on the front with a bunker. The shot below from wide right shows that the “Long” fairway is not such a bad line to come in on.

"Bottle" Green from "Long" Fairway at Old Macdonald

Anything short will lead to the classic links conundrum of wedge versus putter . . . it is never easy to clip it off the short grass to a raised green.

Short of Green on "Bottle"

Hole #11 – “Road” – Par 4 (445/313)

Designed in the spirit of the most famous hole in golf, the “Road Hole” at Old Macdonald is a lot of fun.

Into the wind, this hole plays pretty long so a drive too far left can turn it into a three shotter. The optimal line is over the edge of the long grass and safely onto the fairway.

"Road" Tee at Old Macdonald

While the famous “Road Bunker” is visible from the tee, its presence is much more daunting on the approach as the size and depth become apparent. Try not to be distracted by the gorgeous natural blow out bunkers and dunes in the background.

Approach to "Road" Hole Green

The softest sand on the course awaits the golfer in the bunker. Note how the strong wind has pushed the sand half way up the right side, while the flag whips in the background.

"Road" Bunker at Old Mac

There is no road or path along the back of the green, just a tightly mown collection area that leads to longer grass.

There is no "Road" behind this Green

Hole #12 – “Redan” – Par 3 (237/91 yards)

The “Redan” on Old Mac is a devilish original.

Into the wind it takes a low hooking iron or well struck fade. With the wind it seems to call for a low running shot that manages to run up the right side and stop on the putting surface.

Tee on the "Redan"

Hole #13 – “Leven” – Par 4 (346/220 yards

“Leven” is a really fun short par four with a tailwind that probably plays rather stout into a headwind.

Tee on "Leven"

The fairway and green are made for the “putter approach” which is my favorite. The bunkers on the right are trouble but there is plenty of room on the left to run a shot in and down to the pin, even if it is tucked behind the bunkers.

Fairway on "Leven"

The ball below was played in across the undulations, up around the left side of the green and back down to the right. It was about 15 seconds of links golf nirvana watching the shot from start to finish.

"Leven" Green with Snare Tree

Hole #14 – Maiden – Par 4 (370/230 yards)

The seventh is a drivable uphill par four when the wind is helping, but probably not in a cross-wind. The hole has some “Cape” like qualities in that an attack on the green will require a long a precise carry over hazards. The right side of the fairway actually provides the best line into the green for a wedge approach.

Tee shot on "Maiden"

The fairway has a strong camber that starts high on the right side. Although the lie may not be flat, it is possible to get a wedge or putter close from here.

Approach on "Maiden"

The green is large with sweeping undulations. A large bunker will gobble up anything long and leave a challenging “out” to a green that is running away with a sharp drop off the front.

Green and back bunker on "Maiden"

Hole #15 – “Westward Ho” – Par 5 (535/340 yards)

The 15th is a stout three shotter that will usually play with a cross-wind. It plays from dune to dune across a valley.

"Westward Ho" from the Fairway

After negotiating the ball past a deep fore bunker, the golfer encounters a front to back sloping green with a gorgeous blow out bunker in the background. It is a good idea to say out of that one.

"Westward Ho" Green and Blow Out behind

Hole #16 – “Alps” – Par 4 (455/270 yards)

Possibly the most fun hole on the course, Alps plays downhill back along Westward Ho. The green is hidden behind the “Alps” which is the huge mound in the distance pictured below.

Tee shot on "Alps"

A drive on the left side of the fairway will leave a blind approach. There is a cavernous bunker behind the Alps on the right and a long slope on the left that will kick a ball down onto the green.

"Alps" from the Fairway

A well struck drive down the right will provide a big advantage in a clear view to the green. A low running shot between the bunkers would be a great play from here.

"Alps" Green view after ideal drive

Looking back from the green it becomes evident that a left fairway drive off the tee actually leaves a fairly straightforward approach over the Alps which will run down to the green, provided it lands on the short grass and not in the bunkers on either side of the ramp.

Looking back from green to "Alps"

The “all clear” bell behind the Alps green – a nice touch that lawyers will approve.

The all clear bell behind the "Alps" Green

Hole #17 – “Littlestone” – Par 5 (546/343 yards)

The most fun three shotter on the course is reachable with a big drive up the right side over the “swamp” or waste area which is 250ish out. The left side is fairly open off the tee and a safe play.

Tee shot on "Littlestone"

From behind the waste area the superior angle from the right side to the green is more evident.

View from behind the "Littlestone Swamp"

The green is protected by a deep bunker on the front left while the right is open. At 64 yards long, club selection to the putting surface plays very differently day to day.

Fairway Bunker view to the "Littlestone" Green

Hole #18 – “Punchbowl” – Par 4 (469/312 yards)

“Punchbowl” has one of the most FUN greens I have ever seen.

A rather inviting fairway welcomes the final drive of the day.

Tee shot on "Punchbowl"

The huge bowl shaped green is protected on the front by several large mounds that block access. The green has four separate shelves and plays 46 yards deep. A running approach is always the play if possible – if only to watch the ball react to the contours.

“Punchbowl” provides a fabulous end to the round.

Fortunately, the first tee beckons loudly only about 50 yards away.

The passionate walking golfer will want to re-tee it immediately as there are few golfing journeys as enjoyable as Old Macdonald.

Fairway bunker view to "Punchbowl" Green

Old Macdonald will probably become a favorite of many visitors to the resort, which says a great deal about the course because it only touches the ocean a couple of times, unlike Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes which have several epic stretches along the bluffs.

The scale of Old Macdonald is much bigger than any of the other courses because of the open vistas and elevation changes around the edges. Pacific Dunes is an incredible course with exquisite attention to detail and a superior routing, but Old Macdonald MAY have something that it is missing in its obvious and powerful tie to the links courses of Scotland that C.B. Macdonald used as a foundation for NGLA, his masterpiece. OM and PD are very different, each compelling in its own way.

Old Macdonald is very walkable, a 3.25 out of 4 IMO. The climb over the dune on “Sahara” is a little steep, the “Ocean” hole has another steep climb,  and there are other steady climbs on Maiden and Westward Ho. The 4th through the 6th and 9th through 13th play across a rather flat valley and then 17 and 18 are on the same fairly level stretch as 1 and 2. I would consider Old Macdonald a pretty “easy walk”.

In terms of Architecture, the team at Renaissance have once again done an incredible job with a compelling piece of land. Macdonald’s templates have not been copied, but used for inspiration and taken to another level by Doak, Urbina and team. Old Macdonald appears as if it has been there for many, many, years which is a testament to its creators and the skills of the Super Ken Nice and his staff. Aesthetically, Old Macdonald competes with the tree lined landscape of Trails on 1,2, 17 and 18, along with both of the Dunes courses which boast a series of ocean holes. The blowouts on and around Old Macdonald are like nothing on the property aside from the 13th at Pacific. The rugged and beautiful nature of the property is spectacular and the old world links golf flavor of the course must be seen to be believed. Old Macdonald receives 3.75 out of 4 for Architecture and Aesthetics.

Strategy is important for scoring at Old Macdonald, but like St.Andrews, the course is incredibly playable for all levels of golfer due to the wide fairways, a 2 out of 2. The greens are very big and tricky at first because of a mix of large and subtle undulations, but they are definitely a fair challenge. Smart play and a good strategy can result in excellent scoring, so stay focused and enjoy this “all world” golfing experience.

TWG Rating for Old Macdonald Golf Links:

3.25 / 4 – Walkability

3.75 / 4 – Architecture and Aesthetics

2.0 / 2 – Strategy and Playability

9.0 / 10 – Total

All Photos by Rob Rigg, 2009 and 2010
Review by Rob Rigg, 2010 (updated)

The Walking Golfer Course Rating System

Total is out of 10 Points

0 – 4 points – Walkability

0 – 4 points – Architecture and Aesthetics

0 - 2 points – Playability and Strategy

BDGR was announced as the award winner about a month ago, click here for the press release.

Mike Keiser, a visionary who has created one of the premier golf destinations in the world, accepted the award on behalf of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

From L to R: Todd Rohrer (The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company), Mike Keiser (Bandon Dunes Golf Resort), Jeff Brinegar (PGA Head Professional at Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald), Rob Rigg (The Walking Golfers Society). Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, which is without a doubt the walking golf capital of North America, is a special place on many levels. It boasts three, soon to be four, of the best golf courses in the world and all of them are walking only. The positive energy and passion for playing “golf as it was meant to be” hums through the Resort. From the head professionals and the caddies, to the waitresses and shuttle drivers – it is clear that Bandon Dunes is a source of immense pride for everyone associated with the Resort.

The four spectacular venues at Bandon should not be missed if you are a passionate walking golfer.

Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

The award presented to Mr. Keiser was designed by Larry Eisenbach of Ray-Gun Digital Artistry, based in Hillsboro, OR. The plaque is a steel plate, with bonded bridle leather covering the top two thirds.  Words and images have been laser etched onto the steel and leather.

Josh Smith’s painting of the 11th at Pacific Dunes is depicted at the bottom of the plaque and it sums up in a single image the main reason that the Resort won the award. It is a place where you will truly enjoy the walk – over and over again.

The Walking Golfers Society and The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company are very grateful for Larry and Josh’s help in making the award a one of a kind work of art.

The 2009 Walking Golfer of Year Award - A Laser-etched Steel and Leather Plaque created by Larry Eisenbach. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Todd Rohrer and the talented team at The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company created a Sunday Bag to commemorate the award.

The logos for each course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort are stitched onto the ball pocket and “The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year” has been written in script along the barrel.

The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year MacKenzie Golf Bag with Resort Logos. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Mr. Keiser, in addition to receiving the plaque and golf bag which will remain at the Resort, was presented with a Custom 8620 Wedge from Scratch Golf and a Fairway Wood Headcover from MacKenzie. We hope these mementos remind him of the award with a sense of pride.

Todd and I would like to thank Mr. Keiser, Todd Kloster, Jeff Brinegar, and the entire staff at Bandon Dunes for making us feel like a part of the Bandon Dunes family from the moment we stepped onto the property.

It was an honor to present the Resort with “The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year” on behalf of our Society members.

We had a wonderful few days and were fortunate to play some “dream golf” as well!

Here is a great image from Wood Sabold:

11th Hole at Pacific Dunes. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Read on for some photos and commentary about an epic mid-February trip to Bandon Dunes.

Rob and Todd on the 3rd Tee at Pacific Dunes

The weather for the trip was incredible, starting with our Tuesday afternoon round at Bandon Dunes. The hi-lite for me was draining a 55 foot putt on the majestic 4th hole for par, while Todd managed to shoot even par on the back nine which is pretty amazing considering it was his first round of the year!

Not that we were keeping track of score . . . no really, we didn’t.

It was all about enjoying the walk.

Rob enjoying the sun on the 6th Green at Bandon Dunes

After the award ceremony on Wednesday, Todd and I had a chance to play Bandon Trails which is a fantastic challenge.

My most enjoyable golfing memory of the trip was hitting driver off the tee on the two shot 4th, followed by an 80 yard putter from the fairway and then a 2 foot tap in for birdie. I think that Grant Rogers, the long time Director of Instruction at Bandon and a “yoda of the links”, would have approved.

Todd striding up the fairway on the 6th at Bandon Trails

Few things in golf are better than walking Pacific Dunes and we were fortunate to be the first group off in the morning. It was a bluebird day for 4.5 holes, before the fog rolled in.

Todd taking a rip on the 3rd Tee at Pacific Dunes

Ironically, neither Todd nor I lost a ball while playing through the mist that created a very “Golf in the Kingdom” atmosphere. Just aim off into the fog and take a nice smooth swing.

Rob walking into the soup on the 8th at Pacific Dunes

Todd’s bunker shot to a few feet on the 11th at Pacific should have been good enough to halve the hole, but I was fortunate to drop a ten footer for birdie to take the honor on the next tee. What a fun game this is.

Todd blasting out on the 11th at Pacific Dunes

A final photo to sum up an incredible trip to the Oregon Coast . . .

13th Hole at Pacific Dunes with The Sheep Ranch in the distance

and Josh Smith’s painting of the 11th at Pacific Dunes for good measure. Just brilliant.

The 11th Hole at Pacific Dunes - Painting by Josh Smith. www.joshsmithart.com

Par 70 (6,521 yards)

Green Fees: $220 for out of state, $125 for NCGA Members. Call pro shop to confirm.

Architect: Dr. Alister MacKenzie

Pasatiempo was founded by U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion Marion Hollins and was designed by Alister Mackenzie, one of the great golden age golf course architects. The course opened on September 8th, 1929. Originally there were only a few homes around the course, but now Pasatiempo is at the heart of a real estate community. However the “core” course design makes Pasatiempo very walkable despite some fairly dramatic elevation changes and natural hazards. Tom Doak was hired in 1996 to begin restoring Pasatiempo to its “original design” and the renovation was successfully completed in Fall 2007, with a great deal of assistance from his lead associate Jim Urbina, club historian Bob Beck and superintendent Dean Gump.

Needless to say, the course is an absolute gem from both a historical and architectural perspective, and to see it as MacKenzie had intended, even with the addition of many homes along the course, is literally awe inspiring.

The 1st hole is a long opener with a downhill tee shot followed by an uphill approach. The tee sits just outside the clubhouse and is quite close to the practice green. It is a brilliantly intimate setting from which to start the round, especially on a clear day when you can see the ocean in the distance.

The bunkers at Pasatiempo are breathtaking and MacKenzie made great strategic use of them throughout the routing.

I could not help wondering, when walking off Pasatiempo, why more golf course architects were not inspired enough by MacKenzie’s bunkering to implement something similar as opposed to the shallow saucer shaped pseudo hazards that litter many modern courses.

1st Hole at Pasatiempo Golf Club. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

A closer photo of the fairway bunker shows that it is about fifty yards from the green and creates more of a visual distraction than anything else. MacKenzie was a master of camouflage and visual trickery and it abounds at Pasa.

Fairway bunker on 1st Hole at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Rigg.

The 2nd is a 437 yard par four that plays down towards a wide fairway. The bunker on the front left side of the green dictates that a long fade to the right side of the fairway is ideal off the tee for the “easiest” approach.

The par three 3rd presents a very challenging uphill tee shot that plays 235 yards from the tips. There is a stunning cross hazard that bisects the fairway well short of the green and a bevy of beautifully shaped bunkers surrounding the putting surface, which slopes from front to back with some wonderfully subtle undulations that make putting both difficult and a lot of fun.

View from the Third tee at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The 4th is a medium length two shotter that pays to the southern tip of the property. The drive is a fun one as it carries two large fairway bunkers on the right side before leaving an approach to a well bunkered and undulating green.

The 5th starts the uphill trek back towards the clubhouse. At 190 yards it is not quite as daunting as the 3rd but still provides a great deal of challenge for the golfer as he tries to fly his ball onto the green while avoiding four bunkers protecting the front.

The 6th and 7th are probably the least interesting holes on the front side. The par five 6th is reachable in two if you can avoid the homes very tight on the left side while playing uphill over a rolling fairway to a green with a large bank on the right side. The 7th is a 348 yard two shotter that plays uphill to a well protected green with some of the deepest bunkers on the course.

In contrast to the long and challenging uphill 3rd, the 8th is a downhill one shotter from 175 yards.

As the photo below illustrates, the front to back sloping green has three rear sections that funnel to the middle and then rather steeply off the front.

The 9th and Clubhouse feature prominently in the background on what is a reachable but challenging uphill par five with three very deep bunkers fronting the putting surface.

Eight and Nine provide a great finish to an interesting and challenging front side.

8th Hole at Pasatiempo with the 9th in the background. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

While the front plays south away from the clubhouse and then north back to the clubhouse, the back nine plays in an area to the northwest that has some wonderful barancas and undulations.

The 10th begins with a wonderful tee shot across a baranca, which is followed by a mid iron approach to a wide green with a frightening array of bunkers waiting front left to gobble up anything hit short.

Approach to 10th Green at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The long par four 10th is followed by an absolutely wonderful two shotter in the 11th that plays uphill with a baranca running up the left side off the tee which must be crossed on the approach to a well bunkered green. The view from the green on a clear day is all world.

11th Green at Pasatiempo looking back

The 12th is a shorter par four that plays downhill back along the 11th, with the baranca again on the left and cutting even tighter across the front of the green.

The three par fours are followed by the par five 13th which doglegs to the left from tee to green. There are some well placed hazards on the left side of the fairway to gobble up any drives that try to cut the corner too much. The undulating fairway makes for some interesting lies and the approach is to a green set amongst a sea of sand which quickly raises the golfer’s heart rate.

As seen in the photo below, the Y shaped green slopes towards the middle and then down a fairly steep false front to the fairway. Anything off line will lead to a challenging up and down as the bunkers are set back from the green unlike most other holes where they are tighter to the putting surface.

Approach to the 13th Green at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The 14th is one of my favorite par fours on a course that has many great two shotters. The hole is about 430 yards and the fairway is very wide, but severely undulating.

As seen below, there is a gully that runs up the left side of the fairway that meets another gully running across the fairway about 275 yards off the tee.

On many modern courses, these fairways would have been flattened to produce consistent lies which is a shame. MacKenzie has done a masterful job of using these undulations to make the hole incredibly interesting and fun to play.

The green is open slightly on the front but protected by a large bunker as it moves back and to the right. A well placed drive on the left side of the fairway, but out of the gully, will leave an ideal approach up the length of the green, while a tee shot to the right will force the golfer to come in over a fore bunker and the larger greenside bunker. Top notch strategy created by a genius.

14th fairway at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The 15th, pictured below, is the first one shotter on the back side and it plays across a baranca at 140 yards from the tips. This is a fun hole with steep bunkers fronting the green and a long single bunker behind. Although the tee shot is straightforward, accuracy is paramount.

15th hole at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The 16th is one of my favorite holes on the course, another fantastic par four.

The tee shot is blind to the landing area and played at an angle that encourages the golfer to hit the ball to the right side of the fairway.

When you reach the top of the rise and look towards the green you will be awed by a daunting approach, that will probably be downhill or sidehill, over the biggest bunker on the course, which lurks below an elevated green that slopes steeply from back to front. And, to make the challenge even more difficult, you have to hit back over a gully that runs across the hole short of the green.

Approach to the 16th at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

The 17th is an uphill two shotter that plays to a bunkerless green that features a sharp drop off if you miss to the right. The penultimate hole is the weakest on the exceptional back nine and provides a breather before taking on the gorgeous par three 18th.

The round finishes with a tee shot of 170 yards across a gapping chasm to a wonderfully undulating green protected by bunkers front left and across the back.

18th tee shot at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Babcock - Pasatiempo Golf Club.

As seen in the photo below, the 18th green has a lot of great movement and short grass on the front right that creates a difficult up and down for the golfer who misses short but avoids the bunkers and the baranca. A par on the final hole is well earned and a great way to finish a round on what must be one of the best inland courses in the country.

18th Green at Pasatiempo. Photo by Rob Rigg.

While Pasatiempo has been routed over undulating terrain, the short green to tee walks and 6,600 yard distance from the tips make it a very manageable walk which is why it has been rated 3.0 out of 4 for walkability. This rating coincides with what walking walking golfers have submitted to our Walkability Ratings initiative.

The Architecture and Aesthetics are world class, 4.0 out of 4, especially considering Pasa is an inland course surrounded by housing. I have never walked a course where the great architecture has so heavily outweighed the residences that line the fairways on many of the holes. Every golfer should visit Pasa if they are in the area to experience MacKenzie’s masterpiece, it is certainly worth the rather heavy price of admission.

MacKenzie’s 13 General Principles of Golf Course Architecture include call outs for providing the scratch golfer with constant stimulation while also allowing higher handicappers to enjoy the round even if they pile up high scores. This is where Pasatiempo shines and it certainly receives a 2.0 out of 2 for Strategy and Playability. The fairways at Pasa are wide, there is a lot of short grass and the carries over the barancas are all fair and of reasonable distance, but still mentally challenging. This is a course that every golfer can and will enjoy.

Pasatiempo is a gorgeous and challenging course that is an absolute joy to play. It certainly meets the “when I walked off eighteen, I wanted to walk right back up to the first tee” criteria that reflects greatness.

After your round, the MacKenzie Bar & Grill in the clubhouse and The Tap Room on a hill above it are great places for a pint and some grub. Both locations have photos of Ms. Hollins, Dr. MacKenzie, Bobby Jones and others, information on the history of Pasatiempo, along with fantastic views of the course and the ocean in the distance, at least on a clear day.

TWG Rating for Pasatiempo:

3.0 / 4 – Walkability

4.0 / 4 – Architecture and Aesthetics

2.0 / 2 – Strategy and Playability

9.0 / 10 – Total

Review by Rob Rigg, 2009

The Walking Golfer Course Rating System

Total is out of 10 Points

0 – 4 points – Walkability

0 – 4 points – Architecture and Aesthetics

0 - 2 points – Playability and Strategy

Par 71
6,633 Yards

Architect: Tom Doak

Cost: $75 to $220 ($40 to $110 for replay) depending on season and $55 plus tip for optional caddie.

Pacific Dunes was the second course to open at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, in 2001. Tom Doak, and the team at Renaissance Golf Design, knew that Mike Keiser had handed them one of the most spectacular sites for a golf course in the past 50 years. The property exceeded the one found next door at Bandon Dunes, which meant the playing experience should be superior as well, and it is.

When you step up to the first tee at Pacific, you are expecting to play a round at one of the top courses in the WORLD, based on golf magazine rankings and popular opinion. While that is a lofty expectation, I was not disappointed. Pacific Dunes is a thoroughly enjoyable walk.

The routing of Pacific Dunes is strong and it is difficult to find a hole that was not thoughtfully designed. As at Bandon Dunes, the holes along the coast are amazing, while many others are routed so the ocean is visible in the distance which is a nice aesthetic touch. As at Bandon Trails, the green complexes are exquisite, challenging and a lot of fun to play. The bunkers at Pacific Dunes have a very natural look that blends perfectly with the undulating greens and fairways found throughout the course.

I was fortunate to play Pacific Dunes twice on my visit, and the conditions were very different. The first round was probably in 10 to 20 mph winds, while the second was in 25 to 40 mph winds. Needless to say, the harder the wind blows the more challenging the holes become, especially those on the bluff.

How intense is a 40 mph wind?

On the thirteenth, I had the brake engaged on my push-cart, and the wind still pushed it about twenty yards back down the fairway while I was hitting an approach shot. On the seventh, the cart was literally pushed over onto its side, something I had never seen before.

What is a round of links golf without the wind?!?

Hole #1 – Par 4 (370/253)

The first hole at Pacific Dunes is relatively straight-forward. Depending on the wind, it could be a fairway wood or a long iron off the tee to a generous landing area.

1st Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The rumpled fairway can present a wide range of lies for the approach. This is a common theme at Pacific Dunes which is one element that makes it so enjoyable to play over many rounds. The approach needs to clear the mound in front of the pin, and release onto the green.

1st Approach at Pacific Dunes.

For golfers who are used to playing courses with wide open green complexes, the mound presents a significant challenge in judgment as it skews the sight line and can deflect mis-hits. Although the mound is a small feature, it adds a great deal of interest to the hole.

These small touches on the fairways and greens occur repeatedly throughout the round at Pacific Dunes and truly enhance the challenge and playing experience of the course.

Short of 1st Green at Pacific Dunes.

There is some room beyond the mound to run a ball onto the green, but the golfer must be careful of pushing the approach left, into the bunker, or two far right, into an Environmentally Sensitive Area. The putting surface challenges the golfer with subtle movement and a back to front slope.

In terms of conditioning, note how seamlessly the fairway merges with the green to make the two almost indistinguishable. Spectacular work by the course super and his team.

1st Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #2 – Par 4 (368/275)

At the second, the golfer turns towards the ocean and gets a glimpse of it in the distance. The undulating fairway also contributes to the ocean motif as waves of green are evident from the tee. The “Shoe” bunker in the middle of the fairway is a good line for your drive if you can carry it. The bunker fronting the green, and the open side on the left of the putting surface, clearly communicate that the ideal approach would be from the left side of the fairway.

2nd Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The green has a backstop that can be used if necessary. Anything long is trouble as any ball that crosses the ridge has to come back over it onto a green that slopes towards the front. An up and down from the bunker fronting the green on the right is not an easy task either. Note how the design of the bunker blends naturally with its surrounds.

Second Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #3 – Par 5 (499/452)

The march to the Pacific is almost complete on the par five third which is a beautiful hole. The twilight picture below illustrates the many subtle undulations that exist on the fairway. Depending on the wind, some of the fairway bunkers can be carried so check your yardage. There is room on the right side of the fairway, but the left provides a better angle into the green.

3rd Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The first bunker below can usually be carried off the tee, so it is important to play either left or right of the second bunker located about forty yards behind.

Fairway bunkers at Pacific Dunes 3rd Hole.

A layup just short of the green must avoid the large and deep bunker on the right side of the photo below. There is a runoff area on the left side of the green which can leave a difficult chip to the pin.

3rd Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #4 – Par 4 (463/369)

This is an “all-world” two shotter that plays along the bluffs above the Pacific Ocean. The tee shot should be played towards the fairway bunkers on the left, although having a second from the center or right side of the fairway is easier.

4th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

An approach from too far left must avoid a huge bunker, as seen in the photo below, while also carrying just past the mound on the left side of the green. If the approach is coming in too hot, it can easily land, kick right, and run off the green to the beach below. From the center or right side of the fairway, the pin should be attacked on the left, because your ball will move right once it lands.

4th Approach at Pacific Dunes.

A closer look at the green shows how it is tiered into two levels and slopes from left to right. The mound is also nicely positioned to hide the putting surface from any golfer who bails out too far left off the tee.

4th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #5 – Par 3 (199/133)

The fifth can be a daunting one shotter even though it is one of the easier holes on the course. The summer wind is likely with the golfer so the ball will certainly roll after landing. The slope to the left of the green, in front of the bunker, provides a nice landing area which will kick the ball onto the putting surface. The depth of the bunker on the right side of the green is illustrated by the morning shadows.

5th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The two well placed tee shots below have difficult putts for birdie. The green has two tiers and enough movement to make any putt a challenge. Notice that while we are not on the bluffs anymore, the ocean is still visible. Unlike most of the inland holes at Bandon Dunes, the ones at Pacific often have site lines to the ocean.

5th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #6 – Par 4 (316/267)

The sixth is short on distance but long on challenge due to the myriad of strategic elements that are in play, especially on the approach.

Depending on the wind, and the player, there are a couple options off the tee. A Driver long and right provides a good angle into the green, although a well placed iron just over the trap can provide a better approach as the green is long and narrow.

6th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The thin and hidden green and the two large blow out bunkers on the left and a sharp fall off to the right only add to the golfer’s blood pressure on the approach.

6th Fairway at Pacific Dunes.

The bunkers on the left side of the sixth green are magnificent and unrelenting. A shot into either of them will leave an almost impossible blast up to the green. Bold design features such as these only add to the quality of Pacific Dunes.

Blow out bunkers left of the 6th Green at Pacific Dunes.

From the right side, a pushed drive might be in the fescue, but the angle to the pin is good and there is a bit of a backstop so it is not a bad miss off the tee.

Approach to the 6th Green from the Fescue.

The two putts below were for birdie which is probably a rare occurrence on this hole. Once again, the green provides a lovely view across the course and out to the ocean.

6th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #7 – Par 4 (464/314)

A good drive is important to provide a chance for par on the two shot seventh. If you can play up the right side, it will leave a reasonable approach to a challenging green complex.

7th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

There are a series of mounds and a deep bunker that begin about 85 yards short of the green which can make the approach visually intimidating.

There is also a string of deep bunkers up the left side that begin seventy yards from the green and run along the putting surface.

A good drive and an iron to the middle of the green is probably the best play regardless of pin position – get your four and move on to the next hole.

7th Fairway at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #8 – Par 4 (400/296)

The eighth plays into the wind during the summer which can make it a pretty long par four. I really like the strategy of the hole because although there is a wide fairway, an approach from the left side provides a much better look at the green. Anything right will require a blind fade that must avoid the pot bunker in front of the putting surface which has a massive impact on play.

8th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

If you can navigate your approach past the cheeky bunker pictured below, then a tricky birdie putt awaits on this wildly undulating green.

8th Green Complex at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #9 – Par 4 (406/268)

The ninth is a unique hole because there is an “upper” and a “lower” green, and the golfer finds out which “hole” to play on the tee. I only had an opportunity to play the lower.

The tee shot to the lower green is the most heroic on the course as a carry of almost 200 yards is required to make it to the short grass. A huge drive can reach the green but will more likely finish around fifty yards short after getting a long run out down the side sloping fairway.

9th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

When a drive puts you just short of the green it is impossible not to think about an easy birdie, but this green is no pushover because it has significant undulation and a bunker tight to the left side.

Approach to 9th Lower Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #10 – Par 3 (206/129)

Since the ninth has upper and lower greens, the tenth must have upper and lower tees. Both tees offer a great view and a challenging shot into a cross-wind.

10th Hole from Lower Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The upper tee is much more memorable since it has an incredible view and it can be difficult to judge distance from elevation with a strong wind. With the waves crashing in the background and the wind howling at the top of the hill, the target begins to look pretty small.

10th Upper Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The green is wide open but it is amazing to watch the wind carry tee shots onto the mound on the left side. A safe long iron will provide a great look at birdie because the green is fairly tame in comparison to others found on the course.

10th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #11 – Par 3 (148/96)

Eleven is a spectacular one shotter with incredible greenside bunkering that provides a lot of distraction off the tee. The beach is on the golfer’s left and the Sheep Ranch is visible in the distance, at the end of the wide sandy beach. The tee shot is often into the wind which means a well struck low shot is the optimal play. Despite the length, par is always welcome on this hole.

11th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The greenside bunker on the right side of the photo is quite deep, and the green slopes from right to left, which means a blast must land softly and quickly or risk rolling into the bunker on the other side.

11th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #12 – Par 5 (529/449)

On paper, twelve should be a nice breather before the golfer tackles another “all world” hole in the thirteenth, but it can be a real tiger into the wind which is how it usually plays. I recall crushing a driver, hammering a three wood, and then hitting a low six iron into the green because of a 40 mph wind in my face.

The fairway bunker straight up the middle is a good target off the tee as it leaves a nice line into the green which is located in front of the large dune on the left side of the fairway.

12th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

Anything pulled or hooked to the left will leave a tough shot over the bunker to a fairly shallow green.

Bunker fronting 12th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #13 – Par 4 (444/336)

The thirteenth at Pacific and the sixteenth at Bandon probably battle it out for most aesthetically spectacular hole on the property, with the fourth at Pacific and fourteenth at Trails also in the running.

The beach is on the left, while a huge dune with a massive blow out bunker lines the right side.

Into the wind, this can be a three shotter for many golfers. Getting on the green in two with a 40 mph wind in my face was one of the hi-lites of my weekend at the resort. A flushed driver and then a full three wood from 165 yards landed pin high on the left side of the green. It was an incredible feeling, one of those moments when you are ecstatic that you discovered this crazy game.

There is ample room off the tee, but the second is tough since the green is protected by a sloped front that will beat short approaches away.

13th Tee at Pacific Dunes

The blow out on the right is a major distraction because it is such a unique and amazing sight. An approach too far left is gone, so playing to the right side of the pin is a good option.

13th Fairway at Pacific Dunes.

The green is one of the flattest on the course, so a birdie is possible if you can get there in two.

13th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #14 – Par 3 (145/100)

After fighting the wind on ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen, it is nice to have a little break on the short one shot fourteenth. Remember, the wind is now at your back so play to the front of the green and let the ball release to the hole.

14th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

The hole looks a lot easier than it really plays. If you miss and get caught in one of the bunkers an up and down will be a formidable task.

Right bunker on the 14th at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #15 – Par 5 (539/452)

Fifteen is a potential eagle hole if you can ride the wind off the tee and avoid the bunkers strategically placed on the right side of the fairway.

15th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

While the green is reachable in two with a good drive, the fairway bunkers are quite penal and the sand is hard packed which makes it challenging to play from. Do not spray your second, or third, right of the green because the knob at the front will frustrate any attempt to chip it close to the pin.

Fairway bunker on the 15th at Pacific Dunes.

The sunset photo below shows how challenging the green can be if you miss.

Pictures cannot do justice to the beauty of Pacific Dunes.

15th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #16 – Par 4 (338/292)

There are a couple of ways to play this short two shotter.

Rip a driver over the left side of the mound straight ahead of the tee and hope you get a bounce up onto the green, or at least onto the face of the hill that fronts the green. Or, play a long iron down the left side which provides the best line into a very slender green with a couple of deep and nasty bunkers.

16th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

From this position, a bump and run up the left side of the fairway is a good option. The bunker on the left and far right should be avoided at all costs. A short right approach will be stuck on the hill which leaves a delicate chip to the green which can easily run into the back bunker.

16th Fairway at Pacific Dunes.

Looking back at dusk, the undulating fairway is brilliant.

16th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #17 – Par 3 (208/128)

The seventeenth is a lovely “redan” that has a large front bunker and a putting surface that slopes from right to left. In theory, the ideal play is a nice draw to the front which will roll to a back pin position with the slope of the green.

17th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

However, when the hole is playing into a 35 mph cross-wind it is very tough to get the tee shot to release down the slope. Safe off the tee is a good idea, because if you are up on the plateau, it is a fairly straight-forward chip or putt down towards the hole.

17th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Hole #18 – Par 5 (591/479)

The eighteenth is a solid finishing hole with exquisite bunker work. The drive should be played just right of the fairways bunkers which will leave a difficult fairway wood to the green or a mid iron lay up.

18th Tee at Pacific Dunes.

A lay up from the landing area to the left side of the fairway is wise at it will provide a nice look at the green.

18th Fairway at Pacific Dunes.

The undulating ground provides ample challenge on the short approach.

Approach to the 18th at Pacific Dunes.

There is actually a little room to land the ball short and run it on. The bunkers on the left and right of the green are difficult to get up and down from so stay out of the sand.

It is possible to finish the eighteenth with a birdie but I would imagine that a bogey is a lot more common.

18th Green at Pacific Dunes.

Having finished a round at Pacific Dunes there is nothing a walking golfer would rather do than grab a bite to eat and tee it up again as soon as possible. Pacific Dunes receives a 3.5 out of 4 for walkability, it is definitely an easy walk but there are a couple of green to tee transfers that prevent the course from receiving a perfect score.

The Architecture and Aesthetics at Pacific Dunes are difficult to match. While the ocean is “only” really in play on three of eighteen holes, it is in view for much of the round. Doak definitely made the most of four, eleven and thirteen, but the strength of the course does not lie in the scenery, but in the excellent routing and minimalist design that rendered so many wonderful and challenging holes. Pacific Dunes is an easy 4.0 out of 4 for Architecture and Aesthetics.

In terms of Playability, Pacific Dunes can be tough, especially in heavy winds, so it was intentionally designed to play shorter than Bandon Dunes because it is not as open and the green complexes are more difficult. I shot my lowest round of the trip at Pacific Dunes and I would certainly consider it a “fair challenge”. The Strategic element, however, is what makes Pacific shine. There are options galore on almost every shot which makes the round an absolute blast. The architect has you thinking on every hole, with multiple options in play on many, which make scoring possible but not easy. It is a great test of golf and receives a 2.0 out of 2 from The Walking Golfer in this Category.

Although Pacific Dunes received a small deduction for walkability, I believe it will be a life enhancing experience for any passionate walking golfer.

TWG Rating for Pacific Dunes:

3.5 / 4 – Walkability

4.0 / 4 – Architecture and Aesthetics

2.0 / 2 – Strategy and Playability

9.5 / 10 – Total

All Photos by Rob Rigg (2009)
Review by Rob Rigg (2009)