Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Pacific Dunes)

Tom Doak's links at Bandon Dunes, opened in 2001: short by modern standards, with ocean-bluff holes, blowout bunkers and a back nine that holds four par 3s.

Pacific Dunes was the second course at Mike Keiser's Bandon Dunes resort on the southern Oregon coast and made Tom Doak's name when it opened in 2001. Doak and his team found most of the holes in the existing dunes, with little earthmoving, and the bunkers look like the wind made them. The routing reaches the cliff edge on the 4th, 10th, 11th and 13th.

It measures just 6,633 yards at par 71, and the scorecard is unconventional: the back nine has four par 3s, three par 5s and only two par 4s. Firm fescue and steady summer wind make distance control and ground shots more important than length. Like the rest of Bandon, Pacific Dunes is walking-only, with caddies available. It hosted the 2006 Curtis Cup and has topped resort-course rankings, including Golfweek's in 2005.

Holes to know

13

Par 4 · 444 yd

A large dune ridge runs diagonally toward the bluffs, pinching the green site. Play safe right and the approach comes back toward the cliffs.

6

Par 4 · 316 yd

A short par 4 below raised tee and green. Approaches from the left must carry a large blowout to a shallow green.

1

Par 4 · 370 yd

The opening tee shot is blind on the bolder left side, which rewards the risk with a clear view of the green.

Championships

• Curtis Cup 2006