The Best Golf Courses at Bandon Dunes (Ranked)

1. 1

   Pacific Dunes

   Tom Doak (2001) · Often #1

   Routinely rated the best course at the resort and among the very best public courses in America. Tom Doak’s clifftop links is wild, varied, and perfectly natural — back-to-back par 3s, blowout bunkers, and ocean holes that take your breath away. The one nobody skips.

2. 2

   Sheep Ranch

   Coore & Crenshaw (2020) · Most dramatic

   The newest 18, with nine greens perched on the ocean bluff and not a single bunker — just wind, gorse, and the Pacific. The most exposed and exhilarating golf on the property. Pure drama from the first tee.

3. 3

   Bandon Dunes

   David McLay Kidd (1999) · The original

   The course that started it all — gorse-lined fairways tumbling to the ocean, and the round that proved this stretch of Oregon coast could rival Scotland. Still many purists’ favorite, and the right place to begin your trip.

4. 4

   Old Macdonald

   Doak & Urbina (2010) · Template golf

   A homage to golf-architecture pioneer C.B. Macdonald, with enormous greens and famous template holes (Redan, Biarritz, Punchbowl). The widest, most strategic and quirky of the five — a brain-teaser in the best way.

5. 5

   Bandon Trails

   Coore & Crenshaw (2005) · Inland gem

   The one that leaves the coast — routed through towering dunes, coastal forest, and meadow. A glorious change of pace and the connoisseur’s sleeper favorite. Don’t treat it as the throwaway round; many leave loving it most.

6. 6

   Bandon Preserve

   Par-3 course · Best views

   A 13-hole par-3 course from Coore & Crenshaw with arguably the best ocean views on the entire property, and proceeds supporting conservation. The ideal sunset round, beers in hand, after a big walking day.

There is no bad course at Bandon Dunes — ranking them is splitting hairs between five of the best public courses in America. The order below is for a buddies trip: which to prioritize if you can’t play them all, and how to sequence them across walking-heavy days. Honestly, play all five if you can; this just tells you where to start.

How to sequence them

Bandon is a two-a-day destination, so think in pairings, not single rounds:

1. Open on the original. Start on Bandon Dunes — it’s where the story began and a fitting first walk along the ocean.
2. The marquee two-a-day. Pacific Dunes in the morning fresh, then Old Macdonald across the path in the afternoon.
3. The dramatic two-a-day. Sheep Ranch on the bluff, then Bandon Trails inland for contrast.
4. The victory lap. Close with the Preserve par-3 at golden hour, or a repeat loop on whichever course stole your heart.

A note on caddies and weather

Take caddies for at least your first round on each course — the lines, the firm bounces, and the wind reward local knowledge enormously. And pack real rain gear: these courses are best when the weather has teeth, and a well-prepared group has more fun in 20 mph wind than an unprepared one does in sunshine.

A word on cost

Bandon is a premium, peak-season-priced bucket-list resort, and replays the same day are discounted — which rewards the two-a-day rhythm. Lodging tier and season swing the total significantly. That’s why we build each trip backwards from your budget rather than quoting a package, getting your group the most golf per dollar.

Want the rounds, replays, caddies, and the tricky travel all handled? Tell us about your group.

Frequently asked

What is the best course at Bandon Dunes?

Pacific Dunes (Tom Doak) is the most acclaimed — frequently rated the best at the resort and among the top public courses in the United States. That said, all five are world-class, and plenty of golfers leave with Sheep Ranch or Bandon Trails as their favorite.

How many golf courses are at Bandon Dunes?

Five full 18-hole championship courses — Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch — plus the 13-hole Bandon Preserve par-3 course and the Punchbowl putting green.

Is Bandon Dunes walking only?

Yes. There are no golf carts at Bandon — you walk with a caddie or a push cart. It’s a deliberate part of the resort’s links philosophy, and a big reason the place feels the way it does.

How many rounds should you play at Bandon Dunes?

Plan for a lot. Bandon is built for 36-hole walking days, so most 3–4 day trips play five to six-plus rounds, frequently two a day. Caddies make the big days far more enjoyable.