Golf at Bandon Preserve

I eased the foursome into Bandon Dunes golf by booking the amazing Bandon Preserve par 3 course as our first go.

My playing partners stroll down the Preserve fairway

The plan was to play the 13 hole par 3 course, then perhaps shuttle over to practice center for some full swing work, then back to the same spot for our tee time at Bandon Trails. I underestimated how much fun we would have on the course, and how much we were eager for some lunch and relief from the rain after playing.

Matthew was all smiles playing (and beat everyone), and I kept hearing Dave comment “I can’t believe how much fun a short course can be!” Why is it so good? Here’s my take:

• It has so much of the scenic beauty of the resort packed into a tiny space. You get ocean views, traverse dunes, all while skirting the edge of the inland Bandon Trails course.
• The greens have all the character and craziness of the big courses. Shocking how difficult a 100 yard hole can be.
• Creativity is encouraged as you have so many shot choices off the tee, with the “best” choice often being the non obvious choice.

There’s some great undeveloped property just south of the Preserve, and earlier this year the resort announced that it will build yet another par 3 course, this one by the new-to-Bandon (but not Mike Keiser) team of Whitman, Axland and Cutten.