Bandon Trails Course Review - Bandon Dunes | In the Loop Chicago Golf
The Bandon Trails Underdog Story
Pressure on the Third Act: At the Bandon golf resort, Bandon Trails is the underrated, quiet local favorite which is no longer underrated or quiet. Trails was the third course built following up the overwhelming success of Bandon and Pacific. Conventional wisdom would say to stay away from the project; the Trails property lacked the ocean views and it followed up two courses already being considered among the best in the nation. To put it in golf terms the first two players had stuck their tee shot to gimmie range, and Coore and Crenshaw were up on the tee next. They signed on to build the course regardless. Like so many other aspects of Bandon, “conventional” wisdom was not the leading the charge. Next on the tee, Coore and Crenshaw.
Everyone’s Hot Take: Often times when reading about Bandon or speaking to someone who has played all of the courses, Bandon Trails is mentioned as a sneaky pick for best course on the property. It’s one of those cheeky takes people tend to regurgitate. It’s like having the “hot take” that an 11 seed with veteran guards will make a run in the NCAA tournament; by now, everyone knows it happens and has heard the take before. I heard the take so much before going that I almost wanted it to be my least favorite at Bandon. That being said, those people are not wrong; Bandon Trails is incredible and somehow is a breath of fresh air in a place already full of it.
Playing Experience
Playing Bandon Trails can be summed up in a couple feelings: serenity and balance. The routing weaves its way through three environments: dunes, prairie, and forest making the property feel vast. Most holes feel like a self-contained environment with the steady sound of rustling trees, waving grasses, or crashing waves depending on the hole. The course is highly playable but is not easy especially when missing in the wrong spots. The fairways are deceptively wide and tend to narrow around the green site, creating challenge around the green and favorable angles off the tee. Throughout the routing players are faced with a balanced mix of golf holes playing uphill, downhill, long, short, easy, and difficult. There are plenty of opportunities and firm turf to play the ground game, but also a number of forced carries on the lines of interest. Its not surprising Bandon Trails is favored by many. Playing is like listening to an Allman Brothers album, the hits aren’t triple platinum but throw on the album and you’ll enjoy the ride start to finish.
Stand-out Holes
Using Natural Features, in this case a Sand Ridge, to Create Strategy (Par 4 4th Hole): Having a caddie absolutely enhances the Bandon experience, especially the first time around. The blind tee shot on the 4th hole at Trails is one of those moments you’ll be thankful to have a caddie with you. This hole is a great example of how to use land features to create strategy and force players to make decisions. The hole is a slight dogleg from left to right. From the tee, most of the hole is not visible due to a large sand ridge running diagonally away from the tee from left to right. Most players can carry the ridge on the left-hand side of the fairway, but the further right they aim, the longer the carry. There are bunkers lining the fairway diagonally down the left side, which come into play for longer hitters, along with a bunker on the right side of the fairway bordering the ridge. The strategy here is not black and white, but rather grey with two broad paths. Players have a decision off the tee:
Option 1: Carry the ridge left for a longer approach shot, due to the angle of the hole, where the green and pin will be visible. Playing the tee shot left can bring the bunkers into play if hit on the wrong line.
Option 2: Lay up short on the right and be faced with a shorter blind approach shot over the ridge. The bunker on the far right will only be in play for a wide miss right
The Trade-off: Taking a more direct route for a blind but shorter approach short, or taking a longer route with slightly more risk to make the green visible and have a better angle. There is no correct answer here, but a myriad of options depending on angles and ball flight.
Unlike dealing with a hazard this trade-off isn’t completely obvious so players could gloss it over. It’s a great place for input from the excellent caddies at Bandon before picking a line on the tee shot. Depending on how far players can drive the ball a more direct route can be taken over the ridge which can catch a speed slot (think Kapalua, also a Coore and Crenshaw). In summary the 4th hole provides options to the player and creates excitement / nervousness with a blind shot through this natural feature.
A Tranquil Par Three Towards Home (Par 3 17th): This hole is quietly gorgeous and ushers the transition from the meadow to sand dunes at the end of the round. Once again you start to hear the ocean breeze, an inviting sound, but also a sad reminder that the round at trails is coming to an end. The hole is aesthetically inviting but is not easy. A few tricky bunkers, a run-off area, and a false front surround the green along with the coastal winds flying above putting a premium on a well struck iron. (On a personal note, I cold shanked the tee shot on this hole so this is one I want back).
Subtle Strategy Using Fairway Width and a Water Hazard (Par 4 11th Hole – Aerial Pictured to the Right):
Hole Layout: After visiting the snack station tucked in a quiet walkway in between holes, players arrive at the 11th to a dog leg right with a group of bunkers running down the right side. The dog-legged fairway has a wide tee shot landing area, but narrows as the fairway slopes from left to right downhill towards the green. The fairway narrows closer to the green due to a pond which sits directly on the right side and a fairway bunker placed 60 yards short on the left. The presence of the pond is amplified by the downhill fairway which is sloped from left to right towards the front right edge of the green and pond. The approach shot almost reminds me of the start of Amen Corner, the 11th at Augusta.
Hole Strategy: Strategy of the hole starts with the tee shot but is dictated by the green. Its easy to hit a tee shot safe and straight, but this will lead to a longer approach shot which will have to manage the bunker and pond around the green with a longer iron. In order to catch the downhill slope off the tee and leave a short approach, the tee shot must be played closer to the bunker on the right side. On drier days when the turf is firmest, shots landing short of the green in the right or middle of the fairway can easily end in the pond. Anything left and short can lead to a 60 yard bunker shot to a downhill green, the toughest shot in golf for amateurs. The only real bailout is green-side left or long (although there is not much space long). Players must decide how close they want to aim towards the fairway bunker off the tee in order to have a shorter approach, and whether the risk is worth it when a tee-shot straight might provide a more direct angle. The longer approach shot in forces players to commit to a line and decide how close they want to get to the pond on the right side of the green, especially on a firm day. Pins in the front, right part of the green best showcases the approach strategy. A player pressing in a match might take a more aggressive line closer to the pond (and bunker), but otherwise aiming left and long is likely the more prudent play.
Closing Thoughts
Bandon Trails lives up to the “sneaky” best course takes by delivering consistently entertaining golf in tranquil settings. While the best holes on property may not be found at Trails, I could see why its the favorite course for many golfers. Coore and Crenshaw delivered on the third act of Bandon and has players walking off singing “You’re my blue sky, you’re my sunny day” about the stellar course.