The 17th Holes at Bandon Dunes

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I’ve been going through the holes at Bandon Dunes Resort, finding the best 1st hole, the best 2nd hole, etc. We’re on the home stretch now, but if you want to start at the beginning, here’s where to do it. Also, just go here to see any and all posts about Bandon Dunes, The Happiest Place On Earth.

The 1st Holes at Bandon

Today, we examine the second to last hole on each course, the 17th.

The Best 17th Hole

One of the reasons I wanted to do this exercise was that when I ranked my favorite courses at Bandon Dunes Resort, and then thought about my favorite holes across the property, it didn’t always match. To be sure, there are other factors like the challenge overall, the routing, the walk itself, the views, etc. that factor in. But I’ve consistently had Sheep Ranch as my 5/5, and yet … man, there are a LOT of good holes. The 17th is truly majestical.

A short par-4 that follows the wonderful par-3 we just discussed, the tee box is surrounded by husks of ghost trees and two more are on the fairway and green

This is the typical tee shot from 17. Just glorious.

But this is the secret tee box, from behind the 16th green.

It’s like a full 230+ yard carry, possibly more depending on your line and absolutely terrifying, but the fact that it even exists gives this hole extra credit.

On the right side, there’s a long mound that will gobble up wipey fades off the tee, but it’s truly hard to hit a bad shot that doesn’t keep a green in regulation in play, unless you (like me) nuke your tee shot so far left it lands in the Pacific Ocean.

I love a hole that brings a good score into play, but requires good shots to do so. You can see how exposed the hole is in general, so wind will have its say here, but you can also find yourself with a birdie putt fairly easily. It’s super fun and often a nice way to begin the end of your round.

The Worst 17th Hole

I am tempted to name the brutally long par-3 redan at Pacific Dunes, but even though it’s incredibly tough it’s hard to deny that it is a great hole. Instead, I reluctantly have to give this to Old Macdonald. After 16, it’s such a downer to play this weird par-5 called “Littlestone,” in homage to the name of the English course it’s modeled after. (Or, rather, the par-5 that CB Macdonald built at the original Lido course, which was modeled after a par-4 at Littlestone.) The idea is that a daring tee shot up the right side gets you to an alternate fairway that shortens the hole considerably. But even architect Tom Doak acknowledges, “On our seventeenth, driving over a small wetland yields an open approach to the green, but the carry is so long that most players will have to be content with playing away to the left off the tee and taking a three-shot route home.” So, it’s a three shot hole (which is fine) but one that you have to really negotiate around these massive bunkers, so it’s just a lot of target golf on a course that is mostly wide open and provides a lot of options.

The Most Underrated 17th Hole

I’m surprised by how many people trash the 17th hole at Bandon Dunes, because I think it’s really, really good. The tee box is right on the coastline (apparently many people turn around and launch balls into the ocean which is NOT ecologically the coolest thing to do). You have a terrific view of the Preserve as well as most of Bandon Dunes itself. And the hole is a very cool par-4 with a chasm running down the right side. Thus, your tee shot should stick to the middle or the left of the fairway, which provides the best approach to the green (which also runs almost up to the same chasm, so use enough club!) If you’re lucky, this is your view on your approach:

More likely, you’re much farther away and off to the left, which means that trouble is RIGHT in your way. The green is also massive, which means you have to think about the pin placement because you can find yourself three-putting very easily. It’s a really good challenge but not prohibitively difficult. It’s an awesome hole.

Let’s check in and find our new tallies:

Best Holes: Sheep Ranch (3), Bandon Trails (3), Old Macdonald (4), Pacific Dunes (3), Bandon Dunes (4)

Worst Holes: Bandon Dunes (4), Bandon Trails (3), Old Macdonald (5), Sheep Ranch (5), Pacific Dunes (0.5*)

Most Underrated Holes: Sheep Ranch (4.5), Bandon Trails (4), Bandon Dunes (2), Pacific Dunes (4), Old Macdonald (2.5)

What’s your favorite 17th hole at Bandon Dunes Resort?