Pacific Dunes at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

In its brief history, the Pacific Dunes course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has emerged as one of the most renowned golf courses in the United States.

Set on rugged coastline in southern Oregon, Pacific Dunes has all the makings of a true British Isles links. In fact, most British Isles golf courses would kill for this kind of setting. Gorse is tall, wild and overpowering in spots, like behind the 17th green, and the Pacific Ocean is almost always in view.

Tom Doak moved little earth designing Pacific Dunes. He didn't need to because the land is a near-perfect setting for a wild, classic links course. Playing Pacific Dunes, it's hard to believe the course is less than a decade old.

The course features fescue grasses from tee to green. Greens here are monstrous, often longer than 100 feet front to back. Lag putting is a necessary skill to score well - not to mention a good bump-and-run game. The winds here can get vicious, especially in the winter months. There are numerous oceanfront holes, including the par-4 fourth, the par-3 11th and the par-4 13th, all of which bear the brunt of the elements coming in off the coastline.

Pacific Dunes is one of three (soon to be four) championship golf courses at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.