Highlands Golf Club, on the dunes of Gearhart, OR, is a fantastic 9 hole executive-style links, and the only ocean view venue on Oregon’s North Coast. From several vantage points, including the final walk of the Par 3 9th and most notably the short but tricky Par 3 5th, seaside perspectives are present at Highlands. This Par 31 course has a short, walking-only layout conducive to enjoying the simple pleasures of what golf was founded upon, including the natural environment and company of your golfing companions. Highlands offers a laidback, yet quality place to enjoy the game and the beauties of a region that epitomizes the term Pacific Northwest.

Highlands Golf Club is essentially built in line with a ridge of dunes running parallel to the coastline. The course is fairly tight and narrow, but short distances compromise to that effect. Holes 1-4 run southward along the inland side of the rolling terrain. The Par 3 5th is like the unofficial “turn” for this 9 hole course, as it aims you westward into the winds of the Pacific, providing the most scenic vista on the course. This hole adds to a fun layout overall; its very short approach, drastic drop in elevation, and direct line into the ocean breeze are all factors of the equation. The remaining holes of The Hightlands run northward on the oceanside of the dunes, concluding on the ridge-top of the Par 3 9th, and opening up to one last glimpse of the sea. There’s no water on the course, only sand traps, trees, and coastal brush. The greens range greatly in size and provide a quality roll and manageable sloping.

Sunset Bay Golf Course, located inside of Sunset Bay State Park west of Coos Bay, OR is quite possibly as remote a course as you will find in Oregon. Family owned and located on coastal farmland, Sunset Bay is an experience unlike any other in the region. Horses, dogs and other farm animals roam free on parts of the course, driving home the country feel. While you are just a few miles from the Pacific Ocean when playing Sunset Bay, it doesn’t necessarily feel like a coastal course but more like that of a course in the mountains. You may get the feeling that you have the course all to yourself, allowing for a speedy round if you play it well.

Sunset Bay Golf Course is a fairly straight forward nine hole golf course, with flat greens leading in to the following tee box. Some tee boxes are seemingly placed in the middle of the farmland it sits on, with little to no shaping of the tee box itself, while other sit high in their forested surroundings, creating interesting tee shots. Hazards appear in the form of weaving streams throughout the course, rugged bunkering and surrounding old growth trees. Streams cut through some of the fairways twice and often right in front of greens, so a second run around the course will definitely improve your score. As you approach the back half of the course, the open wetlands give way to hard doglegs and tight approach shots, adding some teeth near the end of your round. While the greens are not fast, the course is generally in good condition year round.

Salishan Resort in Gleneden Beach, OR is home to an elite golf resort on the Oregon Coastal golf scene. The Golf Links at Salishan Resort, located just 10 miles south of Lincoln City, runs through the heart of the Resort, and provides ample challenge to even the best of players. With 180 degree views of both the Siletz Bay and the Pacific Ocean you can get caught up in the moment, establishing Salishan as a premier golf destination in the Northwest. A restoration of the golf course and lodge in 2004 has created a stunning golf course while providing a beautiful setting for a peaceful getaway. Whether you are staying at the Resort, or just visiting the Central Oregon coast, Salishan is a must stop for any golf aficionado.

Salishan Golf Links is split in the middle by Highway 101, with the front nine due east of the highway, and the back nine on the westside bordered by Siletz Bay. The two halves result in a split personality. The inland front nine plays very tight, and requires precision on every shot.  The fairways roll throughout the opening Par 36 stretch surrounded by rich Northwest forested, rarely leaving you on level ground for your approach. The Par 35 back nine holes however are unmistakably coastal golf. Opening up considerably from the front, the back provides stellar views of the ocean below. Hazards differ on each side of the course as well. On the front nine, the trouble appears in the form of thick forest lined fairways with water coming into play. Move to the back nine and you are avoiding sand dunes and tall grass, all while negotiating the coastal winds. Being at the beach the sand plays a strong role, providing risk reward opportunities throughout the round. Once you have successfully navigated yourself onto the greens at Salishan the ball rolls fast and true with both subtle and severe breaks. 

Gearhart Golf Links, off the shores of Gearhart, OR, is a classic oceanside links with historical significance and appeal. Built in the late 19th century, Gearhart Golf Links is the oldest of all of Oregon’s courses and is among the oldest in the entire country. Though renovated in recent past, Gearhart fittingly provides an old world golf experience representative to that which is found in the games birthplace. Naturally, due to its rugged coastal climate and weathered course features, Gearhart closely resembles what you’d expect to find in a European links. Despite no actual ocean views, there’s no mistaking that you’re directly inland from the Pacific surf; you can smell the ocean air, see the marine fog and feel the swirling winds of land’s end. To the east and south there are vistas of forested foothills and distant rocky cliffs. Thanks to its long history and strong parallels to the origins of the game, Gearhart is an impressionable golf venue with a timeless mystique, and a staple in the wide spectrum of Northwest golf.

Gearhart Golf Links has a flat topography, but the shapely rolling terrain ebbs and flows like the neighboring ocean tides. Large berms and knolls exist throughout the course, sometimes guiding errant shots back into the fairway, other times providing unpleasant lies or difficult approach angles into greens. The course length and layout favors precision over distance, with short yardage and many narrow fairway cuts. The roughs are mainly lined with short, scraggly pines, and the grounds are otherwise rather open. Fairway and greenside bunkers are a common feature at Gearhart Golf Links, ranging from shallow to deep-set depth. Logically, the traps are filled with beach sand and play heavy, but very soft. There’s no water on the course aside from the Par 4 5th and 7th holes. The greens are very small and often tightly placed between large mounds of earth and bunkers of sand. Their surfaces remain in great shape with true rolls and fast speeds amid a typical array of sloping.

Pacific Dunes is a breathtaking coastal links and the rightful owner to the resort’s longest stretch of beach-front property. Designed by Tom Doak, Pacific Dunes was the 2nd constructed course of the resort and continuously ranks among the elite in the country. Simply named for its wealth of ocean views and massive sand dunes, Pacific Dunes is arguably the most exciting course in the collection. This dramatic landscape, hand crafted by nature, is preserved through a masterful design that runs in accordance with the ancient features of the land. Navigating amid the complex sand-laden terrain and along expansive, blue vistas of the Pacific, there’s a sight to behold at every step. Pacific Dunes modest distances are a meager compromise to the challenges supplied in the rugged earth, the natural sand bunkers, and the ever changing winds. From “mere” ocean views to sheer cliff-side layouts, one is subject to the elements of the present as much as the past on this storm-beaten shoreline links. Capturing the lore of the games humble origins, Pacific Dunes has reached the royal ranks of American golf and states its case as the most captivating course of the great Northwest.

Pacific Dunes is the shortest course at Bandon, but provides few favors to long hitters and levels the playing field with its tricky angles and contours. True to a traditional links, there are plenty of large landing zones, however many of the hole layouts call for target golf. On many holes, “fairway” doesn’t always guarantee a good look, and “green hit” is surely no promise of a par. The terrain is extremely undulated, not dissimilar from the other Bandon courses, and by design, there are often numerous options available for reaching your target. Studying the grounds and surveying the gales is at a premium here where knock-down shots range from favorable to mandatory. Playing the ground allows one to reduce the wind factor and work cooperatively with the rolling earth, though the danger of sand is ever present. Countless bunkers of countless natures blanket the course, and uncover yet another obstacle to avoid. From giant sand dune embankments to deep pothole bunkers to long meandering greenside traps, sand is naturally part of the experience. Also present, typically around the perimeters, are long grasses and sprawling fields of impenetrable gorse. These true links greens are larger than they appear from the illusory angles provided from the fairway. As expected, the contours are intricate, extreme and difficult to read, and 2-putts provide a greater sense of accomplishment than normal.

About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, on the southern coast of Oregon near Bandon, OR, is a world class golf mecca, and a defining piece of the puzzle regarding the quality and diversity of Northwest golf. Golf enthusiasts travel from all corners to experience this collection of nationally acclaimed golf. From the forested coastal inlands to the weather-shaped dunes of the ocean-front links, Bandon Golf Resort offers four captivating courses that are worthy of any golfers bucket list. Continuously topping the charts of many accredited golf rankings, Bandon is more than just a premier golf destination; it’s like a trip abroad to Scotland or a history lesson of golf and how it was intended to be played. Hand-crafted by nature, and plotted by man, Bandon Golf Resort has captured the spirit of the old game to the Northwest golfers delight.

Old Macdonald, the youngest 18 Hole venue at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, is a fun-filled links and a forgivingly roomy layout for all to enjoy. Beginning and ending near the inland pines, Old Macdonald guides its golfers on an exciting seaward adventure. Over a large dune ridge, past the lone-standing snag tree, lies a premier vista of miles of open links and a horizon of breaking surf. When the marine layer is rolling off the coast, you feel like you are standing at the gates of golf heaven. On several occasions, the course ascends up another more westerly range of dune hills that envelope the links, offering spectacular seaside views. Seemingly simple and tame, Old Macdonald can be as deviously difficult as the rest of the Bandon clan. Capitalizing on this user-friendly layout is no small task. A crafty design by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina highlights the lands natural, weathered features, and is as tough to score on as any. Inspired by the style and named in the honor of legendary golf architect C.B. Macdonald, this Old Macdonald has no farms, nor cow pastures, but rather a dynamic coastal layout that further cultivates the quality of Northwest golf.

Old Macdonald offers generous landing zones as the landscape is expansive and nearly treeless with very little plant life. Aside from the opening and closing stretch, the core of the course lies engulfed by dune hills providing a nice blend of flat, yet rolling terrain, as well as some occasional elevation change. Whether flat or sloped, you will find strong undulations in and among the putting surfaces throughout. The greens here provide the biggest challenge, wind and weather aside. And “big” is an understatement for a course that boasts some of the world’s largest greens, and which blanket those of St. Andrews. Guarded by plenty of sand, like all of Bandon’s golf, accuracy becomes more vital in avoiding precarious approach angles at the flag. Notable among the sand features are numerous traps with wooden planked edges, reminiscent of ship wreckage. These traps, including the fairway spanning “Hell bunker”, affront the Par 5 6th, play their part in this character-filled links. But the lead role in Old Macdonald’s uniqueness ironically belongs to the massive and extremely contoured fescue greens designed after C.B. Macdonald’s replications of worldly famous golf holes. From a cast of features that includes slopes, ridges, plateaus, punchbowls and even a true “Biarritz” green with a giant swale in the middle; it’s the putting surfaces that steal the show. So swing free from the tee, but expect to pay the price in and around the menacingly entertaining putting surfaces.

About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, on the southern coast of Oregon near Bandon, OR, is a world class golf mecca, and a defining piece of the puzzle regarding the quality and diversity of Northwest golf. Golf enthusiasts travel from all corners to experience this collection of nationally acclaimed golf. From the forested coastal inlands to the weather-shaped dunes of the ocean-front links, Bandon Golf Resort offers four captivating courses that are worthy of any golfers bucket list. Continuously topping the charts of many accredited golf rankings, Bandon is more than just a premier golf destination; it’s like a trip abroad to Scotland or a history lesson of golf and how it was intended to be played. Hand-crafted by nature, and plotted by man, Bandon Golf Resort has captured the spirit of the old game to the Northwest golfers delight.

Bandon Trails, near Bandon, OR, is a coastal inland venue with traditional links features that awesomely blend with classic traits of the forested Northwest. Starting atop a range of sand dunes with an opening ocean view, golfers will head for the hills through a dynamic and distinct layout. Bandon Trails is easily the most unique of the resort courses, and is nationally acclaimed despite having no beach front property. A slight variation in proximity from the shoreline creates a significant change in environment, as well as terrain. Instead of open scenery and rolling earth, Bandon Trails is heavily tree lined and has plenty of elevation change as it advances toward the coastal highlands. Thanks to the dense wooded surroundings, most of the holes are isolated from one another, and relatively sheltered from the wind. Around every corner is a pleasantly new sight of rugged links amid natural sand features and tall timber. The common Bandon trait of extreme undulation joins forces with notable topography change and strongly sloped fairways to give Bandon Trails its defining character. Concluding among the long-grassed dunes of a Pacific panorama, Bandon Trails comes full circle and successfully weaves the nature of true links golf into the spirit of the Northwest.

Bandon Trails has large landing zones, yet many strategically placed fairway bunkers require a target golf approach. While there’s plenty of room to operate, and a fair mix of user-friendly holes, Bandon Trails has many hazardous areas and the least forgiveness for errant shots. There’s ample driving space between the outlying old growth forests, however, trouble spots reside around the greens which are often tucked into unplayable and precarious surroundings. From trees to long-grassed dunes, and from coastal brush to sandy and weathered terrain, Bandon Trails has the most potential for penalizing or costly strokes. It is even home to the resorts only prominent water feature, which guards the Par 4 11th. However, the biggest challenge here is clearly the unlevel grounds throughout much of the links. The climb and descent upon the hillside creates sizable elevation changes and a common theme of sloped, filtering fairways. From tee to cup, surveying the earth is essential to shot placement. The greens are tricky based on contour and shape as one would expect. Most are large in true links fashion, yet some are “small” by resort standards. There’s a shortage of safe collection areas as many greens are tightly situated among the various elements mentioned.

About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, on the southern coast of Oregon near Bandon, OR, is a world class golf mecca, and a defining piece of the puzzle regarding the quality and diversity of Northwest golf. Golf enthusiasts travel from all corners to experience this collection of nationally acclaimed golf. From the forested coastal inlands to the weather-shaped dunes of the ocean-front links, Bandon Golf Resort offers four captivating courses that are worthy of any golfers bucket list. Continuously topping the charts of many accredited golf rankings, Bandon is more than just a premier golf destination; it’s like a trip abroad to Scotland or a history lesson of golf and how it was intended to be played. Hand-crafted by nature, and plotted by man, Bandon Golf Resort has captured the spirit of the old game to the Northwest golfers delight.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has another masterpiece on its hands in the form of a Par Three Course, and it goes by the name of the Bandon Preserve. Built under the initiative of making golf more accessible and open to all players, Bandon Preserve is a 13 Hole Course of the likes which have never been seen before. Situated just west of the Bandon Trails clubhouse and south of Bandon Dunes, Bandon Preserve is an impressive array of holes that rival any Par 3 on the Resort. The Preserve plays primarily East-West, winding through sand dunes and tall coastal grasses. The orientation of the holes is important; as this lends itself to crosswinds that can change the way the course plays on a daily basis. Ocean views are present throughout the entire course. Bandon Preserve is as aesthetically pleasing as it is fun and will change your view of Par Three courses forever.

Bandon Preserve was designed and constructed by the same team that designed Bandon Trails, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Originally imagined as a 12 Hole Course, they later found a 13th Hole that ultimately became the longest hole on the course. The course can be made as leisurely or as challenging as you choose, with tee box selections tentatively starting at 819 yards, and nearly doubling from the back tees to just under 1500 yards.  The Preserve rarely plays easy though, as blind tee shots and elevation changes abound. Most players will not need to carry more than a 5-iron when playing The Preserve. All net proceeds generated from play at The Preserve will go towards The Wild Rivers Coast alliance, a group that aims to protect the lands of the Southern Oregon Coast. For those who consider 36 holes per day too much of a haul, Bandon Preserve presents a new 31 Hole option that is a welcome addition to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Bandon Dunes is the original and heralded headliner of this world class resort which showcases the innate allure of the ol’ game. Built in 1999, Bandon Dunes was designed by Scotsmen David McLay Kidd and easily provides as true and enchanting of a links experience as one can imagine. Mirroring the birthplace of golf in both climate and countryside, the construction completes the coastal linksland vision that was intended here. Surf, sand and sea breeze, amid the sloping grounds, provides the common elements to this traditional layout. Like the opposing ocean tide, Bandon Dunes flows back and forth to the shoreline, offering handfuls of stunning views. When you’re not staring at the choppy surf, one can find amusement in the waves of the earth that roll through this playground of golf. Local lore hypothesizes that they must’ve buried elephants here, where the terrain contains extreme undulations that ebb and flow like the neighboring Pacific. The truth is that little was changed in the creation of this masterpiece in which nature is the primary architect. This rugged coastal environment is a perfect haven for a pure links, in which Bandon Dunes captures the spirit of a timeless game and creates a golf heaven for the Northwest.

Bandon Dunes offers favorable opportunities for all skill levels to reach the large fairways. Putting your drive in play is user-friendly, as targets from the tee are roomy. With that said, there are a lot of mid-fairway traps that are detrimental if reached. The hole distances are manageable, of course, hitting into headwinds will devastate your net yardage, and quickly lengthen what appears average. Course forgiveness fades as the flagstick nears. Many of the greens are either blindingly elevated or require westward approach shots into the squalls of the sea. Studying the grounds and surveying the gales is at a premium here where knock-down shots range from favorable to mandatory. Playing the ground allows one to reduce the wind factor and work cooperatively with the rolling earth. Deep pot bunkers are a common theme here. Some of these traps are insignificant in size but remain well fed thanks to the surrounding slopes that funnel in seemingly decent shots. Some of the traps are not so small, including a greenside bunker on the Par 3 15th which could easily have you standing 30’ below the hole. Also present, typically around the perimeters, are long grasses and sprawling fields of impenetrable gorse. These true links greens are large, yet uninviting as they are heavily guarded by deep sand and steep slope. As expected, the contours are intricate, extreme and difficult to read, and 2-putts provide a greater sense of accomplishment than normal.

About Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, on the southern coast of Oregon near Bandon, OR, is a world class golf mecca, and a defining piece of the puzzle regarding the quality and diversity of Northwest golf. Golf enthusiasts travel from all corners to experience this collection of nationally acclaimed golf. From the forested coastal inlands to the weather-shaped dunes of the ocean-front links, Bandon Golf Resort offers four captivating courses that are worthy of any golfers bucket list. Continuously topping the charts of many accredited golf rankings, Bandon is more than just a premier golf destination; it’s like a trip abroad to Scotland or a history lesson of golf and how it was intended to be played. Hand-crafted by nature, and plotted by man, Bandon Golf Resort has captured the spirit of the old game to the Northwest golfers delight.

Bandon Crossings Golf Course, in Bandon, OR, is a coastal inland course with an American-style layout in a region made popular for its prestigious and pricey links golf. With no affiliation to the Bandon resort courses, Bandon Crossings is a value-adding venue for area visitors and a fantastic home course for locals. Despite living in the shadows of its beach front neighbors, it still shines as an engaging experience due to its superbly well-kept grounds and natural beauty. Starting with some user-friendly holes, Bandon Crossings smoothly transitions into a challenging and versatile test. Situated near the base of the forested coastal foothills the course increases in both shapeliness of terrain and difficulty of design. With a wealth of old growth trees, a signature sight here are the shiny and shedding red-barked madrones which plot the grounds of this Pacific environment. Other views include the towering wooded hillsides, tall-grassed meadows and numerous creeks and ponds. More than just a warm-up to the world famous resort courses or a cost-efficient supplement to maximize play, Bandon Crossings lies at the intersection of quality golf and the quiet beauty of the coastal Northwest.

Bandon Crossings Golf Course begins with a relatively flat and open layout and climbs the scale of difficulty by the middle of the front nine. As the course heads toward the hills, the terrain naturally takes shape, offering a mix of elevation change and sloped fairways. The layouts also begin to narrow a bit, as trees become a factor and the tilted terrain minimize probable landing zones. Bandon Crossings features several wetland areas which are rare to non-existent on the resort courses, and on a couple occasions, these hazards traverse affront the greens to consume short approach shots. The biggest challenge at Bandon Crossings lies not in one specific feature, but a thorough combination of elements. While there are no dunes or sandy expanses, a wealth of traps line most of the fairways and are plotted aside many of the greens. These bunkers are relatively managable compared to the daunting designs and placement that are common to the resort traps. The greens are well-kept and offer a pure roll amid average to strong contours.