Fast forward 12 years, and I finally made it back—this time with my wife and our 4-year-old daughter in tow. And let me tell you, seeing Brasada through a different lens (and a different stage of life) was eye-opening.

I was struck by two things almost immediately: first, I’d completely forgotten how stunning the views are. Rolling hills, Cascade peaks in the distance, and sunsets that stop you in your tracks. And second, just how much has changed since my last visit. The resort has expanded, improved, and fine-tuned its experience in ways that made this trip feel totally fresh.

Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time exploring Central Oregon resorts—places like Pronghorn, Tetherow, Eagle Crest, and Sunriver have all been regular stops. Somehow, though, Brasada kept slipping through the cracks. But after this latest trip? That’s not happening again. This place absolutely deserves to be in the conversation with the best of them, and after reading this post, you’ll have a better idea of which one is right for you.

Whether you’re thinking about a family vacation, a couple’s getaway, or a chill weekend with friends, Brasada Ranch has quietly become one of the best all-around destinations in Central Oregon. In this post, I’ll break down everything that stood out—from the lodging and food to the activities, service, and what it’s really like bringing a kid along.

What is Brasada Ranch?

Before we go too far, let me give you a quick overview in case you’ve never heard of Brasada.

Brasada Ranch is a luxury resort nestled in the high desert of Central Oregon, about 20 miles northeast of Bend in Powell Butte. 

Spread across 1,800 acres, with 900 acres of preserved open space, it offers panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains and a serene, secluded atmosphere. 

Seriously, I still can’t get over these views.

The resort features a range of accommodations, including 65 family-friendly Sage Canyon Cabins (this is where we stayed), adult-only Cascade Bungalows, and Ranch House Suites. Amenities abound: an 18-hole golf course known as Brasada Canyons, a full-service spa, multiple dining options, equestrian facilities, and a 17,000-square-foot athletic center with indoor and outdoor pools. 

Like many of the big resorts in Central Oregon, they can kind of cater to any kind of group. Whether you want a romantic, adults-only getaway, a boys golf trip, or a family vacation – Brasada can do it all.

But as you’ll see, there are certain people I’d recommend come here more than others.

Brasada Canyons Golf Course: A Scenic, Playable Gem in Central Oregon

Considering this is a golf blog, let’s talk about the course: Brasada Canyons.

If you’re planning a trip to Brasada Ranch, the golf course alone makes it worth the visit. Brasada Canyons isn’t trying to be a tour-level championship track like Pronghorn or Crosswater—and that’s exactly what makes it such a joy to play.

This is very much a resort course in the best sense of the word. It’s playable. It’s welcoming. It’s beautiful. And most importantly, it’s fun.

You won’t find a ton of centerline bunkers, death-by-narrow-fairways, or greens that feel like they’re trying to humiliate you (sup, Tetherow). Instead, the bunkering here is more forgiving, often shaped in a way that kicks balls back into play rather than punishing you for missing by a yard. The fairways are generous, and the greens offer subtle but engaging contours without veering into goofy territory.

Add in Brasada’s elevation—just over 3,000 feet—and your drives might go 10 yards farther than you’re used to at sea level. Combine that with the wide corridors, and it becomes a course where you can really let it rip off the tee.

Views for Days

Let’s talk about the views—because they’re everywhere. You get panoramic Cascade Mountain backdrops on practically every hole. The setting feels remote and peaceful, but never stark or empty. Whether you’re staring down a tee shot or lining up a putt, it’s impossible not to take a moment and soak it all in.

There are certainly more homes on the course than there was last time I played in 2013, but fortunately, they’re set back enough that you rarely worry about slicing a ball into someone’s window.

As you’d expect with “Canyons” in the name, there are some pretty fun ups and downs – and you’ll definitely want a cart when playing. The elevation changes aren’t just there for show, though. They add a lot of visual and strategic interest to the round. Some holes plunge down into canyons, while others sit perched on plateaus with long views and generous landing areas.

Where the Course Gets Its Name

One of the only holes I remembered from my previous time playing here was the 2nd. 

It’s a medium-length par 4 that sets the tone early. A wide fairway lets you open up the driver, and the approach plays into an infinity green that feels like it just drops off into the mountains. It’s scenic, satisfying, and a great preview of what’s to come.

I’m honestly surprised this was the only hole I remembered, considering just how much I enjoyed playing on this most recent trip.

On the third hole, you start to see where the name “Canyons” makes sense.

From a dramatically elevated tee, you hit down into a fairway framed by rocky terrain and brush. It’s one of those tee shots that just begs you to pause and take a photo — then crush one and hope you judged the elevation right.

All of the Par 3s are Memorable

Three of the four par 3s play downhill toward the mountains. That might sound repetitive on paper, but each has its own character.

4 is longer and has a large slope on the left hand side.

6 becomes a completely different hole depending on which tee box you’re from.

And 17 is longer, and both times I played it, it was directly into the wind – making it even more challenging.

12 is the oddball in that it plays away from the mountains, and has one of the deepest bunkers on the course short and right. It’s a nice change from the others, and no less enjoyable to play.

A Few Other Favorites:

The 9th is the number one handicap for a reason – especially from the back tees. The fairway is wide, there’s a dropoff into scrubland left, and the cabins we stayed in left – so it demands a little more precision than most other holes.

The approach demands focus, especially if the pin is tucked.

Holes 10-12 bring you up and down into more canyons, before coming up to one of the highest points on the course on 13 and 14.

But 15? 

Seeing 15 for the first time was one of the more memorable moments I’ve had on a golf course in a long time.

It’s not only the most fun hole on the course, but it’s also one of the most fun holes I’ve ever played.

It’s a short par 4 at just over 300 yards from the tips, but with a twist: the fairway is basically perpendicular to the tee box, it’s almost like a more severe Cape hole.

You can pretty much hit any club you want off the tee. Lay up with an iron to the wide part of the fairway on the right, leaving mid mid-iron approach. Carry the middle bunkers for a more risk-reward option, that would leave you with a flip wedge in. Or go full send at the green (if you’ve got the guts—and the distance).

It’s strategic, exciting, and absolutely beautiful. And the story about someone acing it during a big member event’s horse race—with over 100 people watching? Instant legend status.

Great for Golfers of All Skill Levels

One of the best parts of Brasada Canyons is how accessible it is. There aren’t many forced carries, the bunkers tend to be on the periphery, and the fairways give newer or younger golfers plenty of room to stay in play. On nearly every hole, there’s a way to run the ball up to the green.

I actually played the front 9 with my wife (who doesn’t really golf) and our 4-year-old daughter. Both had a blast. And anytime a non-golfing family member says they had fun on the golf course, you know the vibe is right.

Final Thoughts on Brasada Canyons

I went into this round expecting a pretty, casual resort course, and came away genuinely impressed. Brasada Canyons might not beat you up like some of the other Central Oregon heavyweights, but what it lacks in challenge, it makes up for with a sense of fun, flow, and variety that makes every hole feel distinct.

The setting is stunning, the routing is clever, and the course is welcoming without being boring. It’s not just a course I’d recommend to someone staying at the resort—it’s one I’d go out of my way to play again.

As for access? Good news and bad news.

The good news is that you can play it if you’re a guest of the resort.

The bad news is that, other than that, it’s a private club.

Which really is mostly all good news. Because while you’re there, the crowds are minimal and spaced out, and you get treated like a member – which is always a nice experience.

Lodging at Brasada Ranch: The Two-bedroom Cabins Were Great

When it comes to lodging at Brasada Ranch, you’ve got a few different options.

We stayed in one of the 65 Sage Canyon Cabins, specifically a two-bedroom unit, and it was everything you’d hope for in a high-end resort experience: spacious, private, and loaded with little touches that make a big difference.

More Than Just a Room

One of the biggest perks of the cabin setup is space. Hotel rooms can be great, but having a full cabin which gave us the flexibility to spread out, was great.

Also, have you ever seen that AirBnB commercial that basically says “in a hotel room, your kid’s bedtime is your bedtime”?

Having the second room for her, so that we could stay up later, is key.

The two bedrooms were nearly identical in quality, which is a nice bonus if you’re traveling with another couple or older kids. One bedroom had a larger bathroom with a soaking tub, while the other featured a cozy fireplace and a bit more space, including a sitting area. No clear “secondary” bedroom here—just two really comfortable options.

Our cabin sat just above the 9th tee box, and the deck got a lot of use. Morning coffee, afternoon reading, evening wine—it was the perfect spot to soak in the high-desert views and enjoy the fresh air without ever leaving “home.” If you’re the kind of person who appreciates a little outdoor living space on vacation, you’ll love this.

Oh, and one important tip: try to book a cabin with a hot tub. Ours had one, and it made a huge difference. After a long day of golf, swimming, or chasing a four-year-old around the resort, being able to unwind under the stars with a soak was the kind of luxury that elevates the whole trip.

Not every cabin has one, so if that’s important to you (and it should be), double-check when booking.

Our cabin was about a 10-minute walk from the core resort amenities—golf course, restaurants, athletic center, pool—which we actually loved. It was just far enough to give us some quiet and privacy, but close enough to ditch the car most of the time.

The walk down was great for letting our daughter practice her biking skills (and burn off some energy). The walk back—slightly uphill—wasn’t her favorite part of the day, but we still appreciated the gentle built-in exercise. If mobility is a concern or you’ve got a stroller in tow, you may want to look for a unit closer to the heart of the resort, but otherwise, it’s a pleasant stroll with great scenery along the way.

There Are Also Some Adults-Only Options…

For as great of a family resort as Brasada is, it might be even better for couples looking for a romantic getaway.

More than any of the other major Central Oregon resorts I’ve been to, they really create an amazing environment for adults looking for time away.

There are two great lodging options for this.

The first are the 8 Ranch House Suites.

These are located in the main lodge, which puts you within steps of the restaurants, pool, and other amenities—ideal if you don’t want to worry about walking or driving around the property.

They are also more traditional hotel-style rooms, with daily cleaning service, if that’s more what you’re looking for.

But the even more sought-after rooms? The new Cascade Bungalows.

This is an entire adults-only section of the resort designed for a quieter, more elevated experience. These are the most premium accommodations on the property and are meant for couples or those looking for a more boutique-style stay.

There are 16 of them, and many open up right towards the adults-only pool.

They all feature private hot tubs, and the interiors look stunning – although I didn’t get a chance to tour them on this trip.

Some of the Best Resort Food I’ve Ever Had

If there’s one area where Brasada Ranch really exceeded expectations, it was the food.

Compared to places like Tetherow, which sits right in Bend, or Sunriver, which has a full-on village complete with a grocery store and tons of dining options, Brasada is more remote. And by remote, I mean… It’s about 25 minutes from Bend. So, not exactly the middle of nowhere, but if you forget to grab something from the store or feel like eating out in town, it’s not a quick five-minute errand.

But here’s the thing: you probably won’t want to leave anyway.

Because the food at Brasada? It’s some of the best I’ve ever had at a resort.

Dining Options at Brasada Ranch

There are four primary food and drink spots on the property:

• Ranch House – All-day dining with something for everyone.
• Wild Rye – The resort’s fine dining experience (but still pretty casual).
• Sundance Bar & Grill – Poolside eats and drinks.
• The General Store – Coffee, pastries, and a few grocery essentials.

Here’s a breakdown of each.

Ranch House: Casual, Reliable, Delicious

Located in the main Ranch House building (where you also check in and where the Ranch House Suites are), this spot is perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

We ate here three times: breakfast, dinner, and one takeout meal after our daughter was all tapped out for the day.

The menu? Excellent. On our takeout night, I had a BBQ chicken pizza that was delicious, and Elliot’s mac and cheese was probably the best kids’ version I’ve ever tasted.

For our dinner on the patio, we soaked in views of the Cascade Range, and even in early May, the weather was ideal. There are infrared heaters and blankets available for when things cool down.

I had a huge steak that was cooked perfectly, and Tate’s BBQ ribs were equally great. But the star of the show?

The potatoes. We had them both with dinner and again at breakfast—and couldn’t get enough. Perfectly crisped, seasoned just right. Honestly, I’d go back for those alone.

Wild Rye: Elevated Dining Without the Pretense

This is Brasada’s elevated dining experience, but don’t let the “fine dining” label scare you off. The vibe is still laid-back, and you can roll in post-golf without changing into anything too fancy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect—until I saw that the cocktail menu was designed by Scott Baird, the guy behind Trick Dog in San Francisco. That immediately raised the bar.

And I’m happy to report: it delivered.

From their takes on classics like the Old Fashioned and Manhattan, to the thoughtful plating and flavors, everything was on point. The brie appetizer balanced sweet and savory perfectly. The wedge salad—with everything bagel spice and Brasada Sauce—was creative and crave-worthy.

The lamb shank? Fall-off-the-bone good. It reminded me of one of my all-time favorite dishes: the pork shank at Mountain Standard in Vail.

And don’t leave without trying the s’mores. Seriously.

They make their own marshmallows and graham crackers (which have a subtle cinnamon note), and you roast them outside at the fire pit while watching the sunset. It was one of those little moments that felt like a core memory for our family.

Sundance Bar & Grill: Easy Poolside Bites

Located at the Athletic Center, Sundance is exactly what you want on a sunny afternoon: fast, simple, satisfying.

We had the hummus plate, kids’ chicken strips, and a few other small plates—and everything was perfect for a casual poolside lunch.

The General Store: Cute and Quaint

Across from the Ranch House, the General Store is your go-to for coffee, breakfast pastries, and small essentials like wine, snacks, and groceries.

Forgot butter? Oil? Toothpaste? Been there. The General Store likely has you covered.

It’s also just a cozy, well-designed little shop that adds a lot of charm to the resort experience.

Whether you’re eating out or cooking in your cabin, the food experience at Brasada is a huge part of what makes it special.

Other Activities at Brasada Ranch

Golf? Check. Amazing food? Double check. But there’s a lot more to love at Brasada.

At over 1,800 acres, the resort offers a huge range of things to do—especially if you’re traveling with family or just want to fill your days with more than just tee times.

The Athletic Center: A Hub for All Ages

Centrally located, the Athletic Center is a hub of activity for the resort. The outdoor pool features a lazy river, a waterslide, and a waterfall splash pad, plus there’s an indoor pool and hot tub if the weather doesn’t cooperate.

The slide was a huge hit with our daughter. She probably rode it 25 to 30 times over two days. The staff were relaxed about things like life jackets and tandem rides, which made the whole experience even more fun for younger kids.

The gym is fully equipped with Peloton bikes, free weights, and cardio machines. Outside, you’ve got tennis courts, pickleball courts, a playground, and a Kids Camp (which we didn’t try, but we’ve had friends rave about).

Activities Galore

When you check in, you’ll get a full list of available activities—and there’s no shortage.

We saw everything from yoga and barre classes to aquafit, pony rides, trail rides, axe throwing, indoor golf, stargazing, and even ranch-life experiences.

Whether you’re here for a weekend or a full two-week stay, there’s more than enough to keep you entertained.

Brasada Ranch vs. Everywhere Else: Should You Visit?

At some point, I’ll write a full breakdown comparing Brasada to the other top Central Oregon resorts like Sunriver, Tetherow, and Pronghorn.

But for now, here’s the short version: Yes, you should absolutely visit Brasada Ranch.

It’s a unique place that offers a true resort experience—something that’s a little harder to find in the Bend area than you might expect.

Best For: Couples Looking for a Romantic Escape

With adults-only cabins and an adults-only pool, Brasada is arguably the best option in the region for a couples’ getaway. No other resort I can think of has as much dedicated “adults-only” space as Brasada does.

You’ll still see families around, sure—but time your dinners right, and you’ll enjoy a peaceful, intimate experience in the evenings as well.

Great For: Families Who Want to Keep Things Simple

At other resorts, we often find ourselves running into Bend for food or looking for things to do outside the resort proper.

At Brasada? That thought never even crossed our minds. Everything we needed was right there. It felt like a true resort vacation, where the goal is to just relax and enjoy.

Ideal For: Golfers Who Want a Fun, Forgiving Course

Not everyone wants to get beat up by 7,400 yards of narrow fairways and forced carries.

Brasada Canyons is a breath of fresh air: fun, scenic, and far more accessible than some of the other high-end courses in the area. It’s perfect for newer golfers or families looking to enjoy a few casual rounds in a spectacular setting.

Brasada Ranch Has Great Golf, But it Really is So Much More

As someone who’s played a lot of golf in Central Oregon, I’ll admit it: Brasada Canyons caught me off guard. I expected a laid-back resort course with nice views—and it delivered that. But it also delivered thoughtful design, memorable holes, and one of the most fun golf experiences I’ve had in the region. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to loop it again, even if your scorecard is a mess.

But what really elevates Brasada is everything that surrounds the golf. The cabins, the food, the views, and the family-friendly energy all come together in a way that makes the resort more than just a stop on a golf trip. It’s a destination worth planning an entire vacation around.

If you’re looking for a trip that combines golf with genuine relaxation—and where everyone in your group (even the non-golfers) can have an incredible time—Brasada Ranch is tough to beat.

The post I Went Back to Brasada Ranch After 12 Years — Here’s What Surprised Me appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

But after spending two unforgettable weeks there with my dad, I’m here to tell you: it should be.

We were looking for the perfect mix of world-class golf, incredible food, vibrant culture, and just enough adventure to make the whole thing feel special. Thanks to the team at Asia Golf Trips, we found exactly that — and then some.

From championship layouts framed by jungle-covered mountains to beachfront holes that felt straight out of a dream, Vietnam surprised us at every turn. This wasn’t just a great golf trip. It was one of the best travel experiences of my life.

In this post, I’m not just going to share the highlights of our trip (although there were plenty). I’ll also walk you through everything you need to know to plan your own Vietnam golf adventure — from the best courses to play, to the must-visit cities, to the food, culture, and travel tips that made it all unforgettable.

Let’s dive in with the obvious question:

Why take a golf trip to Vietnam in the first place?

Way back in 2009, the very first blog post I ever published was my “bucket list.” 

I was in a job I hated, and wanted some accountability for doing more in my life. So I wrote down a list of a whole bunch of stuff I wanted to do in life.

• Live on a tropical island: Check.
• Play Pebble Beach: Check.
• Go to Cuba Before the Embargo is Lifted and Have a Cigar: Check.
• Climb a Mountain: Check.

I’ve crossed off dozens of things at this point. But two really important ones, I hadn’t:

• Take an international trip with my mom
• Take an international trip with my dad

16 years later, it was time to make it happen.

My dad is a *very* casual golfer. And previously, the only golf trips we’d done were a few days at Bandon Dunes and a quick trip to Pronghorn.

So I knew I wanted to do something unique and memorable.

Enter: Vietnam.

If you think Vietnam is just motorbikes, street food, and backpackers — think again.

Golf in Vietnam is world-class, and the experience around it is even better. During our two-week adventure, my dad and I discovered that Vietnam delivers so much more than just great courses:

• Incredible Variety: Seaside links, mountain golf, lush parkland layouts — every round felt totally different, and every course came with its own “wow” moments.
• Luxury That Won’t Break the Bank: Five-star resorts, personal caddies, and VIP-level service at prices that would be unthinkable in the U.S. or Europe.
• Food That’s Worth the Trip Alone: Fresh, flavorful, and unforgettable. Every meal was an experience — from $2 banh mi sandwiches to beachfront seafood feasts.
• Unforgettable Culture and History:
  Ancient towns, vibrant cities, and landscapes that looked straight out of a movie. Every day offered something new to explore off the course.
• Still a Hidden Gem: Pristine courses, uncrowded fairways, and a feeling like you’ve stumbled onto a secret that’s too good to keep.

In the next sections, I’ll break down each of these in detail — plus share all the tips and stories you’ll need to plan your own trip to one of golf’s best-kept secrets.

The Four Courses We Played in Vietnam

One of the best parts of our trip was how every round felt like a completely new experience. Each course had its own vibe, its own scenery, and its own little moments that stuck with us long after we holed out.

I think that was one of my biggest surprises from the trip, was just how much variety there was, both in terms of the golf and the different regions we traveled through.

Here’s a look at the four courses we played, in the order we experienced them:

BRG Kings Island

We kicked off the trip just outside of Hanoi at BRG Kings Island, a sprawling 54-hole property tucked away among lakes and towering trees.

There are three courses here — Lakeside, Mountainview, and Kings — and we played the newest (and best) of the bunch: the Kings Course, designed by Jack Nicklaus.

One of the most unique aspects of the club? You have to take a 5-minute speedboat ride to get there. Literally, the only thing on this island is the golf club – so it’s a pretty cool experience.

The Kings Course was everything you’d want for a first round in Vietnam: lush fairways, big elevation changes, and enough water hazards to keep you honest.

The scenery was beautiful — a mix of forest and lakes — but what really stood out was the 19th hole: a bonus par 3 with two different greens that played over a beautiful lake. It’s one of the coolest little “Bye” holes I’ve ever played.

If you’re looking for a warm-up round that’s challenging without being overly punishing, Kings Island is a perfect place to start.

Hoiana Shores Golf Club 

If Kings Island got us excited, Hoiana Shores took things to a whole different level.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Hoiana Shores sits just 15 minutes outside of Hoi An and feels like someone plucked a piece of Bandon Dunes and dropped it on the coast of Vietnam.

This is legit links golf — firm fairways, sandy waste areas, and ocean breezes that can turn a wedge into a five-iron real quick.

The course conditioning was immaculate, and the views? Unreal. I’ve played over half of the top 100 in the world, and Hoiana would hold its own against any of them.

If you love true seaside golf and want to play somewhere that feels a little wild and untouched, this is a must.

Here’s my full recap of Hoiana Shores.

Legend Danang Golf Resort 

We had an early tee time at Legend Danang, which had us streaming the last few holes of the Masters on the bus ride to the course.

The resort is home to two courses, a Norman design and a Nicklaus design.

We played the Norman course, and it didn’t disappoint.

The bunkering here was standout: big, bold, and strategic without being gimmicky.

The course plays tighter than some of the others we experienced, so accuracy off the tee mattered more than usual – something that on this particular day was not my forte.

The highlight was the par-3 16th, the signature hole that plays straight out toward the ocean. One of those shots where you almost forget to swing because you’re too busy soaking in the view.

Legend Danang felt like the kind of place you could easily play multiple times and keep finding new things to love about it.

Laguna Golf Lang Co

We wrapped up our golf journey with what I found to be the biggest surprise of the trip: Laguna Golf Lang Co.

Set about an hour outside Danang, this Nick Faldo design feels like you’re playing golf in Jurassic Park — massive jungle backdrops, dramatic mountains, and oceanfront holes that make you want to pull out your phone every three minutes.

The bunkering was beautiful, and the routing took you through rice paddies, forests, and beachside dunes — it was like playing four different courses in one.

A fun bonus: the 19th hole here (yes, another!) sits right on the ocean and is a must-play after you finish your front nine.

Laguna Golf Lang Co wasn’t just a great way to end the trip — it might have been one of the most visually stunning courses I’ve ever stepped foot on.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg for golf…

And when it comes to golf in Vietnam, these courses are just the tip of the iceberg.

Montgomerie Links is another course outside Hoi An that’s supposed to be fantastic.

Ba Na Hills also routes through a jungle landscape with impeccable conditioning.

And The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram is widely regarded as the best course in Vietnam. It’s about two hours outside Saigon and much more similar to Hoiana Shores than anything else. But on this particular trip, we stayed North (it can be pretty hot down South in April), so we didn’t get a chance to see it.

Hanoi is an Exciting, Crazy SE Asian City: Here’s What to Do

This was my third trip to Vietnam, but I was particularly excited for this as both previous trips I stayed in Saigon.

The trip started off in Vietnam’s second biggest city, Hanoi, which has around 11 million people.

Vietnam’s capital city is an electric mix of old-world charm and nonstop energy — and it’s one of the most fascinating places I’ve ever wandered through.

Here are some highlights from our stay:

The Sofitel Legend Metropole Truly is Legendary

If you’re coming to Hanoi, do yourself a favor: stay at the Metropole. 

You can absolutely save money by staying at any number of other places, but the Metropole provides a truly unique experience.

It’s not just one of the best hotels in the city — it’s easily one of the best city hotels anywhere in the world.

The Metropole is a total oasis in the middle of the chaos. From the moment you walk into the French colonial lobby, it feels like you’ve stepped into another era.  Originally built in 1901, the history here runs deep, and it shows in every detail.

We even took a tour of their Cold War-era bomb shelter that was rediscovered during renovations about a decade ago. Also, the list of notable people who have stayed here over the years is never-ending.

We stayed on the original side of the hotel, and it oozed old-school class. Add in a phenomenal breakfast spread (seriously, it’s worth waking up early for), and you’ve got a stay that is memorable in its own right.

Not to mention the fact that if it’s your first time visiting Hanoi, or really any big SE Asian city, having a relaxing place to serve as your home base will make your adjustment quite a bit easier.

Eat (and Drink) Everything in Sight

Next to Bangkok, Hanoi might be my favorite street food city on the planet.

Whether it’s grabbing a fresh, crusty banh mi from a sidewalk vendor, slurping a steaming bowl of pho at a tiny roadside stall, or diving into Michelin-recognized Bun Cha at Bun Cha Dac Kim, the food here is next-level — and ridiculously affordable.

Drink Some of the Best Cocktails in Asia

Slightly pretentious fact about me, along with my golf quest, I’ve got this stupid goal of visiting the Top 100 Bars in the world as well.

I’ve made pretty good progress, on some previous lists, getting to as many as 60/100 on the 2018 list.

So anytime I hit a new city, I like to find the best cocktail spots. While Hanoi isn’t as recognized as places like Hong Kong, Tokyo, or Seoul for cocktails – the scene is definitely coming around.

I hit a couple that were legitimately memorable.

Bar Hafflington is a loft-style bar packed with quirky relics and antiques, and the drinks are every bit as memorable as the space. It’s been recognized as one of Asia’s 50 Best Bars for good reason.

Bar Ne is where things get even wilder. Their signature “Pho” cocktail doesn’t just taste like pho — it actually works as a drink. It’s one of those rare novelty drinks that’s not just a gimmick but something you’ll be talking about long after you leave.

The Bambo Bar at the Metropole is an equally memorable hotel bar. Sipping a happy hour gin and tonic in the courtyard overlooking the beautiful pool is about as good as it gets – especially when the weather starts getting a little steamy.

Explore on Foot (and Dodge Some Motorbikes)

Hanoi is one of the most rewarding walking cities I’ve ever experienced.

Lakes, shops, cafés, historic architecture — there’s something worth checking out around every corner. Just know that crossing the street feels like a real-life game of Frogger thanks to the endless motorbikes zipping by. (Pro tip: walk slowly and confidently — they’ll dodge you.)

Wandering Hanoi without a strict agenda ended up being one of the highlights of the entire trip.

You can also shop for just about anything you can imagine… just be ready to question how (and if) some of it actually ended up for sale.

$250 North Face bags for $24? $160 Hoka shoes for 18 bucks?!

Are they knock-offs or did they simply “fall off the back of the truck?” It’s sometimes tough to tell, and while buying them may be ethically questionable, you can’t deny the quality is often great, and the value is even better.

Hoi An is a Chill, Stunning Touristy Town

Flying into Danang, you get a real sense that you’re arriving somewhere significant (and the airport was far nicer than I expected it to be).

As Vietnam’s third-largest city, Danang is a great choice if you’re looking for a bigger urban vibe paired with beautiful beaches. But for this trip, we had something a little quieter in mind.

About 45 minutes south, you’ll find Hoi An — and trust me, that’s where the real magic happens.

Hoi An is a charming riverside town of about 100,000 people. Life moves slower here. Everything feels more relaxed, more personal. After the buzz of Hanoi, Hoi An felt like hitting the reset button — in the best way possible.

Stay at the Anantara Hoi An Resort

When it comes to luxury in Hoi An, there’s really only one true five-star option: the Anantara Hoi An Resort.

The location couldn’t have been better. It was an easy walk to the riverfront and all the best parts of the city, but the resort itself felt like its own peaceful hideaway. The courtyard pool is a lovely place to spend an afternoon, and if you can snag one of the riverfront view rooms (book early!), it’s absolutely worth it.

Elegant without being stuffy, the Anantara nailed that perfect balance of comfort and understated luxury.

Get Something Custom Made

Hoi An is famous for its tailors and leatherworkers, and if you need an excuse to justify packing an extra suitcase, this is it.

Need a new custom suit? Want a pair of handmade leather shoes? Thinking about some unique jewelry?

Do it here.

The craftsmanship is top-notch, the prices are reasonable, and the turnaround time is shockingly fast. (Pro tip: leave a little time for fittings if you want to get it perfect.)

I’d gotten suits made in Saigon years ago, including getting custom suits for all of my groomsmen for the princely sum of $105 each.

They were a little more this go around, but I knew I wanted to try and get a couple more made.

Yaly is the most common answer you’ll get for the best tailor in Hoi An, but I visited a friend of a friend’s shop Thanh Tu, and May did a great job helping me get two suits done.

To accommodate our busy schedule and short time frame, she even came by my hotel to help with final measurements and came back to drop off the finished products before our 5:45am departure time.

And if you’re looking for more casual souvenirs, the bustling night market has you covered with endless stalls full of goods to dig through.

Eat (Even) More Amazing Food

Just like Hanoi, Hoi An is a food lover’s paradise — and we found one of the coolest ways to experience it.

We joined a motorbike food tour, hopping on the back of Vespas and weaving through town as we sampled five different local dining spots. From chicken rice to the famous white rose dumplings (a regional specialty), and even “snakehead” catfish (trust me — it tastes way better than it looks and sounds), it was one of the most fun and unique experiences of the trip.

And then there’s Chef Duc.

Chef Duc is the mastermind behind some of Hoi An’s best restaurants, including Mango Rooms and Mai Fish – he’s one of the most celebrated chefs in Vietnam.

We had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to do a private dinner at his villa — hands down one of the best culinary experiences I’ve ever had. (One of the major perks of traveling with a tour operator like Asia Golf Trips — its owner, Scott Resch, seemingly knows everyone in Vietnam.)

If you’re exploring on your own, make sure to grab a table at Mango Rooms down by the river and order the smoked duck. You can thank me later.

Hue: A Detour Worth Taking

After checking out of the Anantara in Hoi An and squeezing in an early morning round at Legend Danang, we hopped in a private bus and made the two-hour drive north to Hue — the former imperial capital of Vietnam.

At first, it felt like a slight detour from our golf-centric adventure. But by the end of our stay, it was clear: this side trip was absolutely worth it.

Stay at Azerai La Residence

Hue’s energy is a world away from the hustle of Hanoi or even the laid-back vibe of Hoi An — and Azerai La Residence matched that shift perfectly.

Originally built as the French governor’s mansion, the resort has been lovingly restored into a stunning Art Deco-style hotel that felt like stepping back into a more elegant time.

The rooms were sleek and modern (bonus points for the incredible showers), the spa offered a welcome recharge after days of golf and travel, and the pool? Arguably the best pool of the entire trip — a massive, palm-lined centerpiece that was just begging for an afternoon lounge session.

The only downside was that there was some construction happening right on the other side of the hotel’s property line, which threw off the views a bit.

But if you’re looking for a spot to unwind in true style, Azerai nails it.

Touring the Imperial City

While Hue might not be as instantly recognizable as cities like Hanoi or Saigon, it holds a deep cultural and historical significance.

For nearly 150 years, it served as the capital of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty — the country’s last royal family — and touring the Imperial City was one of the most fascinating experiences of our entire trip.

We spent about three hours exploring this sprawling UNESCO World Heritage Site: massive moats, intricately carved gates, royal residences, and ancient temples — all telling the story of Vietnam’s regal past.

Fun fact: Hue was home to 13 emperors over its dynastic history, and although the city suffered heavy damage during the wars of the 20th century, ongoing restoration efforts have brought much of it back to life in stunning detail.

We even saw the exact spot where the final King abdicated from the throne, thus ending hundreds of years as a monarchy.

It was humbling and awe-inspiring at the same time — the kind of experience that made me realize just how rich and complex Vietnam’s story really is.

Hue wasn’t just a detour. It ended up being one of the most interesting parts of the entire trip.

Final Stop: Laguna Lang Co

After nearly two weeks of golf, travel, and adventure, ending our trip at Laguna Lang Co couldn’t have been more perfect.

We started with the fast-paced energy of Hanoi, gradually slowed things down through smaller towns like Hoi An and Hue, and finished by fully embracing vacation mode at a stunning beachfront resort. If you’re looking for the ultimate way to wind down after an action-packed trip, this is it.

One Course, Two Unique Resorts

Laguna Golf Lang Co isn’t just home to one of the best golf courses in Vietnam — it also features two fantastic resorts side-by-side, each with its own distinct vibe.

Angsana Lang Co: Bigger, Family-Friendly Luxury

We stayed at Angsana Lang Co, and it absolutely blew away my expectations.

This beachfront resort has around 220 rooms, a huge pool complex (complete with a massive lazy river), and multiple restaurants spread throughout the property.

Side note: Ever since visiting the Four Seasons Punta Mita, I’ve been a sucker for a good lazy river — it’s one of the most underrated family resort features out there. Angsana’s version did not disappoint.

Our room? A massive three-story, two-bedroom suite with floor-to-ceiling ocean views, a private rooftop deck, and our own infinity pool.

Waking up every morning with the ocean framed perfectly outside the windows was about as good as it gets — it was one of the ultimate “this is why we travel” moments.

Banyan Tree Lang Co: Romantic, High-End Escape

If you’re looking for something even more exclusive and romantic, Banyan Tree Lang Co — located right next door — is a dream.

It’s a smaller property (around 70 villas) and offers a mix of beachfront and clifftop villas, each with private pools and stunning views over the South China Sea.

You can easily walk between the two resorts or hop on a charming little boat that cruises along the lagoon between them every 20 minutes — a simple but surprisingly fun detail that made the whole place feel even more magical.

We loved being able to pop over for dinner and drinks. The Library at Banyan Tree served up the best cocktails at Laguna Lang, while Moomba, right on the beach at Angsana, quickly became a favorite for sunset dining.

The Golf at Laguna Lang Co

Of course, no stop here would be complete without mentioning the golf.

As I said earlier, playing at Laguna Golf Lang Co feels like stepping onto the set of Jurassic Park. Massive jungle-clad mountains, ocean views, rice paddies — the landscape is absolutely surreal.

The clubhouse was the most impressive of any we visited in Vietnam, and the practice facilities are excellent.

Bonus: They’ve built their own version of the Himalayas putting green (inspired by the famous one at St. Andrews) called The Gongs. So even when you’re not on the course, there’s plenty to keep you entertained.

It was the perfect place to wrap up our golf adventure — blending a world-class resort, unforgettable golf, and a full-on tropical paradise.

Final Thoughts: Why Vietnam Should Be Your Next Golf Trip

Looking back, this trip to Vietnam was so much more than just a golf vacation.

Yes — the golf was incredible. We played some of the most scenic, well-designed, and memorable courses I’ve ever set foot on. From the wind-swept links at Hoiana Shores to the jungle-lined fairways at Laguna Golf Lang Co, it was a lineup of world-class experiences that rivaled any traditional golf destination out there.

But what made this trip truly special was everything around the golf: The energy of Hanoi. The peaceful charm of Hoi An. The historical weight of Hue. The unforgettable meals. The rooftop infinity pools. The sunrise views. The stories swapped over cocktails and coffee with my dad. It was a rare combination of adventure, luxury, connection, and culture — the kind of trip that reminds you why we travel in the first place.

Vietnam is still flying under the radar for most golfers.

But after nearly two weeks on the ground, I can confidently say it shouldn’t be. If you’re looking for your next big golf trip — one that’s equal parts exciting, relaxing, and completely unique — Vietnam delivers in every possible way.

And the best part? The secret’s still kind of safe… for now.

Vietnam Golf Trip Frequently Asked Questions

I feel like I covered a lot of these throughout this post, but just in case you’re thinking about visiting and looking for some quick hit answers to common questions, I figured I’d add this section in.

When is the best time to visit Vietnam for golf?

The ideal time is November through April. This avoids the hottest, wettest months and gives you cooler, drier weather — perfect for both golf and sightseeing.

Keep in mind: Northern Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong Bay) can get surprisingly cool in winter, while the Central and Southern regions (Danang, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City) stay warm year-round – but can be pretty wet at various times.

We got lucky with the weather. We didn’t have any rain during our trip which was mid-April. And while it was warm, we also didn’t have a single unbearably hot day. We did avoid Saigon for this trip, as traditionally you can expect it to be getting pretty warm by April.

Do I need a tour guide to plan a golf trip to Vietnam?

Not technically — but it helps a lot.

My previous two trips to Vietnam I did on my own, but I stayed in Saigon and didn’t leave the city or play any golf.

This go around, we went with Asia Golf Trips and am so glad we did. Having someone local to coordinate tee times, caddies, transport, and special experiences (like our private dinner with Chef Duc) made a huge difference. It turns a great trip into a seamless, unforgettable one.

What should I pack for a Vietnam golf trip?

• Breathable golf clothing (humidity is real!)
• Sun protection: hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• Collared shirts – required at most courses
• Lightweight rain jacket (just in case)
• Swimsuit for hotel pools and lazy rivers
• Comfortable shoes for walking in cities
• Optional: Travel adapter, bug spray, and a couple of extra golf gloves (you’ll sweat through them)

Here’s my full guide on how to plan a golf trip.

What are the must-play golf courses in Vietnam?

Hanoi Area (North Vietnam)

These are perfect if you’re starting or ending your trip in the capital:

• BRG Kings Island (Kings Course) – Nicklaus-designed and scenic; the best of the three courses on site.
• Sky Lake Resort & Golf Club – Regularly ranked among the top in Vietnam, with beautiful views and strong shot variety.
• Van Tri Golf Club – A private club between the airport and downtown with great conditions and exclusivity.
• Silk Path Dong Trieu – A brand new Faldo design that is already garnering international attention and is on the way to another UNESCO World Heritage site: Halong Bay
• BRG Legend Hill Golf Resort – Unique “twin green” design by Jack Nicklaus, conveniently near the airport.

Danang / Hoi An Area (Central Vietnam)

This is the heart of Vietnam’s golf coast, with some of the best layouts in Asia:

• Hoiana Shores Golf Club – Robert Trent Jones Jr. links design; a true standout and must-play.
• Laguna Golf Lang Co – Sir Nick Faldo’s jungle-meets-ocean masterpiece with a wild, scenic layout.
• Ba Na Hills Golf Club – Mountain golf with cooler temps and great elevation; designed by Luke Donald in collaboration with IMG.
• Montgomerie Links Vietnam – A fun, well-designed track near the beach that plays well for all skill levels.
• Legend Danang Golf Resort (Norman Course) – Bold bunkering and tight fairways make it one of the more challenging — and visually impressive — rounds in the region.

Ho Chi Minh City / Saigon Area (South Vietnam)

Not as dense with top courses, but still has a few standouts — especially if you’re flying in or out of the south:

• The Bluffs Grand Ho Tram – Greg Norman’s coastal gem, often ranked among Asia’s best. An absolute must if you’re near Saigon.
• Tan Son Nhat Golf Course – Right in the city, close to the airport, and a convenient, well-maintained option.
• Long Thanh Golf Club – Large 36-hole facility with both hill and lake courses; great value and variety.
• Vietnam Golf & Country Club – Another 36-hole facility not far from downtown, whose East Course was designed by Lee Trevino and has hosted the Asian Tour.

Do I need a visa to visit Vietnam?

Depending on your nationality, you may need a visa, but many countries (including the U.S., UK, and much of Europe) are eligible for an e-visa, which is quick and easy to apply for online. Always double-check with your country’s travel site before booking.

This is one benefit of going with a tour operator. They handled our visa, and even got us expedited customs for once we landed.

Are caddies required in Vietnam?

At most courses, yes — but that’s a good thing!

Caddies are part of the experience and make the rounds feel more fun, relaxed, and efficient. Many are extremely knowledgeable and bring a lot of local personality to your round. But you can definitely expect a little bit of a language barrier at times.

Is Vietnam a good destination for non-golfers too?

Absolutely. With beaches, spas, incredible food, cultural tours, and vibrant cities, Vietnam is perfect for a couples or group trip — even if some of the crew doesn’t golf.

Any Questions? Drop a Comment!

There you go! I hope you enjoyed my recap of my time in Vietnam, and if you have any questions about our trip or planning one of your own, feel free to drop a comment!

The post Why Vietnam Might Be the Most Underrated Golf Destination in the World appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Hoiana Shores Golf Club is tucked away on the coast just outside of Hoi An—a ridiculously charming town that looks like it was pulled straight out of a travel magazine spread. Think lantern-lit streets, banh mi that puts every sandwich you’ve ever had to shame, and the kind of beachy, laid-back energy that makes you want to forget you ever had inboxes to clear.

But we’re here to talk about golf.

And let me tell you—Hoiana Shores is the real deal.

I just got back from an 8-day trip with Asia Golf Trips, where the Founder, Scott Resch, put together one of the best travel itineraries I’ve ever had. 

And the best part? I got to do it all with my dad.

Of the four courses we played, Hoiana Shores was the clear stand out, and all you have to do is look at a few photos to see why.

The First True Links Course in Vietnam

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., Hoiana Shores is Vietnam’s first authentic links course. If you’re anything like me, when you hear “links-style” outside of Scotland or Ireland, you raise an eyebrow. But this place walks the walk.

You’ve got firm, sandy turf that invites the ground game, wide rumpled fairways, and wind. Lots of wind. The kind that has you second-guessing your club selection and questioning your life choices halfway through your backswing.

We got lucky playing first thing in the morning, and the wind was fairly benign throughout the round. This is also the most “un-RTJ Jr.” courses I’ve ever seen. It looks like it was ripped straight out of Bandon Dunes, and if I didn’t know differently, I would have sworn it was a Coore & Crenshaw or Tom Doak design.

Everyone plays with a local caddie (which is mandatory), and honestly? That’s part of the charm. My caddie read greens better than I ever could, and it didn’t take her long to figure out which club was right for me on any given hole, despite not always being my personal first choice.

From the tips, it stretches to just over 7,000 yards, but don’t let that scare you. The layout is smart and playable, especially if you pick the right tees. There’s creativity baked into every hole, and options galore off the tee and around the greens.

The Front 9 at Hoiana Shores

There’s no “gentle handshake” here, the opening hole is the #3 index hole and is a beast of a par 4 at 472 from the tips.

The fairway is wide, but the undulating green and fore bunkers make the approach particularly tricky.

The second hole invites you to bomb it over the fairway bunker for a short wedge into the elevated green. Bail out right if necessary, but most hitters shouldn’t have any trouble clearing the bunkers with their drive. Just be ready to use some touch on your approach.

All of the par 3s on the course are exciting and fun to play, and this begins at the 5th. Despite being only 148 yards from the whites, this actually played as the longest par 3 on the course from those tees, which I love.

Give me some chances to hit it close and do something memorable. But don’t be fooled by the length, bunkers and severe greens are waiting on all the par 3s to punish errant shots. 

6 and 7 bring you wide fairways that still require smart shots. A fairway bunker jutting out on 6 will swallow your ball if you hit it too long on the right half of the fairway. I learned this from experience.

The massive bunker on the par-3, 8th is intimidating. Make sure you have enough club to clear it.

And the approach on 9 features a strategically placed bunker short of the green that will mess with your depth perception. 

Despite being the more inland of the two 9s, every hole on the front 9 was memorable in one way or another.

The Back 9 at Hoiana Shores

The back 9 starts off strong with the par 5, 10th.

Have you ever had an experience where you’re standing on a fairway and looking at one green from a different hole, and thinking “oooh, this looks cool! Too bad this isn’t the way the hole was designed.”

Maybe that’s a weird thought, but it’s one I’ve had numerous times.

I thought that was the case on 10. I looked at a really cool green complex off in the distance, thinking it was for a different hole. But nope, as we rounded the corner, it became clear it was the 10th green – and it’s one of my favorites on the course.

11 might be one of the coolest tee views on the course. It’s a short par 4 littered with bunkers. Despite being totally different golf courses, it kind of reminded me of the 11th hole at Winged Foot West.

The 11th:

The 11th at Winged Foot:

And 12 is the third par 3 on the course, playing directly into the clubhouse.

13 is the first hole I saw when I showed up to the club, and that’s all it took. I immediately knew I was going to like this place. Another great par 4 with bunkering that requires a well-thought-out tee shot.

14 is the shortest par 3, but perhaps the most fun. Bunkers everywhere. A wild green. It just screams fun. And there were more screams after my dad made is second legit birdie ever when he drained his 20 foot putt for a 2.

15 is when we get to the signature stretch of holes. A larger bunker makes visibility a challenge, but you can see the green and the ocean peeking out to the left of it. Pick a smart line. Bailout right to avoid the bunkers, but have a longer approach. Go straight over the fairway bunker, but not too long, as another one is waiting directly behind it. Stay left if you want to bomb it and give yourself the best angle into the green. 

16 is a shorter par 4 that plays along the ocean. Even a drive rolling all the way up towards the fairway bunker will leave you with a delicate approach.

17 is the final par 3, and perhaps the most scenic with the ocean and resort in the background. Congrats to Katy who was playing in the group ahead of us and dunked one for her first ever hole in one!

18 is a wonderful par 5 with water off the tee right, and exacting shots are required all the way up to the green.

Is the trip to Play Hoiana Shores worth it?

Quite simply, if you’re talking about underrated golf destinations in the world? Vietnam should be on the short list.

It may not have the breadth of golf as many other destinations, but there are a handful of world class golf experiences that are all very different from one another.

We started our trip in Hanoi, and played the parkland Kings Course at Kings Island – which required a speedboat right to get to the course.

Then a quick flight to Danang led us to spend a couple days in Hoi An, where we played Hoiana Shores and the polar opposite Normal Course at Legends Danang.

We finished the trip about an hour away at Laguna Lang Co, which basically felt like playing golf in Jurassic Park.

It’s both the variety and the quality of experiences that made this trip so special.

I’ll have a full Vietnam golf guide that I’ll post soon, and I’ll link to it here when I do.

But the short version? This was one of the best golf trips I’ve ever taken, and it exceeded every high expectation I had for it.

Definitely check out Asia Golf Trips if you’re looking to visit, as part of what made the trip so special was the insider knowledge and unique experiences that its Founder, Scott Resch was able ot provide.

The post Hoiana Shores: Insane Links Golf in…Vietnam?! appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Considering there are more golf courses here than any other state in the country – it’s a golf writer’s mecca right?

Maybe so, but compared to other states my Florida repertoire is sorely lacking.

As such, it wasn’t until recently that I visited Palm Beach.

I wasn’t prepared for just what that would look like.

There’s affluent.

Rich.

Wealthy.

Ultra Wealthy.

And then there’s Palm Beach. It’s a new level of money I’ve never quite seen before.

And just a few minutes across the bridge in West Palm Beach, there’s a new golf enclave that’s quickly becoming known amongst the golfing elite: Dutchman’s Pipe.

What’s with the funny name? What’s the course and club all about? And better yet, how can you play it?

I’m going to tell you all about that and more.

The History of Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club

The property now home to Dutchman’s Pipe Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, has a rich history of transformation and development.

Established in 1969, The Presidents Country Club featured two 18-hole courses and was a prominent golfing destination in West Palm Beach.  However, by the mid-2010s, the club faced financial challenges, leading to its closure and subsequent sale.

In 2016, the property was acquired with plans to develop it into a luxury resort. Jack Nicklaus was commissioned to redesign the existing course, aiming to create a world-class golfing experience. The project envisioned a 250-acre resort featuring a 7,200-yard par-72 course, a hotel, residential units, and various amenities. Despite the ambitious plans, the development faced multiple setbacks, including construction delays and financial difficulties, which hindered its full realization.

This brings us to today.

In early 2024, the Witkoff Group and Access Industries acquired the property, initiating a comprehensive transformation. The existing course underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation led by Nicklaus Design, enhancing playability and aesthetics.

The idea was to turn it into a high-end club that featured a championship golf course that was a bit longer and more spread out than some of the other private clubs in Palm Beach, where land can be scarce.

In fact, despite other new developments in nearby counties, this is the first new golf club to be built in West Palm Beach proper in over 25 years.

As part of the development plans they renovated the former Banyan Cay Resort, and turned it into a new Marriot Autograph Collection property known as The Belgrove Resort and Spa.

I stayed there for two nights during this trip, and will give a recap of that in a little bit.

First Impressions of Dutchman’s Pipe

When I first pulled up to the Club, as is the norm for a high-end club in Palm Beach, there were a number of exotic cars parked in the turnaround. I was immediately greeted by a fleet of employees eager to help with my clubs, park my car, and show me where to go at the Club.

Throughout my day at Dutchmans, you definitely feel a level of service that’s a step above what you get at your typical country club.

Considering the location, cost, clientele, and small membership – this shouldn’t have come as a surprise.

The current clubhouse was inherited from Banyan Cay, and has been refreshed for the new Club. It’s small, but well-appointed, and the porch overlooking the first tee is great.

However, a new larger clubhouse is scheduled to break ground soon. This will be a much better reflection of the lifestyle club that Dutchman’s is looking to evoke as it grows.

The Range

After I got a cup of coffee and changed my shoes in the locker room, I went out to the range. 

The range and practice facilities here are world class.

First off, considering how little land there is in West Palm Beach to develop – the fact they have a massive 300 yard+ range, and a two-acre short game area is very rare for the area.

Dutchman’s Pipe has everything a Tour Pro could want out of a practice facility, so it’s no surprise that there are a number of famous names who call this place home.

When you walk up to the range, the attendant will ask you what kind of balls you play.

Why?

Because they have 8 different brands for you to choose from.

Yes, on the driving range.

Pro V1s, TP5, Chrome Tour – you name it, you can hit it.

The only thing more impressive than that is the range robot that scours the range to pick up said balls.

The short game area features a number of greens at different yardages, different bunker styles, and allows you to practice pretty much any shot you could ever want from within 120 yards. The setting right on the water makes it an especially nice place to be.

The Front 9 at Dutchman’s Pipe

The front and back 9s both have distinctly different personalities.

On the front, you’re going to find holes that are slightly tighter than the back (although by no means claustrophobic).

The course opens with a cool par 4, named Devil’s Elbow.

The green is tucked over the ridge on the right-hand side of the hole. Playing 342 from the member’s tees, it’s not drivable for most, but you can cut the corner to get yourself really close to the green.

In typical Nicklaus fashion, it’s a “gentle handshake” of an opening hole, but there are some risk/reward elements for those that want to get spicy off the bat.

The par 3s at Dutchman’s are all beefy holes with yardages of 223, 233, 160, and 201 from the tips.

The first par 3, Longshot, has a wide undulating green, with an imposing bunker guarding the left half.

Pay attention to the pin position, as that will dictate your strategy off the tee.

On the 4th you immediately get a sense of why the previous course was called “Banyan Cay”. 

This 414-yard par 4 from the member’s tees has a trio of banyan trees dotting the fairway. In a world where palm trees can easily be planted anywhere you want, this is a very cool element of the course and club, knowing that these trees have been there for decades.

#5, “Waterhole” is the next par 3, and as you might guess, features a big lake carry. It’s a fun shot, and has a variety of tee box options that each make the hole play very differently. 

On 6 you get a classic “Cape” template. Bite off as much as you want on the tee shot, but get too aggressive and you’ll find the pond.

I wish I’d got a photo of the tee shot on 7, as this par 5 is one of the best holes on the course. You can tell a lot of Earth was moved here to add significant elevation to the fairway. The front 9 already had a lot of variety, but this hole keeps it going.

The approach is a tricky one with a green that slopes left to right, and water surrounding the entire right side of the green. My fade worked out pretty well for me, however, as I started way out left of the green on my approach and got it to land and roll to 3 feet for my only birdie of the day.

8 is an even longer par 5, with some strategic bunkering around the green.

And 9 gives you a little bit of everything as a par 4 with water left, bunkers beyond that, and a pot bunker directly fronting the green. 

The Back 9

Considering the land Dutchman’s site on used to comprise two 18 hole courses, Nicklaus had a lot of acreage to work with.

There’s a bit of a commute to get from the front to the back. But I’d highly recommend before doing so you grab a hot dog from the clubhouse.

The chef at Dutchman’s has a Michelin Star to his name, and this was hands down one of the best hot dogs I’ve ever had. The truffle fries also made for a delicious side.

The back 9 as a whole feels a little more open and spacious than the front. You see this right away on the par 5 10th, which at only 508 yards from the tips begs you to go “Full Throttle” – an apt name for the hole.

11 provides the easiest par 3 option on the course. Measuring just 145 from the member’s tees we played at, you’d be wise to take advantage of the opportunity. Although saying it’s easy wouldn’t really be doing it justice, as you’ve got water, bunkers, and a very undulating green to navigate.

13, “Punchbowl” has rumpled fairways that almost evoke a feeling of being on a Scottish Links. A center-line bunker forces you to be strategic with your drive. A bailout to the left will leave you with a longer approach. Go right, and the angle isn’t quite as ideal. Bomb it straight over if you want to find yourself in position A.

The “Punchbowl” style green, is a cool visual, and has some more severe undulation than some other similar greens I’ve seen.

14 is the last par 3, and forces you to carry water and bunkers from 185 at the member’s tees. Fortunately, there’s a decent bailout right if taking dead aim feels too aggressive.

15 has water all down the left side and makes the approach shot feel particularly perilous.

16 is one of my favorite holes on the back. At only 320 yards from the tips, this drivable par 4 makes you want to go for it.

But water covers the entire left side, and bunkers near the green on the right, means the landing zone with driver calls for a very precise shot. 

18 is a stout par 5. While it only plays 530 from the member’s tees, it’s a burly 640 from the tips. 

When you look at where the back tees are on many of the holes, you get a sense of just how challenging this course can be. Especially considering you’ll be looking at some decent wind during most of the rounds you’ll play.

Final Thoughts on the Course

One of the major things Dutchman’s Pipe has going for it is its location.

With no traffic, you can be in Palm Beach in 10 minutes.

To have a club with this level of service, and a fun, challenging championship golf course so close in? It’s very rare.

While a 7,300 yard course may not seem like a big deal in most places. When you consider the lengths of other nearby high-end courses? The Everglades, 5,655. The Breakers 5,778. Palm Beach Country Club 6,155.

A course of this caliber is very unique for the area.

With so many tee options, this is a course you could play every day and not get sick of. And when they’ve finished building out the lifestyle amenities for the club? It will quickly become a place you’ll never want to leave.

Want to Play Dutchman’s Pipe? Here’s how you can…

In most cases, the public will never get an opportunity to play a course that’s as expensive and intensely private Dutchman’s Pipe.

But as part of the development deal, guests of the neighboring resort The Belgrove, get limited access to play the course.

It’s not a slam dunk, however. Members always get priority, you’ll need to show proof of handicap, and you can expect the cost for the day after green fees and caddie fees to be approaching 4 figures.

But when you’re on property, you get the full membership experience – which will make for one very special day of golf.

Is it Worth Staying at The Belgrove?

The Belgrove just opened in December 2024, and I spent two nights there on this trip in January 2025.

The resort is beautiful. 

The lobby feels light and airy, and the main dining room, Society 48, is fantastic. I had both breakfast and dinner there, and each time the food was excellent.

However, the prices may be the most expensive I’ve ever seen at a resort hotel – which is saying something.

The pool area is beautiful, and in season the bar and al fresco dining looks like it will be wonderful.

The highlight may have been my room, however.

It was very well designed, felt modern and brand new, and the bed was as comfortable as any 5-star hotel I’ve stayed at.

My wraparound pool view balcony was also one of the largest hotel balconies I’ve ever had.

During my stay, there were a handful of rough edges in terms of service and around the property. But I’m chalking that up to me staying there so soon after opening. The good news is that it was nothing significantly detrimental to my overall experience, and I wouldn’t expect any major issues as the resort matures.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the resort, and I’d absolutely stay here again during my next visit to Palm Beach.

Bottom line? Whether you’re looking for a luxury resort vacation and a spectacular round of golf, or perhaps a new home away from home in West Palm Beach – Dutchman’s Pipe is a fantastic place to consider.

The post Dutchman’s Pipe Club Lives up to (High) Expectations appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Since then, I’ve visited 3 times and I count it as one of my favorite golf destinations in the country.

I mean, there’s just so much to like.

There are 7 golf courses that each provide a distinctly different playing experience.

The Ritz Carlton Lake Oconee is one of the most unique resort hotels in the country with its beautiful lakeside setting.

And if you’re lucky enough to be a Reynolds Platinum Member, you get access to insane amenities, the over-the-top Creek Club – and now, the brand-new Richland Course.

The National at Reynolds was previously a collection of 3 nine hole loops designed by Tom Fazio.  All 3 of them ebb and flow through forests, out and back to the lake, and up and down some surprisingly diverse terrain.

But after over two decades, it was time for a change.

The Ridge and Cove 9s are now the “National” course.

And they took the Bluff 9, and added an additional 9 holes to make up the new Richland Course.

And I was one of the first ones to play it.

How’d it turn out? Let’s see.

First Impressions of the Richland Course at Reynolds

One thing I love about Reynolds is how easy it is to get to. For me, I took a direct flight from PDX to ATL, hopped in my rental car, and rolled in right around 3:30 in the afternoon coming off a 6:20am flight – not bad.

In this particular instance, the timing worked out perfectly.

I arrived two days before the soft opening, right as the light was getting good. 

I hopped in a cart and essentially had the whole course to myself to get some photos.

Tipped out Richland comes in at 7,090 yards – or a more manageable, yet still stout, 6554 from the members combo tees.

With Richland, the Fazio team got creative with the routing. The first 5 holes of the course are the original 5 of the Bluff 9, then holes 6-14 are all new, and the routing finishes with the last 4 from the Bluff.

I’d played the Bluff 9 once before, so I was excited to see what changes were made and how they fit in with the new routing,.

The first thing I thought to myself when stepping up to the first tee was “this feels Augusta-ish”.

Now before you criticize, hear me out. 

The land and setting is very similar to Augusta, and considering Tom Fazio is the consulting architect on the course, it’s not surprising to see some similarities.

Specifically, you feel it in the bunkering and the pine straw.

The National Course was always considered one of, if not the toughest course at Reynolds.

Richland while very playable, definitely isn’t a slouch in the challenge department.

Given the unique nature of the design, it really does feel like there are three distinct acts to the course.

The first 5.

The second 9.

The final 4.

Let’s take a look at each.

The First 5 Holes at Richland

One of my favorite aspects of this course is that you always have something to look forward to – there’s a ton of variety.

This is true within each section of the course as well.

You’re met with a gentle par 4 opener that plays slightly uphill, but a wide fairway gives you plenty of freedom to swing away.

The second amps up the difficulty with a tricky green, and some scary bunkering. They cleared out some trees behind the green, to open up views of 3, improving the early holes’ cohesiveness.

I’d expected the Bluff holes to essentially be the same as when I last saw them, but they made some pretty significant changes to these holes.

The bunker design is completely different, for one. You used to see the grass come down the bunker face much more. But with the new course, and new technology, they were able to have steep white sand bunker faces – that are visually striking.

Here’s the 3rd hole before the renovation and after:

Fazio said they used “Capillary Concrete” to be able to achieve this. This significantly helps drainage and helps mitigate embedded balls in the bunker faces during all but the wettest conditions. 

The 3rd and 4th holes are the ones I look forward to during this opening stretch.

The 3rd is a big dogleg right par 5 with a fun tee shot, and provides your first peak at Lake Oconee behind the green.

4 is one of the best par 3s at Reynolds, playing upwards of 200 yards directly along the lake.

The par 3s at Richland are no joke measuring 193, 159, 203 and 211 from the tips.

5 takes a turn inland and lets you swing away off the tee, but forces a thoughtful approach to a slightly elevated green.

The New 9 Holes at Richland

From 9 green you head across the road, up a hill, and all of a sudden the vibe completely changes.

You’re met with a 75-acre parcel of fairly open land that makes up the brand-new 9 holes that Fazio designed.

The new holes have a different feel to the originals, which largely play through tree-lined residential corridors.

You still get hits of this at times on the new 9, but as a whole, everything is much more open – and is unlike anything else at Reynolds.

The par 4 6th is a blast to play. 

The hole dips downhill halfway down the fairway, so you can’t see the green from the tee.

But a well-struck drive will get you a big-time roll, and potentially leave you with just a wedge in.

One of the most interesting visual features of the new holes is “lovegrass” that was planted throughout the 9. It adds both a level of added challenge, but also looks stunning.

The 7th is mid-range par 3 that plays slightly uphill to a large green.

The 8th is one of my favorite holes on the property. It’s a downhill par 5 that is reachable in two for big hitters, but an undulating green and thoughtfully placed bunkers force you to be strategic, and consider laying up instead for a better angle in.

The 9th feels the most similar to the original Bluff holes with trees on both sides of the hole. But there’s still ample room to bomb a drive, and some obvious bailout spots both on the right side of the fairway and left side of the green.

Maybe it’s just because they’re both Fazio designs, but the new holes most reminded me of Hudson National in New York as I was playing them – although I have yet to see the renovation work he did on it this year.

At 10 you’re met with arguably the toughest hole on the course.

It’s a long uphill par 4, with one of the most heavily undulated greens on the course.

The newer holes definitely have more severe undulations on the greens than the original 9 – which I loved. They feel more unique, and lead to some interesting putts.

The superintendent was clearly having some fun with us, considering some of the pin positions he gave us the day we played

11 is the most fun tee shot on the course. A downhill par 4 that felt reminiscent of the 10th hole at Porcupine Creek, despite some different bunkering.

12 is an uphill par 5 that features a tricky approach as the visibility of the green isn’t great. Watch out for the sucker pin directly behind the bunker.

13 is a visually stunning par 4. Bright white, high-faced bunkers married with copious amounts of lovegrass had this hole showing off at Golden Hour.

14 is the second of the new par 3s. It features a giant greenside bunker right that will force the hole to play differently depending on the day’s pin position, and which tee boxes you choose. The further back you go, the further right the tee boxes are – forcing more of a carry over the bunker.

Overall the new holes provide a ton of variety amongst themselves, as well as a set of 9 holes that’s unlike anything else at Reynolds – which is all you can hope for when getting a new course.

The Final 4 Holes at Richland

Coming back to the final 4 holes is a little bit of a shock to the system, as these holes feel very different from the ones that preceded it.

There are a couple of ways to look at this.

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the new vs old holes do have a bit of Jekyll and Hyde vibes. They feel different, and since the new 9 sits sandwiched between the old holes – this feeling is amplified. The good news is that I think this will change over the next few years as the course matures.

The other way to look at it, is that this approach provides a ton of variety.

Every single hole at Richland feels distinctly different from each other which I absolutely love.

I’ll take a little less cohesiveness in favor of variety every single time.

And the most unique of all of the holes may come during the final 4.

The 15th is a big downhill par 5, with a lake guarding the green. It’s reachable in two, but it requires a hero carry over the water.

16 is a long downhill par 3 with a creek all down the righthand side – and is a fun way to end the par 3s.

Throughout the golf at Reynolds there are a number of holes that work prominent creeks into the course design, and these are always among some of my favorite holes at the resort.

I just mentioned 16, 12 on Oconee, 3 at Creek Club, 5 at Great Waters, and 17 at Richland is another one,

I was happy to see this element carried over from the original design. 17 is a great par 4 with a creek that splits the fairway 3/4 of the way up, and then runs all the way up the right side of the green. You really need to be careful when you get a back right pin position.

18 finishes right below the National clubouse, and forces you to be precise with your tee shot. There’s a bit more room right than it looks, but you’ll be left with a tricky approach that’s all carry out of some gnarly Bermuda rough.

Final Thoughts on the Richland Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee

When it comes to clubs or resorts that have multiple golf courses, the most important element to have (for me), is Visit Sitevariety.

I don’t want to see 7 of the exact same course.

And if there’s one thing that Reynolds excels at, it’s providing unique and different golf experiences at each of their courses. 

Richland does a wonderful job of continuing this. 

The new holes are unlike anything else that’s there, and the original Bluff holes have been thoughtfully edited to make them more cohesive with the new ones – even if they don’t totally feel like it yet.

This new 18-hole course will be exclusive to Reynolds Platinum members,  and I know they’re going to be excited.

The other members-only course there is Creek Club, which is quite simply, one of the most fun courses you; ‘ll ever play. But it’s also a wild design that isn’t necessarily a course you’d want to play every day.

Richland on the other hand is a wonderful test of golf, is more straightforward, and is a course you could play day in and day out and never get bored of.

That might be the best compliment I can give it, and I’m excited to see it in another couple of years after it’s continued to mature.

The post The Richland Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee is a Wonderful Marriage of Old and New appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

Looking for more content related to Sunriver and Caldera Springs? Here you go!

• Crosswater Golf Club
• Why Sunriver is the Ultimate Family Golf Destination
• Caldera Links Golf Course

The post This Might Be the Most Exclusive Golf Course in Oregon appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

A father and son duo, fresh off a morning trail ride, saunter into the pro shop at Mountain Sky’s Rising Sun golf course. The dad is still sporting a ten-gallon hat and pair of cowboy boots. He swaps his headwear out for a ball cap, but then realizes he forgot to bring a change of shoes.  

Mike Petersen, the track’s superintendent who also directed the construction of the Johnny Miller design, greets them warmly. Having worked on four other layouts with the Desert Fox, Petersen had usually moved on after the work was done, but he fell in love with this one and decided to stay put. 

The elder guest informs Petersen of his footwear flub and asks if it’s cool if he plays with his Ariats on.

“You’d tear up my greens,” quips the genial super before hooking up the dude with a pair of golf kicks in his size.

Going straight from the saddle of a Quarter Horse to behind the wheel of a Club Car is a pretty singular experience that can be had at this nearly century-old dude ranch that sprawls over 17, 000 acres of Montana’s Paradise Valley, situated just 30 miles north of Yellowstone National Park.

The vast and varied unspoiled landscape is festooned with sagebrush meadows, yellow-leaved stands of aspen, dense pine forest, and nearly five miles of trout-filled streams that wend through the cinematic environs sandwiched by the gobsmackingly gorgeous backdrops of the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges. The fictional Dutton ranch portrayed on the smash hit TV series Yellowstone may be 257 miles west in real life in Darby, MT but the show is meant to be set in Paradise Valley and in later seasons scenes of the Neo-Western drama were filmed in the vicinity. 

Arthur Blank, the co-founder of Home Depot and the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta United FC, and PGA Tour Superstore, first visited the ranch when he was still the CEO of the big box hardware store chain. He fell in love with the property and eventually bought it after retiring from Home Depot in 2001, adding golf to the menu a decade later.

Rising Sun Fun

Easily a contender for the top of the podium spot among the golf hall of famer and former NBC commentator’s couple dozen creations, from the road in you don’t even notice the Desert Fox’s handiwork till you pull up to the barn-style clubhouse. 

The Miller design with infinite panoramic views just feels completely integrated into the aux naturel wilderness that surrounds it. Only open to resort guests on a dude ranch where saddling-up for a four-hour cattle drive or a shorter ride with no to-do list, other than bonding with your steed and drinking in the primo scenery are at the very top of an extensive activities leaderboard that includes guided sunrise hikes, yoga classes, a ropes course, fly fishing instruction and more, the chances of you running into another group during your round is slim to none. My group only spied a couple other golfers over our two eighteen-hole trips on both occasions they were a couple fairways over yonder.

The course measures 7207 yards from the tips, 6716 from the blues and 6168 from the whites, and the 360-degree with burbling streams, center-line bunkers and some blind second shots ratcheting up the challenge of what is ostensibly a target golf layout whose secrets are divulged with repeated play.

You know a course is going to be kickass when you’re already snapping pics in the driving range. The surrounding mountain will have your head on a swivel, taking in expansive and magnificent vistas that look almost too beautiful to be real. 

As far as standout holes go, No. 4, a par-5 dubbed ‘Road Hole,’ sports a boomerang shaped fairway with a massive waste bunker on the left and native grasses circling the green. Its curves bear more resemblance to a double-apex increasing radius turn on a Grand Prix track than the 17th at Saint Andrews that it’s named after. Knowledge of F1 racing lines will come in handy when it comes to determining the optimum tee shot placement.

Then there’s No 6, a split fairway no-guts-no-glory risk/reward weighting affair that dares golfers to brave a direct flight over a creek to a skinnier landing strip or play it safe and lay up on the wider lefthand side.

Hitters used to simply smoking their opening salvo dead straight may be flummoxed by a series of center-line fairway bunkers Mr. Miller has deployed with relish on No. 8, No. 14, No. 16—all challenging, yet well-conceived tests. The course finishes especially strong with a pair of doozies that take groups out with a bang.  A long downhill par 3 is followed up by a bodacious par 5 closer where the whole course comes into view and tee shots feel a little extra triumphant, thanks to a 60-foot drop zone down to the fairway below. 

After a day of navigating fairways and greens, why not try your hand at a different kind of aim game. After all, what’s a Western paradise without a little rootin’ tootin’ gunslinging?  The sporting clays range offers a chance to test your skills while getting a load of and absolutely killer view.

Both 20 gauge pump-action and over/under shot guns are available to flex your aim game, trailing and then splattering discs thrown from over a half dozen locations.  

Communal Dining and Cowboy Camaraderie

Guests flock to the dining room at the appointed mealtime hours; everybody chows down at the same time like one big extended family. There’s even a dinner bell rung to get the cattle call going and everybody chowing down at the same time creates a communal vibe—we’re all learning the cowboy way together from Sunday to Sunday.

Whether it’s during activities, the buffet line, or shared shuttles there’s ample opportunity to make fast friends over shared experiences and the epicenter of hobnobbing with ranch visitors and staff takes place in the saloon where après dinner drinks are knocked back and yarns of the fun that was had before the sun went down are spun. 

Often, it feels like you’re on the set of Westworld with guests cowboying up to the nines—even for meals and nightcaps. Keeping with the time travel theme, WiFi intentionally only works in the main lodge, and the only television on property is in the pro shop.

The grub and accommodations slightly deviate from the Old West script, but do so in a good way. The cuisine feels more Michelin-star-seeking than chuckwagon cookery or range fare—think pan-roasted Tasman salmon over a grilled citrus polenta and partnered up with buttered baby spinach lemon preserves and crispy artichokes or a Basque cake with a rum anglaise and red wine sauce.  

Weeklong family high-season packages start on June 15 and run through August 24, 2025, with shorter stay options available during the spring and fall shoulder seasons. As with all great vacation destinations these days, it’s highly recommended to book a year in advance because this dude ranch fills up faster than a mountain stream after a snowmelt.

I was a guest of Mountain Sky Guest Resort and they covered my expenses for this trip. I didn’t receive any cash payments, and all thoughts and opinions of the property are my own.

The post Mountain Sky: A Unique Five-Star Guest Ranch appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

You have the closest thing to golfing in Scotland when you visit the world-class resort, Bandon Dunes.

Travel a few hours to Bend, and you have high desert golf and a collection of some wonderfully unique golf courses and resorts.

Then up and down the Willamette Valley, you have a bunch of great parkland layouts.

You could make the argument that Oregon is one of the best states for public golf considering it has 5 of the top 100 golf courses in the world – all publicly accessible down at Bandon.

And 11 of our 18 best golf courses in Oregon are publicly accessible

But there are some well-regarded private courses as well.

So what are the best golf courses in Oregon? Let’s see how things shake out.

The Best Golf Courses in Oregon 2024

These rankings are averages of the Best in State Rankings from Golf Digest, Top 100 Golf, Golf Magazine and Golfweek. For ties, where possible we ranked based on our personal experience.

To be included there needed to be a minimum of two inclusions in one of the publications listed above, and if there was a course with only one, and I’ve played it, I added my own vote to make this list.

Click the links for our detailed thoughts on these courses.

1. Pacific Dunes (Bandon)*
2. Bandon Dunes (Bandon)*
3. Old Macdonald (Bandon)*
4. Bandon Trails (Bandon)*
5. Sheep Ranch (Bandon)*
6. Pronghorn (Fazio) (Bend)
7. Eugene Country Club (Eugene)
8. Waverley Country Club (Portland)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow) (Portland)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock) (Seneca)*
11. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins) (Seneca)*
12. Pronghorn (Nicklaus) (Bend)*
13. Crosswater (Bend)*
14. Portland Golf Club (Portland)
15. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek) (Portland)*
16. Tetherow Golf Club (Bend)*
17. Columbia Edgewater Country Club (Portland)
18. Astoria Golf Club (Astoria)

* Denotes public course

How Other Publications Ranked the Top Golf Courses in Oregon

If you’re anything like us, you can never get too many opinions about golf courses when you’re trying to plan a trip. So we wanted to include the lists from other publications as well, so that you can get a sense of where everything stacks up.

Below you’ll find the current rankings for Best in State and Top 100 lists across some of the biggest golf publications. The idea was to not only include the composite ranking that you see above, but also give you one place where you can find all of the major information you’re seeking out when it comes to the best golf courses in Oregon.

Golf Digest Best in State – Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Dunes
3. Old Macdonald
4. Bandon Trails
5. Sheep Ranch
6. Pronghorn (Fazio)
7. Eugene Country Club
8. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
9. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
11. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
12. Crosswater
13. Waverley Golf Club
14. Tetherow Golf Club
15. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)

Top 100 Golf Courses Ranking for Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Dunes
3. Old Macdonald
4. Bandon Trails
5. Pronghorn (Fazio)
6. Waverley Country Club
7. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
8. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
10. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
11. Eugene Country Club
12. Tetherow Golf Club
13. Bandon Preserve
14. Portland Golf Club
15. Crosswater
16. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
17. Columbia Edgewater
18. Astoria Golf and Country Club
19. Broken Top
20. Bandon Crossings

#Bandon Preserve is a 13 hole course so we didn’t include it on our rankings

##Broken Top and Bandon Crossings were not included in any other list, so we didn’t use these.

Golf Magazine – Best in Oregon

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Bandon Trails
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Old Macdonald
5. Sheep Ranch
6. Eugene Country CLub
7. Waverley Country Club
8. Crosswater
9. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins/Craddock)
10. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
11. Pronghorn (Fazio)
12. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
13. Portland Golf Club
14. Astoria Golf and Country Club
15. Tetherow Golf Club

# Golf Magazine considered Hankins and Craddock at Silvies as one course.

Best Oregon Public Golf Courses – Golfweek

1. Pacific Dunes
2. Old Macdonald
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Sheep Ranch
5. Bandon Trails
6. Silvies Valley Ranch (Hankins)
7. Crosswater
8. Silvies Valley Ranch (Craddock)
9. Pumpkin Ridge (Ghost Creek)
10. Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Best Oregon Private Golf Courses – Golfweek

1. Eugene Country Club
2. Pronghorn (Fazio)
3. Waverley Country Club
4. Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
5. Portland Golf Club

Top 100 Courses in Oregon for 2024

I know many of you base your travels on top 100 courses, so I wanted to include all of the courses in Oregon ranked in any Golf Magazine or Golf Digest top 100 list.

Golf Digest Top 100 in America (Oregon Courses)

• #18 – Pacific Dunes
• #37 – Bandon Dunes
• #56 – Old Macdonald
• #67 – Bandon Trails

Golf Digest Top 100 Public (Oregon Courses)

• #2 – Pacific Dunes
• #7 – Bandon Dunes
• #12 – Old Macdonald
• #13 – Bandon Trails
• #15 – Sheep Ranch
• #40 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
• #61 – Crosswater
• #82 – Tetherow

Is Pacific Dunes the best public course in the country? Watch it face off against two other stalwarts of public golf.

Golf Magazine Top 100 Public (Oregon Courses)

• #3 – Pacific Dunes
• #8 – Bandon Trails
• #9 – Bandon Dunes
• #15 – Old Macdonald
• #20 – Sheep Ranch
• #93 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)

Golf Magazine Top 100 America (Oregon Courses)

• #19 – Pacific Dunes
• #38 – Bandon Trails
• #44 – Bandon Dunes
• #66 – Old Macdonald
• #80 – Sheep Ranch

Golf Magazine Top 100 World (Oregon Courses)

• #28 – Pacific Dunes
• #80 – Bandon Dunes
• #91 – Bandon Trails

Breaking Eighty Top 100 (Oregon Courses)

These are the Oregon courses from my personal top 100 list that I update every year. It only includes courses I’ve personally played.

• #5 – Bandon Trails
• #17 – Bandon Dunes
• #35 – Pacific Dunes
• #44 – Pronghorn (Fazio)
• #48 – Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
• #49 – Crosswater Golf Club
• #54 – Pronghorn (Nicklaus)
• #68 – Eugene Country Club
• #69 – Waverley Country Club
• #71 – Sheep Ranch 
• #76 – Tetherow Golf Club
• #82 – Old Macdonald 

Oregon Golf Trips: Dream Itineraries 

In this section, we’ll look at a handful of “Dream Itineraries” to consider if you’re planning a trip to Oregon.

1) Bandon Dunes

There’s nothing more to say that hasn’t already been said thousands of times across the world of golf. Bandon Dunes is objectively the best golf resort on the planet. 

Depending on where you’re from, it can take some effort to get there, but once you arrive on property, you’ll find yourself in golf heaven.

Do your best to play every course on the property, it’s well worth it.

Everything you need to know: The Ultimate Guide to Bandon Dunes

2) Central Oregon: Most Underrated Golf Destination in the US?

We believe Bend and Redmond is one of the most underrated golf destinations in the United States. You’ve got 3 top 100 public courses within 45 minutes of each other, that provide wildly different golf experiences.

The Nicklaus Course at Pronghorn is a true championship, high desert experience.

Tetherow is a wild links-style golf course in the desert, with some of the most fun golf holes in the state.

Crosswater is the most “northwest” golf course I’ve played with forest, river, and mountain views abound.

How to Do It

If visiting, I’d try and play those three courses. If you can get access to the Fazio at Pronghorn (which is a tough tee time to get), it’s well worth it as well. 

Often they have stay-and-play deals if you stay at Pronghorn, that can get you access to a round on the Fazio.

To play Crosswater without a member, you’ll need to stay at the resort. Fortunately, Sunriver Resort has one of the best stay-and-play deals in golf.

If you want to stay in one place without moving around, rooms at Tetherow are the most centrally located, and arguably the nicest as well.

Other courses to consider in the area:

• Brasada Canyons
• Juniper 
• Aspen Lakes

3) Portland Privates: Both Modern and Golden Age History

While most of the best golf is publically accessible in Oregon, with a single trip to Portland you can play some excellent private golf courses if you have the connections.

The ones on your list should be:

• Waverley Country Club
• Pumpkin Ridge (Witch Hollow)
• Columbia Edgewater
• Portland Golf Club

If you only had two, I’d prioritize Waverley and Witch Hollow. 

The former is the most beautiful club in Oregon, situated right on the Willamette River.

And the latter has some of the best modern history in the state, as it’s where Tiger won his 3rd US Amateur, and it hosted the Korn Ferry regular-season finale for years.

Between Columbia and Portland, I’d argue both are equally good golf courses. Portland has the prestige of hosting the Ryder Cup and PGA Championship back in the 40s, while Columbia Edgewater is a current host of the LPGA Cambia Classic.

Columbia Edgewater is also only a few minutes away from PDX, making it an easy course to hit on the way in or out of town.

While if you’re just playing one round this likely won’t matter to you, but Columbia has arguably the best practice facilities in the state.

Oregon Golf Hidden Gems

Every state has a few under-the-radar courses that people on a national level usually haven’t heard of, and Oregon is no different.

If looking for some hidden gems, I’d consider:

• Tokatee Golf Club – Tokatee is about an hour from Eugene up the McKenzie River. To me, this is the very definition of a hidden gem. There are nice mountain views, wonderful greens, some very enjoyable holes. Peter Jacobson has been quoted as saying it’s among his favorite golf courses.
• Aspen Lakes Golf Club – Located about 30 minutes from Bend in Sisters, the course is notable for its red cinder cone bunkers. I think the routing is incredibly fun with 18 unique and diverse holes. The major knock on it is that maintenance has been a little subpar over the past years, but still a very enjoyable round.
• Gearhart Golf Links – Less than 90 minutes from Portland, Gearhart is one of the oldest golf courses west of the Mississippi. Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle has invested a few million dollars recently to improve the course, and it shows. If you’re a history and architecture geek, it’s worth the trip. And while you’re there, try and play the quirky, and equally as enjoyable Astoria Country Club.
• Bar Run Golf Course – Located in Roseburg, which is out of the way of most Oregon golf hot spots, this Dan Hixson design is making waves amongst Oregon golfers in the know. It’s a fun course with some cool nods to old links courses like North Berwick. If you’re driving down I5 and need a fun place to stop – this is definitely one to consider.

Our Comments on the Best Golf Courses in Oregon

We’re based out of Oregon, so more so than many other states, we have some strong opinions. A few things that jump out based on the composite best Oregon golf course rankings above:

• I think the two courses at Pronghorn are phenomenal and are very much worth experiencing. The biggest thing I disagree with in how these rankings turned out is that the Nicklaus Course should easily be in the top 10 in Oregon, and is certainly better than the Silvies Valley Ranch courses.
• Eugene Country Club just finished a major renovation, and none of these rankings account for that. This used to be a Top 100 America mainstay, and after this recent work, I wouldn’t be surprised to see it return there.
• I’d argue Witch Hollow is the best golf course in Portland, if you judge it solely by the course itself. However, Waverley wins for best overall experience. If you’re a scratch golfer, play Pumpkin. If you’re more about the whole experience, play Waverley.
• The whole experience at Silvies Ranch is unlike any I’ve ever seen. I don’t personally think the two primary golf courses there Hankins/Craddock are better than some of the courses these publications have ranked above it. Specifically, I personally think Pronghorn (Nicklaus), Crosswater, and Tetherow are (much) better than the courses at Silvies. It’s very difficult to get to, but is also very much worth going to experience the whole package. Any course with a “Beer Tree” is my kind of place.
• Bandon is every bit as good as it’s made out to be. 

Questions about anything here or an upcoming trip to Oregon? Drop a comment and we’ll do our best to help.

Going someplace else? Check out all of our other best-in-state golf rankings.

Member of a private club and love to travel and meet other golf nuts? Check out our Eighty Club Golf Society.

Recent Updates:

September 3rd, 2024: Added video of Crosswater Golf Club. Minor updates and refinements.

The post Best Golf Courses in Oregon: Everything You Need to Know appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

It was about 2pm when we first arrived at Turnberry.

I was exhausted, having been traveling for close to 24 hours and not sleeping a wink on either of my plane rides.

However none of that mattered as we pulled up to the Links Lodge Bed and Breakfast, which was literally right off the first green of the Ailsa Course at Turnberry.

Note: I can’t recommend this place highly enough. The owner Chris was fantastic, and the location is incredible.

It became immediately clear that this was one of the most beautiful courses and regions in the world.

Rather than play on our first day, we decided to wait and give us time to relax, rest, and take in a little bit of the small town of Turnberry – this proved to be an excellent decision.

After a quick rejuvenating nap I spent 45 minutes walking down the beach at sunset, taking photos of the course and just taking in where I was. This marked my first trip back to Europe since I was in college, and I don’t think I’ve ever felt like I was so far away.

I travel to Asia on a fairly frequent basis these days, so it almost feels normal. This, however, even with people speaking English truly made me feel like I was on the edge of the earth.

Everything was peaceful, all I heard was water.  The occasional golfer strolled by on the 3rd or 4th greens, but what this time allowed me to do was really soak in and appreciate my surroundings – something I’d encourage everyone who visits Turnberry to do.

We had dinner at Souters Inn, which was about a 7 minute drive from the resort, and it was one of the best travel experiences I’ve had. We met almost everyone at the restaurant.

They wanted to talk golf, travel, whiskey, the US, the impending referendum. I expected lots of tourists, but all we found was extremely friendly Scots who insisted on buying us tastes of some of the local scotch (that you won’t find anywhere else in the world).

To say that the trip was off to a good start would be an understatement, and we hadn’t even gotten to the first round of golf yet!

Trump Turnberry Resort and Golf Club

We arrived at the course the next morning and couldn’t wait to get going. We checked in and headed to the range to get warmed up. After hearing that most courses in Scotland didn’t have a range, I was kind of surprised to see it along with a the full Turnberry Performance Academy there. Definitely some of the better practice facilities we saw on the trip.

I also got my first crack at practicing out of a pot bunker, and let’s just say it was a little rough.

We couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day to start the trip, as the weather was just as beautiful as it was the previous day before.

One of the things we noticed pretty immediately was how unpretentious everything was. I mean this was one of the most historic courses in Open Golf! It’s where Tom Watson hit a 7 iron 178 yards to two feet in 1977. It’s where he also almost became the oldest person to every win a major in 2009.

The 18th green was just right there, all that history. It wasn’t behind a giant gate, or closed off with a bunch of security guards. It was a mere 50 feet from the road and locals were walking their dogs right by the course.

This would be the first taste of how Scottish golf differed from golf back in the States, and I’ve gotta say – in that regard, I really liked it.

Just the Facts: Ailsa Course

• Designer: Willie Fernie, with renovations done in the 1950s by Phillip Mackenzie Ross, and Martin Ebert in 2016
• Built in: 1902 (Re-opened after WW2 in 1951)
• Rank: #8 Greatest 100 Courses in the World (Golf Digest 2024), #18 Top 100 Courses in the World (Golf 2023-24)
• Location: Turnberry, Ayrshire, Scotland
• Notable Tournaments: British Open (1977, 1986, 1994, 2009)
• 2025 Fees: £325-1,000, nonresident rates, depending on guest status and time of year
• Website: http://www.turnberry.co.uk
  
• Slope: 130, Rating: 72

The Ailsa Course at Trump Turnberry

We headed to the first tee, and the starter proceeded to give us one of the best starting “packages” I’d ever received. With our scorecard, we got a yardage book, and a Turnberry tin with tees inside. A nice touch that makes you feel as though the £250 greens fees for non-resort guests are really worth it.

The starter offered to take our photo – and you can tell it wasn’t the first time he’s done this. Unlike most people who never seem to be able to get on-course photos framed up or in focus, he had us stand right behind the Ailsa Course sign, and snapped a great shot to start the trip.

Note: We played from the Trophy tees which measured 6100 yards – all distances from there. As it was our first round we decided to take it a bit easier on ourselves

Hole 1 – Ailsa Craig (Par 4, 340 yards)

Named after an island in the Firth of Clyde – I liked the way this course started.

Nothing too difficult, but if aren’t careful you could find yourself in trouble – as I unfortunately did. I hit a solid hybrid, but my first shot in Scotland landed in, where else? A pot bunker. Luckily I chipped out sideways and still made bogey – so I was feeling ok about that.

Watch out for the bunkers all down the left side of the fairway, and surrounding the front of the green. The bailout is long and right here.

Hole 2 – Mak Siccar (Make Sure) – (Par 4, 368 yards)

The second hole at Turnberry can be a brutal one if you’re not careful. This was my first introduction to bunkers in the middle of the fairway since last time I played Pacific Dunes – and fortunately (or unfortunately) for me I duck-hooked it into the third fairway (still chipped up for par).

The green runs off to the left so make sure you take enough club.

Hole 3 – Blaw Wearie (Out of Breath) – (Par 4, 386 yards)

In theory, I wasn’t a huge fan of the lapping the 2nd and 3rd holes seemed to do, but I really liked the third hole – especially considering it was bringing you ever closer to the water.

A slight dogleg left, if you’re too far right here you’ll have tough shot out of the rough – just watch out for fairway bunkers on the left.

It’s one of the longest par 4s on the course, and our caddie mentioned we were extremely lucky as it usually plays directly into the wind – there was no wind to be found…yet.

Hole 4 – Woe-Be-Tide (Par 3, 157 yards)

The first time I saw the 4th hole, the night before, I immediately said, “Now I see where Kidd got his influence for the 15th at Bandon Dunes.”

Contrary to the name, I think the tide is less of a concern here when compared to the giant bunker in the front right.

Hole 5 – Fin Me Out (Par 4, 392 yards)

This was my favorite par 4 on the course – and the first time I really thought “ok, now this is a cool hole.”

If you’ve been following my blog for a while you know that often it isn’t the long championship courses I like the best, but it’s the ones with a little more interest and uniqueness, and I really felt this hole had that.

A long, sharp, dogleg left the best play is directly over the two bunkers on the left – however the safer play is center of the fairway – giving you a long approach in. The approach shot isn’t any easier with a forebunker on the left, followed immediately by two greenside bunkers. I was playing in wiht a 6 iron and Dan had a 4 wood – so depending on where you’re at, this can be really tricky.

The dunes on either side of the fairway also added a cool feel to the hole.

Hole 6 – Tappie Toorie (Hit to the top) (Par 3, 187 yards)

When you walk up to the 6th tee box a bit of excitement builds as you can see the famous lighthouse looming in the distance. This is one of the tougher par 3s on the course.  The green slopes severely from back to front – and if you don’t get it squarely on the center of the green there’s a good chance it’s coming back.

All. The. Way. Back.

I hit a solid hybrid to the front of the green that looked like it would stay. 10 seconds later, it slowly started falling back down, before finally resting 40 yards short (and below) the green.

This is also the first hole where we realized how valuable a caddie can be. Dan had a 35 foot snaker for par, and he put it right on the line that his caddie told him. Right in the back of the cup.

Hole 7 – Roon the Ben (Round the mountain) – (Par 4, 463 yards)

The par 5, 7th isn’t quite a “Cape” hole but pretty close.

The hole bends sharply to the left and there’s deep rough if you don’t hit the fairway.

You can cut off some of the fairway if you’re feeling ballsy and go for it in two, just watch out for the bunker directly over your target line.

That being said, your second and third shots are pretty severely uphill, so your best bet is probably to play it conservatively and hit 3 good shots into the green.

After a great drive, my second found a fairway bunker that took a solid 4 shots to get out of – so you know, there goes the score for that round

Hole 8 – Goat Fell – (Par 4, 365 yards)

Another slight dogleg left – I didn’t realize how many of them there were on this course until I started going back and writing this.

The nice thing about links golf is that the holes are pretty open – so it’s not like the Pacific Northwest where a dogleg left is often narrow and treelined. Even my typical slice, could often keep me in the fairway.

The toughest part of this hole is the bunkering. Fairway bunkers on the right, and a deep bunker short and left of the elevated green.

Hole 9 – Bruce’s Castle (Par 4, 388 yards)

Note: The following few holes are a commentary on how the course was pre-2016 when Martin Ebert made some major changes to these holes, which most of have found to be overwhelmingly positive. Will update with the new routing next time I play the course.

Ah, we made it! The hole so many people had talked about. One of the most beautiful in Scotland. The beginning of a stretch that I’d often heard referred to as “The Pebble Beach of Scotland.”

Now don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful golf hole. But it wasn’t quite as spectacular as I was expecting. I was thinking it would be more right on the water – and the hole itself I found to be relatively uninteresting. Straight out with a semi-blind tee shot over a ridge – I really felt like they could have done more with the land.

I do regret not heading back and hitting one from the Championship tees here, as I definitely think they made the hole quite a bit more interesting, forcing you to hit over the craggy rocks.

But honestly, guests can’t play from those tees (nor should most of them), so while yes it’s an Open Rota course, I would have liked to see them make it more dramatic for the 98% of rounds on the course.

It’s also worth noting there is a lot of history surrounding the area around the lighthouse – and you can see some of the remnants in the form of old stone walls. I’d loved to have a plaque or something that told more about the history of the area (if there was one, I somehow missed it).

Hole 10 – Dinna Fouter (Don’t Mess About) – (Par 4, 415 yards)

Ok, this is where the wow factor showed up. Everyone had told me about the 9th hole, but for some reason completely unbeknownst to me – no one mentioned the 10th, which is the coolest and most scenic hole on the course.

A long dogleg left directly around the water, and playing slightly downhill, this hole immediately from the tee, immediately evoked thoughts of the 6th at Tetherow, which I’d played the week before. Funnily enough, this is another Kidd design – so I can see where he got a lot of his inspiration.

You have bunkers in the center of the fairway, forcing you to make the decision to try and tackle the water and go to the left of the bunker, go to the right, which brings the rough into play, or layup short – giving you a long approach shot.

The island bunker guarding your approach shot was definitely a cool feature and something I hadn’t seen before.

Hole 11 – Maidens – (Par 3, 146 yards)

The first par 3 on the back, is also the last of the three holes playing along the water.

It’s a scenic hole, yes, but is it a world-class par 3? Not necessarily. It’s pretty flat and the main defense are the two steep-faced bunkers guarding the hole (primarily the left one), which had a great pin placement directly behind it.

Don’t me wrong, it’s by no means a bad hole, I just feel as though there’s a lot that could have been done to make hole even more visually interesting and strategic.

Hole 12 – Monument – (Par 4, 377 yards)

This hole gets its name from the monument on the hill that commemorates the airmen who lost their lives while stationed at Turnberry during the World Wars.

It’s interesting to note that the whole course and region was heavily involved in WW2. Some of the fairways were converted to landing strips, and the hotel was used as a hospital to treat the wounded.

Another hole that usually plays into the wind, you need to navigate your drive carefully, being mindful of fairway bunkers jutting out on the left.

I got lucky with my approach barely clearing the scary bunker guarding the front right of the green, and having the ball roll back down to the center of the green.

Hole 13 – Tickly Tap (Tricky little stroke) – (Par 4, 344 yards)

A dogleg right, watch out for the three fairway bunkers off your drive. The green here is larger than it looks from the fairway, but make sure you hit it, as if you miss, you’ll have a tricky pitch back up to it.

Hole 14 – Risk-An-Hope – (Par 4, 390 yards)

A long, and difficult par 4 that wasn’t necessarily my favorite. The hole plays uphill, and you need to watch out for the bunkers on the right off the tee. The green is surrounded by three bunkers on the front and both sides, and there’s a good chance you’ll be playing with a mid to long iron in.

Hole 15 – Ca’ Canny (Take care) – (Par 3, 170 yards)

The last par 3 on the course is also one of the longest. On a clear day you’ll have a beautiful view of the hotel in the background, and trouble awaiting you on both sides of the green. If you’re too far right, you’ll fall down a sleep slope in the rough, and if you’re left you’ll have a deep pot bunker to contend with – this gets even scarier with a left hand pin placement.

Hole 16 – Wee Burn – (Par 4, 385 yards)

This long dogleg right was redesigned for the 2009 open – and features one of my favorite approach shots on the course.

The burn is a feature of Scottish golf that I was looking forward to seeing, and this would be my first run in with one. “Wilson’s Burn” guards the front of this green, and you want to make sure you take enough club – as the rough is cut pretty short, and just about anything landing short of the green has a good chance of rolling back in the water.

Hole 17 – Lang Whang (Long whack) – (Par 5, 457 yards)

This was my favorite par 5 on the course and a great hole to have in the finishing stretch. Oh, and by that I also mean, the only par 5 on the course, as it plays to a par 69.

It’s reachable in two, but anything other than a well placed tee shot could leave you in the rough without a shot at the green, or worse, in the large fairway bunker on the right.

The bunkers that appear to be on the right of the green are actually forebunkers, giving you plenty of room to hit over them. The miss here is short and right as there’s actually quite a bit of open room there – as long as you get past the aforementioned bunkers.

Hole 18 – Duel in the Sun – (Par 4, 370 yards)

Ah, one of the most storied holes in Open Golf. Renamed to commemorate the 1977 Open, Duel in the Sun requires a solid tee shot avoiding the three fairway bunkers on the left – and gorse on the right.

There’s a good chance you’ll still have a long approach shot, so be careful and err short of the green and putt or chip on if need be.

Dan and I both tried Watson’s 178 yard shot, with a 7 iron no less, and well, let’s just say we didn’t drop it to within 2 feet.

Final Thoughts on the Ailsa Course at Turnberry

Overall our day at Turnberry couldn’t have been better. The course wasn’t that packed, so we could play at our own pace, the weather was phenomenal, and both Dan and I didn’t play half bad.

Of the Open Courses we played I’d say it was a toss up between here and Carnoustie for which one was my favorite. Turnberry absolutely had the scenery and vibe, but I felt that Carnoustie had holes with a bit more interest.  That being said, of all of the 9 courses we played on the trip, Dan liked Turnberry the best.

It’s absolutely worth the trip and the money to play on any Scotland trip, and everyone we encountered here was extremely friendly and excited to see us there.

I’m looking forward to watching the Open next time it makes it back here, and also curious to see what changes occur over the next few years now that Donald Trump has purchased the course and the resort.

Find a list of more of my Scotland course reviews here.

Recent Updates:

August 15, 2024: Updated pricing to reflect 2025 green fees, updated “ranking” to 2024 rankings, added link to other Scotland golf writeups, changed name to “Trump Turnberry.”

The post Trump Turnberry: Is the Ailsa Course the Most Scenic in Scotland? appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.

There’s a very good chance that anyone who has made the pilgrimage to Bandon Dunes has a personal ranking of the resort’s five courses. It’s an inevitability that has sparked many a fervent debate amongst “Bandonistas”, as everyone’s list is inherently different (even Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, and GolfWeek’s lists vary slightly).

I’ve been fortunate to visit Bandon Dunes a half dozen or so times and have played every course (save for Bandon Dunes proper) more than once. I’ve experienced blustery summer conditions, dead still 65-degree days in January, and rounds in near-freezing temperatures with sleet and gusts up to 60 miles per hour… I’ve seen it all.

With that in mind — and not that anyone asked — my list goes:

1. Pacific Dunes (Seemingly the general consensus)
2. Old Mac (Always underrated)
3. Bandon Trails (The best-designed course on property, but not on the ocean)
4. Sheep Ranch (Fun, but almost too quirky)
5. Bandon Dunes (Heresy! I know, I know… maybe I just need to play it again)

As an example of how wildly different opinions can be, here’s Sean’s take on the best:

It should be obvious that the rankings are not on a “best to worst” scale and rather operate in the “best to least-best” arena, as the “bottom” course on anyone’s list would top the rankings in most states — the depth at Bandon is just that good.

We’ve made a habit of taking an annual work trip down to the promised land the past few winters — something we all enthusiastically look forward to all year.

Unsurprisingly, the drive back is always the worst part, but ranking the courses is a fun exercise (as is the ensuing debate) to combat the Bandon blues hangover on the four-hour haul back to Portland.

Trying to kill even more windshield time one year, we wanted to take it one step further — an eclectic 18. For those not familiar, that’s the practice of choosing the best first hole, best second hole, best third hole, and so on from a group of courses (the five at Bandon, in this case) and seeing how the lists compare.

It’s certainly more in-depth than just flatly ranking the courses and is a worthy exercise because it forces you to essentially relive every hole of the trip — never a problem with Bandon.

As expected, responses vary in our group, but here’s what my current personal Bandon “Eclectic 18″ list looks like.

First Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 5, 549 yards)

Starting at the high point of the course and slowly cascading down to the cliffside green, the reveal as the player rounds the dogleg left turn and is smacked in the face with the entirety of the course and the expanse of the Pacific is one of the coolest moments on any Bandon trip.

Easily the best opener on property.

Second Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 3, 189 yards)

This may not be the most popular choice, but to me there’s something that fits my eye about the teeing grounds and greensite of this hole. Sometimes that’s all it takes.

Third Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 4, 375 yards)

If choosing a blind line off of the tee in relation to the iconic Ghost Tree isn’t enough to solidify this as the best third hole at Bandon, then looking back up at the tumbling and flowing fairway from the green will. One of my favorite non-ocean views at the resort.

Fourth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 463 yards)

You have the entire United States as the safe miss on the left side, but to have a comfortable second shot the golfer has to flirt with the mighty Pacific on the right. It’s almost inevitable that I lose at least one ball over the cliff every time I play this hole, but I can’t help but crack a smile while watching it sail into the ocean.

Fifth Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 4, 428 yards)

Almost shaped like a bottle, the mounding in the middle of the fairway and the Pacific on the left side of the hole make for an exciting tee shot while the long and skinny green recessed into a small amphitheater of dunes requires a precise second. There’s no other hole like it on property.

Sixth Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 4, 460 yards)

Speaking of exciting tee shots, there’s no avoiding the ocean on this one. Bite off as much as you can chew and you’ll still have a pretty severe uphill tee shot to the fairly large and receptive green. Simply epic all the way up.

Seventh Hole – Old MacDonald (Par 4, 363 yards)

In any sort of wind, this hole is a brute.

While the tee shot is less about distance and more about placement, the second shot is one of the most uphill second shots at Bandon.

It typically plays into at least a slight breeze coming off of the ocean and anything short will roll back to your feet, into a bunker, or into thick gorse — trust me, I’ve experienced all three fates. Once up at the green, you’re rewarded with a hell of a view and one of the best-located turn stands in golf.

Eighth Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 3, 181 yards)

Coming directly back down the hill you just played up on the Seventh, this long par three plays to an oblong Biarritz-style green, making for putts and chips that are just as fun as the tee shot. Play this hole while taking sips of Guinness or bites of a hot dog (or both) for best results.

Ninth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 406 yards)

One of the unique things about Pacific Dunes is that depending on the day, the 9th and 10th
holes can play completely differently, with the former having two separate greens (Upper and
Lower) and the latter having two separate teeing grounds (also Upper and Lower).

While I prefer the “Lower” green site, the “Upper” version is still better than the other ninth holes on property (and sets up for the better version of the 10th).

Tenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 418 yards)

Another choice that may not be so popular, this hole gives off distinct Pine Valley vibes… never a bad thing. (Another beer is waiting after walking off of this green, too… also never a bad
thing.)

Eleventh Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 3, 148 yards)

My favorite hole on property, I think the 11th at Pacific Dunes embodies the Bandon experience perfectly. It’s rugged, yet picturesque — daunting, but playable.

I’ll likely never not ask for my picture to be taken hitting this tee shot (I have a near-perfect record of that so far…something that can’t be said for me hitting the green).

Twelfth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 5, 529 yards)

Okay, my Pacific Dunes bias is starting to show. Running parallel to the Fourth, the meeting
point of the Fourth and Thirteenth tees with the Twelfth and Third greens (and the accompanying turn stand) is one of my favorite spots on property.

Thirteenth Hole – Pacific Dunes (Par 4, 444 yards)

You saw it coming. Just a badass, straight uphill par four framed by the Pacific to the left and
massive dunes on the right with nowhere to hide. A truly sick golf hole in every sense of the
word (especially if it’s playing into the wind).

Fourteenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 325 yards)

Probably the most polarizing hole on property… and one which I happen to love.

We have a tradition of playing this as a “zen hole”, meaning that once our group has holed out on the thirteenth, no one can say a word until we hole out on the fourteenth (something that was suggested by a caddie one year — one who maybe got tired of hearing the moaning the groaning that tends to occur on this hole).

The view from behind the tee box is among the most scenic on property and is also where Mike Keiser decided that this plot of land was the place to build his golf mecca — definitely a good spot to take it all in and enjoy the silence.

Fifteenth Hole – Bandon Trails (Par 4, 406 yards)

This hole flies way under most people’s radars, but I think it’s one of the most charming at Bandon and is almost seemingly something you would find at the venerable heathland courses of England.

Due to a pair of centerline bunkers, the tee shot requires some thought on which line to take and also which club to hit. The second shot into a large two-tiered green nestled sublimely into a tree-lined hillside is one of my favorites in the world (assuming I avoided the bunkers off the tee).

Sixteenth Hole – Bandon Dunes (Par 4, 363 yards)

In short, one of the most epic short par fours in golf and easily the best hole at Bandon Dunes proper.

With a chasm to clear off the tee and a two-tiered fairway to navigate, the tiny green seems like it’s miles away and almost dripping off the cliff into the Pacific, but in actuality, it’s just over 300 yards to the front edge for most. I’ve never seen another hole like it and I can’t wait to play it again.

Seventeenth Hole – Sheep Ranch (Par 4, 326 yards)

Almost an opposite hole to the Sixth at Sheep Ranch, the first time we played this hole was from the back of 16th green, dead over the cliffside and into a substantial breeze.

I’m not sure that exact tee box is in play anymore, but even with the hole playing a little straighter, it’s still nestled right up to the cliffs with picturesque ghost trees standing guard along the edge.

Eighteenth Hole – Old Macdonald (Par 4, 469 yards)

A common knock on Bandon as a whole (especially prior to the addition of Sheep Ranch) was that the openers and closers to each course weren’t particularly strong.

The punchbowl-esque green alone gives the eighteenth at Old Mac the nod in my book, and the recent addition of the Ghost Tree Grill and deck behind it makes it even more fun to watch balls bound up and curl
(hopefully) towards the pin.

Ian’s Bandon Eclectic 18

• Par 71: 13 Par Fours, Three Par Threes, Two Par Fives
• Out: 3,414 yards
• In: 3,428 yards
• Total: 6,842 yards

What does your list look like? Where am I wrong? Always happy to debate in the comments,
on Twitter/X, or over a beer at McKee’s (it goes without saying the latter is always preferred…)

Cheers!

The post Dream 18 #1: Ian Critser’s Eclectic 18 at Bandon Dunes Resort appeared first on Breaking Eighty | Best Golf Courses and Golf Product Reviews.