Bandon Dunes

Tom Doak's masterpiece and the course that made his career. Six holes brush the cliffs, the par-3s are some of the best on the planet, and the routing breaks every rule about back-to-back par 5s and somehow makes it work. If you only get one round at Bandon, this is it — but don't let that be the case.

The original. David McLay Kidd was 28 when he built it and somehow nailed the brief on his first try. Plays firm and fast along the cliffs with the most photographed par-4 4th on the property. Older guys who played it in 2001 swear it's still the best course there, and they have a point.

Coore and Crenshaw got handed a mile of clifftop and built nine greens that touch the Pacific. No bunkers, no trees, no rough — just fescue, ocean, and wind. Plays differently every round depending on which way it's blowing, and the back nine into the wind is as hard as anything at the resort.

Doak and Jim Urbina's tribute to C.B. Macdonald and the template-hole tradition — Redan, Biarritz, Road, Punchbowl, all of it. Wide fairways, massive greens, and a course that punishes you for not thinking. The guys in your group who read Geoff Shackelford will love it; the guys who don't will wonder why they keep three-putting from 40 feet.

The one everyone underrates because it doesn't sit on the cliffs. Coore and Crenshaw routed it through dunes, meadow, and old-growth forest, and the variety is the point — no two holes feel alike. The par-3 5th and the short par-4 14th alone are worth the round. Don't skip it.

A 13-hole par-3 course by Coore and Crenshaw with ocean views from nearly every tee. All proceeds go to the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, which is a nice touch. Perfect afternoon round when you've already played 18 in the morning and want to drink a beer between holes.

The newest par-3 short course at the resort, designed by the in-house team. Quick to play, fun to gamble on, and the right call when your group wants one more round before dinner. Walk-up tee times and small green fees compared to the marquee courses.

Two-acre putting course by Doak and Urbina that turns into the best part of the day around 5pm. Bring a beer, bring some money, and don't take it too seriously. Free to resort guests.

The main lodge above the original Bandon Dunes 18th. Walking distance to the practice center, McKee's Pub, and the Bunker Bar. Rooms are simple and clean — nobody's here for thread counts — but you can roll out of bed and onto the first tee.

Newer hotel-style rooms tucked between Pacific Dunes and Bandon Trails. The most modern accommodations on property, and a short walk to the Trails End restaurant. Best pick if you want something quieter than the main lodge.

Four-bedroom cottages built for golf groups. Living room, kitchen, fireplace, the works. The right call for a foursome that wants to play cards after dinner without dealing with the lodge bar. Book early — there aren't many of them.

Standalone rooms near the practice facility — two queens or a king, refrigerator, the basics. Cheaper than the lodge proper and a short walk to anything. Smart play for a group trying to keep the trip from becoming insane.

Off-property option in old town Bandon, about 10 minutes from the resort. Clean, simple, ocean-view rooms at a fraction of the resort price. Trade-off is you're not walking to the first tee in your spikes.

If you're rolling six or eight deep, a house in Bandon proper or out toward Face Rock is the math that works. Plenty of three- to five-bedroom rentals on the bluffs, most with kitchens and ocean views. You'll spend the drive time you save in the morning sitting in someone's hot tub.

The big dinner room at the lodge — steaks, local fish, a real wine list. Reservations get tight after 7pm so book it when you book your tee times. Order the rib-eye and don't overthink it.

Tucked near Bandon Trails and Old Mac, this is the dinner spot when you don't want to walk back to the main lodge. Smaller menu, wood-fired stuff, and one of the better rooms on the property. Worth the cab ride from the lodge if you're staying there.

The post-round bar everyone ends up at. Burgers, fish and chips, a long beer list, fireplaces. You'll close it down at least once on a four-night trip. Don't fight it.

The lobby bar at the main lodge. Cocktails, a fire, leather chairs — the right room for the post-Pacific Dunes whiskey before dinner. Lighter food menu if you don't want a full sit-down meal.

Underground bar beneath the lodge. Late-night spot when the rest of the resort is winding down. Cards, pool, and a serious bourbon list. Keep it civil — you're playing 36 in the morning.

Off-property in old town Bandon. Italian, a tight wine list, and the only restaurant in the area that feels like it belongs in a city. Worth the 15-minute drive if you want a night off the resort. Reservations required.

Walk-up window on the Bandon waterfront for fish tacos, crab melts, and chowder. Lunch only, cash-friendly, picnic tables outside. The right call on a travel day or before an afternoon tee time.

Old town Bandon, on the water. Local seafood, dungeness crab when it's in season, and a view of the Coquille River. Less polished than the resort dining but priced like a normal restaurant.

Brewpub in town with wood-fired pizza and a rotating beer list. Casual, loud, easy. Decent off-resort lunch or a low-key dinner if the group's overdone the lodge.

Pre-tee-time coffee and breakfast burritos in town if you've got an early time and don't want to deal with the lodge breakfast crowd. In and out in ten minutes.