Over the past two decades, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has continually blessed the golfing public with new and marvelous creations for us to enjoy. Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, and Bandon Trails, have all been met with high praise and critical acclaim. Atypical additions like the Punchbowl, a 100,000 square foot putting green, and several short courses named Bandon Preserve and Shorty’s have turned Bandon Dunes into the greatest golf destination in the United States. In 2020, Bandon Dunes has delivered yet another special place for us to golf our balls, The Sheep Ranch.
The green on the par 3 7th hole at Sheep Ranch
In the years prior to 2020, The Sheep Ranch was still technically a golf course. There were 13 green sites scattered around the property, but there was no real routing or suggested line of play. A group of golfers would just rent out the property for the day, grab a case of beer, and pick a target. With no numbered holes or official routing, golfers were able to choose their own adventure. This “hit and giggle” type of play was popular with those who visited the Sheep Ranch and everyone raved about the unique experience with it’s stunning seaside views.
Even though it neighbored Bandon Dunes, the Sheep Ranch was completely separate from the resort. At the time the property went up for sale, Mike Keiser was invested in the development of Pacific Dunes and other resort infrastructure projects so he asked Phil Friedmann, his college hallmate and long time business partner at Recycled Paper Greetings, if he was interested in buying the property 50/50. Tom Doak did the early shaping in 2001 and Phil enjoyed it as an sanctuary for his family and friends to experience for many years to come. Almost 18 years later the two parties came to an agreement and the architectural team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw was selected to deliver a full championship golf experience. As a friend of the game, Phil was compelled to bring the experience to a larger audience.
“It is now time to share the magic of the Sheep Ranch with other lovers of the game.”
Given the relatively small square footage of the property, the biggest challenge was going to be how to route a full par 72 course with effective use of the dramatic cliff side. Coore and Crenshaw found a way. The team was able to find a place for 9 green sites directly along the water’s edge. With only 9 greens on the rest of the resort, The Sheep Ranch effectively doubled the number of greens perched above the Pacific Ocean. Even more interesting was the plan to not build a single bunker on the entire golf course.
I was fortunate enough to make a visit in 2019 as construction was already underway. I captured some “before” imagery as the crew pushed sand around the freshly routed golf course. The hydro seed process had been partially deployed and some of the fescue grasses were beginning to take hold. By the time I would return in 2020, those grasses had fully taken over. It was time to play some golf.
Before
After
The Coore Crenshaw shaping team creates the separation curves on the large double green for holes 3 and 16.
Hole 16 before
Hole 16 after
During my visit to Bandon Dunes, I received a myriad of questions on social media about the new golf course. Here are the top 10 questions and my answers.
Question 1: “How does the Sheep Ranch compare to the other courses at the resort?”
After I stepped off of the 18th green at Sheep Ranch, I immediately wanted to scream this is the best course that I have ever played. However, I am keenly aware of the honeymoon phase and I have waited until now, 1 week later, to pass judgement.
The Sheep Ranch is a fine compliment to the already outstanding golf lineup at Bandon Dunes. It provides that slight difference that all of the courses at the resort have. A round at Pacific is great, but much different from a round at Old Macdonald or Bandon Trails. That variety is a big part of the excitment that Bandon Dunes is able to provide its customers. While other locations have several courses that possess a similar feel, The Sheep Ranch somehow provides yet another dimension to an already versatile ensemble at Bandon Dunes.
My new lineup is below. As a matter of note, every time that I have visited Bandon Dunes my order has changed.
Bandon Dunes
Sheep Ranch
Pacific Dunes
Old Macdonald
Bandon Trails
A debut at #1 was considered, but ultimately denied.
Question 2: “I am sure that the seaside holes are great, but how do the inland holes hold up?”
This was one of the questions that I was focused on myself when I first explored the golf course. Holes like #2, #11, and #13 do an excellent job of pulling the course together. The 11th hole is perhaps the most removed from the ocean and is one of the course’s strongest par 5’s. With just a couple of lulls in the action, the course flows very nicely from start to finish.
The 2nd hole as viewed from the 17th green.
The newly coined “Sheep Shack” sits right next to #11 green and overlooks the 13th hole.
Hole # 10 is in the foreground with the 14th green of the the left. The par 5 11th hole snakes off into the distance at the top of the photo.
Question #3: “How does the ‘no bunker thing’ play out?”
Not only is this an excellent concept for the high handicapper that hates to play out of the sand, but it is an excellent concept all around. For years, I had always requested, “More grass bunkers, please,” and apparently Coore and Crenshaw were listening. With plenty of views and visual distraction, the golfer won’t even notice the lack of sand from an aesthetic viewpoint. It wasn’t until the 17th hole when someone mentioned the lack of bunkers, that I even thought to care.
To make up for the lost interest that bunkering usually provides, Coore and Crenshaw have created a variety of grass features that serve as hazards for the golfer to play around. Some outcroppings and swales can actually prevent forward movement of the golf ball and can figure into hole strategy.
The green fronting grass feature on the 2nd hole.
Question 4: “I heard the course was going to be easy, how challenging is it?”
Void of bunkers and playing only 6,636 yards from the back tees, one might take a quick glance at the scorecard and think the Sheep Ranch is a push over. While it’s certainly not the most difficult course at the resort, the course does offer some challenges. Depending on the wind, holes like 6 and 4 will put up an extremely stout test for the scratch golfer.
In addition to the grass bunkering, the natural contours of the land and the wind are The Sheep Ranch’s primary defenses. Below you can get a pretty good idea of the wind’s that can blow on Oregon’s coast. My friend Ben, fired a new course record 67, and two days later hung up a pretty solid 85 in the winds below.
The contours on 15 green show off in the early morning sun.
Question 5: “What is your favorite hole on the Sheep Ranch?”
“Oh, it’s definitely 17, no wait… its 15, yeah, that’s it. But that 9th hole is so cool. Hang on, I got it. It’s 6. It’s gotta be 6. Yeah, number 6 it is.”
Playing directly over the cliff’s edge is the strikingly good 6th hole. Feel free to bite off as much as you can handle with the tee shot, but at 460 yards don’t be surprised if you end up with a long iron or 3 wood into a green perched upon the cliff’s edge. The 6th hole takes home the award for best golf hole at Sheep Ranch and very well may be the strongest golf hole on the entire resort.
Question 6: “When does the Sheep Ranch open for play?”
Beginning June 1st of 2020, The Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch will be open to the golfing public. Book here.
The view above 1 and 17 green.
The 2nd hole was one of my underdog favorite holes.
Question 7: “How is the resort operating under the new COVID 19 guidelines?”
The fine folks at Bandon are talking the Coronavirus pandemic very serious. The core experience remains the same but there are many new procedures in place. Common touch points have been dramatically reduced and there is a daily cleaning and disinfectant process. Caddies wear masks and barriers are in place to protect employees and guests. When I visited, only McKee’s and The Gallery were open for dining.
The good news is that as soon as you hit the golf course, the worries and the reality of the world immediately begin to fade away. The pure golf experience takes over and you are merged into the links land. It’s Bandon Dunes. It’s golf as it was meant to be.
Question 8: “Are you planning to do any male modeling on The Sheep Ranch?”
This was the only real reason that I decided to come to Bandon Dunes in the first place. I had been working on a new pose for several months called the “Magnum Smolder” and the Sheep Ranch was the perfect place to unveil my new look.
“Magnum Smolder” debuts on #17
Question 9: “Will you be getting any of that hot drone action?”
I always get that hot drone action. Please enjoy the short film below.
Question 10: “Are you living at Bandon Dunes, now?”
I have considered building a golf hut down on the beach.