Old Macdonald

Our last game at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort was at Old Macdonald. Having opened in 2010, "Old Mac" is a Tom Doak and Jim Urbina design. While Old Macdonald doesn't get the ocean views and "wow factor" (7th hole n exception and pictured below) like Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes, this is one FUN golf course! It pays homage to the vision and spirit of C.B. Macdonald, the father of American golf course architecture.

Their goal has been not to copy Macdonald's great holes any more than Macdonald would have settled for carbon copies of the Alps and Redan - but to borrow upon his inspiration and method for Bandon's world-class links ground. There is also a Road hole at the 11th, just without the Old Course Hotel and a road. Otherwise, all the dimensions, from the hole's length, the road hole bunker and the green, are the same of that found in St. Andrews. With the pin cut just over the deep greenside bunker, fortunately I stayed out of it and holed a 40 foot putt to win the hole.

Unlike the previous days, the summer wind got up and the course showed it's teeth! A three to four club wind made shotmaking difficult, particularly hitting into what are some of the largest and most undulating greens in world golf. How many courses can you have a putt from 50m metres away...and you're still on the green!

At 2-2 for the Father/Son match play series, this proved to be an important match. Fortunately, I was the one who got the good start, beginning with par, birdie, bogey, par, par. As the round went on, the wind got stronger and the golf course tougher. Having played quite well until the result was beyond doubt, my concentration levels faltered and some three-putts crept into the game.

Result: Son defeated Father 6&5