Bandon Dunes Opens Punchbowl Putting Course


More than 200 people showed up for the unveiling of the newest golf amenity at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon on Tuesday. The Punchbowl is an 18-hole putting course patterned after famed short tracks the Himalayas in St. Andrews, Scotland, and Thistle Dhu in Pinehurst, N.C.

The Punchbowl is a co-design of architects Tom Doak and Jim Urbina, who teamed up on the fourth course at Bandon, Old Macdonald, which opened in 2010.

The resort's other courses are the original Bandon Dunes designed by David McLay Kidd, Pacific Dunes by Doak, and Bandon Trails by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore. In 2012, the resort opened is 13-hole par-3 layout, Bandon Preserve. Also on the property alongside the Pacific Ocean is the Sheep Ranch, which offers limited play.

The visionary behind Bandon Dunes, Mike Keiser, said the Punchbowl will serve as yet another place where golfers can test their skills at the sprawling resort.

"The par-3 course and now the putting course are both compelling replacements for the second round of golf in one day," Keiser told Golf Advisor's Matt Ginella at the Punchbowl's grand opening.

"But c'est la vie. I also provide free wireless. Believe it or not, I'm not trying to squeeze them for everything they've got. And as I look around, all I see is exclamation and laughter."

"We need more of these things in golf," Urbina told Ginella. "If the social experience of the game has gone missing, it's here today. There's smack talk, challenging, betting and good fun. There's a lot happening in a small space."

Covering 2.3 acres, the 100,000-square-foot Punchbowl is located next to the first tee at Pacific Dunes. Its 18 holes vary in length and will be reconfigured daily; there is no charge for resort guests. To get on the course players will put their ball in a queue. A round should take about an hour.

For additional information, visit http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/golf/golf-courses/punchbowl.