Bandon Trails Course Review
The best course at Bandon is the one with no ocean views
Played & written by Marcus Santana
By Marcus Santana · Published March 17, 2026
9.5/ 10
The short version
Everyone books Bandon for the cliffs, then spends the flight home talking about Trails. Coore & Crenshaw route it through dunes, forest and meadow, and the variety plus the walk make it the most complete round on property.
How it played
Playing at 6,788 yards it is not long, but the green complexes do the defending. The par-3 5th plays across a hollow to a green that rejects anything short, and the drivable 14th offers a genuine risk-reward choice every single time. Ground game options exist on nearly every approach when the turf is firm.
How it looks
Beginning in open dunes, the routing drops into shore pine forest by the 4th and reaches a high meadow at the turn. The bunkering is Coore & Crenshaw at their most restrained — ragged, shallow and always in the right place.
What won me over
- Extraordinary routing variety across three landscapes
- The 14th is one of the great short par 4s in America
- Sheltered from the wind that flattens the coastal courses
- Fastest, firmest turf at the resort
Good to know before you buy
- No ocean views, which puts people off unfairly
- The walk from 13 to 14 is genuinely steep
- Blind second shots frustrate first-timers
- Green complexes punish a conservative miss
My verdict
Play it twice. Trails is the round you will remember longest and the one you will most want to replay immediately.
Marcus Santana
Founder & Lead Tester, Homie Golf
Every product on this site is played, walked or worn before it gets a score. No paid placements, no press-release numbers.
Course reviewed
Bandon Trails
More reviews
9.3TaylorMade TP5x Review
Golf Ball · 12 rounds, 4 courses, one very tired sleeve
By Marcus Santana
This Week's Course Setup: A True Test of Precision, Not Just Power
The subtle nuances of this week's PGA Tour venue will expose who has the all-around game and who's just riding a hot putter.
By Marcus Santana
Putting and Short-Game Trends on the PGA Tour: A Deep Dive
From belly putters to chipping yips, I'm breaking down what's working (and what isn't) on the greens this season.
By Marcus Santana