Bandon Preserve
Bandon Preserve is the thirteen hole par 3 course at Bandon Dunes, a Coore and Crenshaw design that tumbles down the dunes to the Pacific. Opened in 2012 with holes from 63 to 150 yards, it has been rated the best short course in America, and every dollar of profit funds conservation on the southern Oregon coast.
Photo: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort via Google.
The verdict
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw built Bandon Preserve in 2012 on a stretch of dune high above the ocean, and it has become the model for the modern short course. Thirteen par 3s run from 63 to 150 yards, each framed by gorse and sand with the Pacific as a constant backdrop, and it plays fast, fun and fiercely in the wind.
It is far more than a warm up. Golfweek has rated it the best public short course in the country, and the design squeezes genuine variety and strategy out of holes you can walk in an hour or two. Better still, all net proceeds go to the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance through the Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation, so a loop here supports the coastline you are looking at. No trip to Bandon is complete without it.
Bandon Preserve at a glance
- Opened
- 2012
- Designer
- Coore and Crenshaw
- Type
- Par 3 links
- Holes
- 13
- Length
- 63 to 150 yds
- Green fee
- Resort guests
Designer, opening year and layout verified June 2026 from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Bandon Preserve is a thirteen hole par 3 course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2012, with holes ranging from 63 to 150 yards. It is a resort course; green fees vary by season and resort stay and are indicative for 2026, so always confirm directly before booking. All net proceeds fund the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.
The holes worth the trip
The Preserve begins high on the dunes and works its way down toward the sea, the routing using the natural contours so that no two holes feel alike. The wind is the great variable, turning a flick wedge into a punched mid iron and back again within a few holes, and the firm turf lets you run the ball onto the greens links style.
The short holes over gorse to greens perched above the ocean are the ones people remember, the views as much a part of the experience as the golf. There is real strategy in finding the right portion of each green, and the course is as enjoyable for a scratch player as for a beginner, which is the whole point.
Played in the evening light with the Pacific below, the Preserve is one of the most purely joyful rounds in American golf, and the fact that every dollar of profit protects the coast only adds to it.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Open to resort guests and the public; part of the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort |
| Green fee | Indicative resort rate; varies by season and whether you are a resort guest (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort tee sheet, ideally bundled with a stay |
| On the day | Walking only; caddies available; dress for wind and weather off the Pacific |
| Getting there | Bandon on the southern Oregon coast, about 30 minutes from North Bend airport |
| Best months | June to October for the driest, warmest stretch on the Oregon coast |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; resort rates and tee sheet policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Almost everyone stays on site at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, where the lodging sits steps from the first tees and the Preserve is an easy walk from the practice area. A resort stay is the simplest way to secure tee times across all the courses.
For a golf focused trip, build the Preserve into a multi day Bandon itinerary alongside the four full courses. It is the perfect evening round to close out a day on the bluffs.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Bandon Preserve.
Build a Bandon Dunes golf trip
We secure the tee times, sequence the courses across your stay and book the lodging on the resort. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Bandon Preserve questions
Who designed Bandon Preserve and when did it open?
Bandon Preserve was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2012 at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon.
How many holes is Bandon Preserve?
Bandon Preserve is a thirteen hole par 3 course, with holes ranging from 63 to 150 yards down toward the Pacific.
Is Bandon Preserve worth playing?
Yes. It has been rated the best public short course in America by Golfweek, and all net proceeds fund coastal conservation through the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance.
Can the public play Bandon Preserve?
Bandon Preserve is part of the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort and is open to resort guests and the public; book through the resort tee sheet.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.