Pinehurst vs Bandon Dunes for a Golf Holiday
The two great American golf pilgrimages, and a genuine toss up for the discerning group. Pinehurst is heritage golf in the Carolina Sandhills, anchored by Donald Ross and wrapped around a walkable village. Bandon Dunes is pure links on the wild Oregon coast, five of the finest modern courses in the country strung along the Pacific. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: Pinehurst Resort, Ralph Daniels, via Google
The verdict
If the trip is about pure golf, Bandon Dunes edges it. Five courses ranked among the very best in America, all within a short shuttle, all walking with a caddie, all set on a stretch of Oregon coast that feels lifted straight from the Scottish links. Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails and Sheep Ranch form the strongest, most consistent collection at any resort in the country, and the experience is gloriously single minded.
Pinehurst is the choice for everything around the golf. The Donald Ross masterpiece at No. 2 is one of the most important courses in the game, the village is genuinely charming, and ten courses plus the Cradle short course give endless variety. Carts are allowed, the weather is milder, and the travel is far easier. Pick Bandon for links purity and the best courses; pick Pinehurst for history, comfort, variety and the easier journey. There is no wrong answer.
Head to head
| Pinehurst | Bandon Dunes | |
|---|---|---|
| Signature courses | No. 2 (Donald Ross, restored by Coore and Crenshaw), No. 4, No. 8, the Tom Doak No. 10 opened 2024, and the Cradle short course | Pacific Dunes (Doak), Bandon Dunes (David McLay Kidd), Old Macdonald (Doak and Urbina), Bandon Trails and Sheep Ranch (Coore and Crenshaw) |
| Courses on site | Ten full courses plus the Cradle; the most variety at any US resort | Five full courses plus Bandon Preserve, Shorty's and the Punchbowl putting green |
| Style of golf | Sandhills heritage golf, sandy soil, crowned Ross greens, pine framed | Pure coastal links, fescue, firm turf, wind and the Pacific in play |
| Walking or carts | Carts allowed on most courses; No. 2 is cart path only and best walked with a caddie | Walking only, with caddies and trolleys, in the links tradition |
| Major history | US Open in 2014 (Kaymer) and 2024 (DeChambeau); anchor site for future US Opens | Hosted the US Amateur and other USGA events; a modern design landmark rather than a major venue |
| Getting there | Easy: about ninety minutes from Raleigh-Durham; most groups fly and drive | Remote: fly to North Bend or drive several hours from Portland or Eugene |
| Best season | Spring and autumn are prime; mild much of the year | Summer is high season; the coast can be wet and windy outside it |
| Who it suits | Groups wanting history, comfort, variety and an easy trip | Purists chasing the best links courses and a walking caddie experience |
Course designers, restorations and major championship history verified June 2026. Both resorts require a stay to play, with premium green fees that move with season; always confirm current rates and booking windows directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Pinehurst if
You want to play one of the most historic courses in golf, take carts when legs tire, and enjoy a walkable village with dining and history between rounds. Ten courses plus the Cradle mean you never repeat yourself, the weather is kind across much of the year, and the short drive from Raleigh makes the logistics simple. It is the more relaxed, more varied and more accessible of the two.
Plan a Pinehurst golf trip · Golf in Pinehurst and the Sandhills
Pick Bandon Dunes if
You want the best collection of links courses in America and a trip stripped back to the golf itself. Five world class layouts, a caddie on your bag, firm fescue underfoot and the Pacific roaring beside you. It asks for a walking week and a travel day at each end, and rewards you with the closest thing to a Scottish links pilgrimage on the western side of the Atlantic.
Plan your American golf pilgrimage
Pinehurst, Bandon Dunes or a tour that links the great US resorts. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge secures the tee times, the lodging and the caddies, then costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Pinehurst vs Bandon Dunes questions
Is Pinehurst or Bandon Dunes better for a golf trip?
Both are bucket list American golf resorts, and the choice comes down to style. Pinehurst is heritage golf in the North Carolina Sandhills, anchored by Donald Ross's No. 2 and a charming, walkable village, with carts allowed and easier travel. Bandon Dunes is pure walking links on the wild Oregon coast, home to five courses ranked among the best in the country. Choose Pinehurst for history, comfort and variety, Bandon for links purity and the finest collection of modern links courses in America.
How many courses are there at Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes?
Pinehurst has ten courses, from Donald Ross originals to the new Tom Doak designed No. 10, opened in 2024, plus the Cradle short course. Bandon Dunes has five full courses, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails and Sheep Ranch, alongside the Bandon Preserve par 3 course, Shorty's and the Punchbowl putting green. Pinehurst offers more variety, while Bandon's five are remarkably consistent in quality.
Is Pinehurst or Bandon Dunes easier to get to?
Pinehurst is the easier journey. It sits a short drive from regional airports, with Raleigh-Durham about ninety minutes away, so most groups fly in and drive. Bandon Dunes is deliberately remote on the southern Oregon coast; you fly to the small North Bend airport or drive several hours from Portland or Eugene. Bandon's isolation is part of its appeal, but it adds a travel day at each end.
Do you have to walk at Pinehurst and Bandon Dunes?
At Bandon Dunes, yes. It is a walking only resort, with caddies and trolleys, in keeping with its links philosophy. Pinehurst allows carts on its courses, though No. 2 is cart path only and walking with a caddie is the classic way to play it. If walking thirty six holes a day is a concern, Pinehurst is the more forgiving choice; if you relish a caddie and a links walk, Bandon is built for it.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts and major championship history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.