jaredbragg

Links golf in Western Canada? Well not exactly but its close, and a fun 18 hole set up where you dont hit the same shot too often.

Kings Links is not too demanding off the tee, the true teeth of the golf course is on the greens where subtle undulation, and breaks can lead to a lot of short putts spinning out.

Overall its a great course, and one of my favourite courses in the Vancouver area.

I know a lot of groups who leave Trails off their rotation at Bandon in favor of an extra round at Pacific Dunes or Bandon Dunes. That is a huge mistake!!!!

To me Trails is the most complete golf course at the Bandon resort, yes it isnt on the ocean, but everything else at Trails is exceptional and the ocean is still in view on plenty of holes. No course at the resort is as tough and exacting a test of every part of your game as Trails is. It puts pressure on every club in your bag during the round and requires a plethora of different shots to truly score well. You cant beat it with two types of shots like, say Old Mac can be. The beauty of the walk is second to none perfectly combining dunes, rolling meadows and hill side golf.

We caught it on particularly windy afternoon, playing from the back tees and its as tough of test of golf as there is in Bandon.

Love it, like it, hate it, loathe it, or just skip it!!!!!

Old Mac is a great conversation piece because it is so divisive among people who have played it. Its the one course that is going to have friends arguing all the way home about where it ranks on the list of "Bandons Best".

On my personal 8 man buddies trip 3 guys had it as their favorite, 1 guy had it at 3rd, 3 guys had it 4th and the other guy hated it so much he had it 7th behind Shortys, The Punchbowl and The Preserve. HE REALLY HATES OLD MAC, granted he shot 91 and is 5 handicap.

I by no means have a love affair with Old Mac, but it offers a totally different experience compared to the other courses at Bandon. Giving credit where it is due, the goal of Old Mac is to pay homage to CB Macdonald and the heritage of the game of golf in the United States, and in that regard it exceeds at the highest of levels. Shots and greens, and visuals, and lines have the most distinct feel of Scotland that CB tried to bring to the American game, and with Old Mac they expand on that dream.

Saying that, where I think I fall out of love with Old Mac is that in an effort to make the course "fun" and "more playable", which I totally understand as Bandon is a resort, they have set the course up to be beaten by a player who only needs to be able to hit 2 or 3 types of shots all round to post a good score. It doesnt particularly pressure any parts of your game, and I feel like I hit the same drawing driver tee shot 10 times.

Is it unique, with some of the craziest greens you will ever see? You bet!! Would I ever skip it?? Not a chance. Is it number 4 and holding on my personal favorite list? Yep.