Bandon Dunes · Hole 10
Blue
407
White
327
Gold
257
Red
157
The back nine opens with a refreshing downhill par 4 that rewards aggression after the grind of hole 9. The tee is elevated above the fairway, giving players a clear view of the layout and the Pacific Ocean in the distance. The fairway sweeps gently from right to left and the green is accessible — this is one of the best birdie opportunities on the back nine and a great chance to reset after a tough front.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Take advantage of the elevation change with an aggressive drive. The ball will fly further and roll out more than expected due to the downhill angle. Aim for the right-center of the fairway and allow the left-to-right tilt to bring the ball toward the center. Avoid the deep rough on the left — despite the seemingly generous fairway, the left rough is very thick. A drive of 260 or more yards from the tees leaves a short iron approach.
Approach
The approach is typically a short to mid iron from a level or slightly downhill lie. The green is not dramatically elevated and accepts approaches well. Two bunkers protect the front-left and front-right — the safe miss is long of the green, where a gentle chip back to the flag is manageable. Attack flags that are tucked center; be more conservative with extreme pin positions.
Putting
The green slopes mildly from back to front. Most putts have a slight right-to-left tendency in the back half of the green and flatten toward the front. Speed control is the primary concern — from the back half, putts can release quickly. A two-putt par is comfortable here; birdie attempts are genuine if you have put your approach in the right sector.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The downhill tee shot is easy to overhit — a long drive can run through the fairway into thick rough at the bottom.
- •The front bunkers catch approaches that look good off the club face but fly slightly short.
- •Don't let the relative ease of the tee shot lead to a careless approach — the bunkers demand accuracy.
- •A downwind back nine opener can mean an upwind return on later holes — factor the changing wind into your back nine game plan.
Wind Intelligence
With the southwest wind now at your back or as a tailwind, this hole plays noticeably shorter than its yardage. A driver with a tailwind can easily cover 300 yards, leaving only a wedge to the green. In this condition, many players opt for a 3-wood or long iron to maintain control and avoid running through the fairway. On rare occasions when the wind reverses, this hole plays significantly harder.
Hazard Map
- ▲Front-left and front-right bunkers at the green
- ▲Deep rough on the left side of the fairway
- ▲Potential to overshoot the green in a tailwind