Bandon Dunes · Hole 11
Blue
167
White
87
Gold
117
Red
117
The easiest-rated hole on the course is a short par 3, but don't let the handicap number fool you. Hole 11 has a deeply deceptive green that rewards only a precise tee shot. The green is split by an internal ridge, creating two distinct putting surfaces that require very different approaches depending on pin position. Getting to the wrong half of the green is a near-guaranteed three-putt situation.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Club selection is straightforward in calm conditions — a mid iron to short iron for most players. The real challenge is landing on the correct half of the green. Study the pin position from the tee: if the flag is on the left, aim left; if it is on the right, aim right. Landing on the wrong side of the ridge means a lengthy, treacherous putt over the break. The bunker on the right is deep — better to miss left where the rough is manageable.
Putting
The ridge through the middle of the green is the defining feature. Putts that cross the ridge change direction dramatically. From the upper-left half, the break runs significantly right toward the lower portion. From the lower-right, putts tracking toward the upper half will stop and redirect. Treat this as effectively two separate greens and read your putt from the correct half only.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The handicap rating of 18 (easiest) is deeply misleading — the three-putt potential here is as high as any hole on the course.
- •The ridge in the green is subtle from the tee but catastrophic in terms of putting when you end up on the wrong side.
- •The right-side bunker is well positioned to catch the natural flight of a draw that misses the green.
- •Players who par this hole without a three-putt scare are doing very well — don't be complacent.
Wind Intelligence
The southwest wind tends to arrive as a slight crosswind at this hole. The relatively short yardage means wind is less of a club-selection issue and more of an alignment issue. Adjust your aim upwind to compensate for drift. In a strong crosswind, the ball can drift an entire club's width from your target, so pre-set your aim before addressing the ball.
Hazard Map
- ▲Deep bunker on the right side of the green
- ▲Internal ridge dividing the green into two separate putting surfaces
- ▲Rough on the left side of the green that can feed toward a difficult chip angle