Bandon Dunes · Hole 3
Blue
434
White
354
Gold
284
Red
184
The third-handicap hole on the course is a long, demanding par 4 that climbs steadily toward an elevated green perched at the top of a natural dune ridge. The tee shot plays slightly uphill into a fairway that narrows significantly in the landing zone. The elevated green magnifies all approach errors — anything short or thin will tumble all the way back down the slope, while a miss right feeds into a difficult bunker.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
A driver is essential here for most players. Aim just left of center, as the fairway slopes right and will feed a draw to the ideal position. Avoid the right rough, which is thick and elevated, leaving a blind or semi-blind approach to the green. The left rough is shorter and still allows a playable line to the flag. Carry your tee shot at least 230 yards to reach the flatter portion of the landing zone.
Approach
This is the most demanding approach on the front nine. The elevated green is best attacked with a full club more than the flat yardage suggests — the uphill lie will reduce ball flight, and the green sits on an exposed ridge that creates an additional optical illusion. Club to the back third of the green; a ball that lands in the middle will release to the front. The right bunker is the primary danger; a miss left is far more manageable.
Putting
The green runs from back-left to front-right with considerable speed. Any putt from the upper-left portion of the green will accelerate down the slope and can easily slide 10 feet past. Aim to leave your approach in the lower-right half of the green for the most controlled putting angles. Three-putting from the back tier is extremely common — a solid two-putt from anywhere on this green is a real achievement.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The uphill approach fools players into underclubbing — the ball needs to carry higher and land softer than on a flat approach.
- •Short approach shots don't just come up short — they roll all the way back off the front of the green.
- •The right-side bunker is positioned exactly where a slightly pushed approach will land.
- •Don't be fooled by the apparent yardage — add at least one full club for the elevation gain.
Wind Intelligence
The southwest wind hits this hole almost directly in the face, making it one of the hardest drives on the course. Into a strong wind, even long hitters may be looking at a fairway metal or hybrid off the tee to keep the ball under the wind. For the approach, add two clubs in typical conditions and three in a strong headwind. The elevated green also catches the full force of the wind, making soft landings difficult.
Hazard Map
- ▲Deep bunker on the right side of the green
- ▲Steep falloff from the front of the green back to the fairway
- ▲Native rough narrowing the fairway in the driving zone
- ▲Elevated, exposed green that catches the full force of the southwest wind