Bandon Dunes · Hole 4
Blue
432
White
352
Gold
282
Red
182
Hole 4 marks the beginning of the famous clifftop sequence at Bandon Dunes, where the course pivots to run along the edge of the Pacific Ocean bluffs. The Pacific comes fully into view here, and the combination of ocean air, dramatic scenery, and penal rough demands complete focus. The fairway is reasonably generous but the rough is severe, and the first-time player's temptation to gaze at the ocean view has cost many a good score.
Shot-by-Shot Strategy
Tee Shot
Play to the center of the fairway with a driver or 3-wood. The right side of the fairway edges dangerously close to the cliff edge and its adjacent rough — any ball leaking right will find native fescue bordering the bluff. Aim slightly left of center and let the prevailing wind move the ball back to the middle. The left rough is tough but recoverable; the right rough near the cliff is both penalizing and potentially dangerous.
Approach
The green is set at a slight angle favoring an approach from the left side of the fairway. A bunker guards the left front, so the approach angle from center-right actually provides a better line, provided you have avoided the cliff-side rough. The green has a slight ridge through the middle that divides it into distinct halves — know which side the pin is on and aim for that half. Never go right of the green, where a steep slope runs toward the cliff.
Putting
Read the green from the low side first. The subtle ridge in the middle causes putts to break in opposite directions depending on which half of the green you are putting from. Overall the green drains toward the front-left. Long putts across the ridge require a starting line that accounts for the change in gradient as the ball rolls over the crest.
⚠Gotchas — What Kills Your Score
- •The ocean view arrives suddenly at this hole — first-time players lose concentration and pull tee shots left.
- •The right side of the fairway edges dangerously close to the cliff. A ball in the native rough near the bluff may be unplayable.
- •The ridge through the green causes major breaks that are invisible from the fairway.
- •Wind off the ocean hits this hole broadside — allow for significant lateral drift on both the tee shot and approach.
Wind Intelligence
The southwest wind arrives as a direct crosswind from the right on this hole. It will push any tee shot left, which can be advantageous — or send a ball already aimed left into the rough. For the approach, the wind creates an optical illusion: the ball appears to be tracking correctly but often drifts left of the target at the last moment. Open your stance slightly into the wind to pre-compensate.
Hazard Map
- ▲Pacific Ocean cliffs and bluffs on the right side
- ▲Native fescue rough adjacent to the cliff edge
- ▲Front-left bunker guarding the green
- ▲Steep rightward slope beyond the green toward the bluff