Old Macdonald: A Walking Links Tribute to C.B. Macdonald
Old Macdonald asks what C.B. Macdonald’s celebrated design ideas might look like on the Oregon coast. Tom Doak and Jim Urbina answer with bold template-inspired holes, vast greens, deep bunkers and classic links strategy.
Old Macdonald is the fourth course at Bandon Dunes and a deliberate tribute to Charles Blair Macdonald, one of the most influential figures in early American golf architecture. Tom Doak and Jim Urbina used classic template-hole ideas as a starting point, then placed them in the wide, windswept landscape of the Oregon coast. The result is a course built around angles, scale and the imagination required to play links golf.
A course built around classic templates
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Old Macdonald draws on ideas associated with C.B. Macdonald and the great template holes of golf architecture. The names and concepts are not simply decorations: they influence how a hole frames the target, how the green receives the approach and which side of the fairway creates the best angle. The large scale of the property gives those ideas room to breathe.
Doak and Urbina designed the course to honour the past without turning it into a museum. The holes are playable in the present-day coastal environment, where wind, firm turf and uneven lies ensure that the classic concepts remain challenging.
The ground game is part of the design
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Old Macdonald is a course where a high shot is not always the best answer. Firm surfaces and broad, rolling greens invite players to consider a lower trajectory that lands short and releases toward the target. A ball played to the correct side can open a very different angle from one that simply travels farther.
The wind can change the value of a line quickly. Before committing to a drive, look at the shape of the fairway and the next shot. On a links course, position and trajectory often matter more than the number on the yardage book.
Part of Bandon’s walking-golf culture
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Old Macdonald is one of several distinct courses at Bandon Dunes. The resort’s identity is built around walking golf, natural coastal terrain and a multi-course stay rather than a quick stop for a single round. Playing Old Macdonald alongside Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes or Bandon Trails helps show how different architects interpret the same coastline.
Visitors should plan for walking, coastal weather and the resort’s reservation schedule. Confirm lodging, tee-time availability and caddie options directly through Bandon Dunes before booking travel.
A template hole is only the beginning; the wind writes the rest.
Old Macdonald combines classic architectural ideas with a very modern challenge: a coastal course where wind, firm ground and angles constantly reshape the shot.
Plan Old Macdonald as part of a Bandon stay
Bandon Dunes publishes reservations for its courses and lodging. The resort’s walking-first format and coastal location make advance planning essential; check the current booking terms, caddie availability and accommodation options directly.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Who designed Old Macdonald?
Tom Doak and Jim Urbina designed Old Macdonald.
Who is the course named after?
It honours Charles Blair Macdonald and the classic template-hole tradition associated with his work.
When did Old Macdonald open?
The course opened in 2010.
Is Old Macdonald a walking course?
Bandon Dunes is a walking-golf resort; confirm current accessibility and caddie arrangements with the resort.
