Sheep Ranch
Bandon, Oregon
The backdrop to an undulating practice green, the Pacific Ocean, will greet you when you arrive at the Sheep Ranch. The shuttle ride there will make you realize even in the remote part of Oregon, you’re in…. The Sheep Ranch is remote.
Bandon’s newest course (opened June 2020) lies on the site of an old wind farm that ironically shut down because it was too windy (the utility company’s windmills fell apart). For several years after, this mysterious golf landscape was a local secret. People in the know could trek to play an unirrigated collection of 13 holes kept alive and watered by old fire trucks.
Offering unobstructed views of the Pacific Ocean from every hole, Sheep Ranch is now one of the most uniquely Links-style courses you may play in the world, let alone North America. The course sports sand-less bunkers. Due to the wind, sand-filled bunkers would be too difficult to maintain.
Going in, you should know that the wind will always be a factor, but it should not deter your excitement. It should instead be embraced as it offers links golf as it was meant to be played. With no shortage of spectacular vistas, 9 of the 18 greens sit on the bluff’s edge, most appearing as floating over the ocean. The course is routed in a way that guides you in and out, with peninsulas offering the opportunity to play over cliffs on tee shots. Every hole is different, and every hole is memorable. It is the most fun collection of golf holes on the property.
Whether you’re playing The Sheep Ranch at sunrise or twilight, get there early and soak up the vibes. With a great snack bar and comfortable wooden chairs next to a fire pit overlooking the 11th green, it is a great place to chill out before or between rounds. We played at twilight with drinks in hand. You’d be hard-pressed to find a golf course that offers a more tranquil experience.
Public: Course Website | Opened: 2005 | Designer: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw
