Lunchball
Imagine if C.B. Macdonald and Seth Raynor had access to modern earthmovers, infinite sand, and the Oregon coastline—that is the fever dream of Old Macdonald. Tom Doak and Jim Urbina didn’t just cover the greatest hits of the template era; they remastered them for a stadium tour. This is big-boned golf with acres of fairway width, massive undulations, and greens that require a passing grade in advanced geometry to read. It feels less like a course you play and more like a riddle you solve, where the ground game isn’t just an option, it’s the primary language.
The vibe here is pure architectural reverence mixed with a distinct lack of pretension. It is a tribute album that arguably slaps harder than the originals in places, simply due to the canvas provided by the Bandon dunes. From the ‘Sahara’ blind drive to the deepest ‘Biarritz’ swale on the planet, Old Mac demands you leave your aerial darts in the bag and embrace the bounce. It is the ultimate playground for the golfer who believes the sport was perfected in 1915 but likes the conditioning of the 21st century.
Comparison: 12th (Redan)
12th (Redan)
The American Redan
National Golf Links of America (NGLA)
Architectural Analysis
While NGLA established the template in America with strategic perfection, Old Macdonald scales it up with a Pacific backdrop, demanding a fade to hold the putting surface rather than the traditional draw.