I have the same fear as you, Jacob! The identity of the Sandhills has changed drastically and it seems to be heading further down that road. Fingers crossed for Stephen's positivity to come true.

Jacob, the article in The Pilot did make it sound like they hoped to keep WP/FF more affordable (now who knows what that means) and accessible to locals. I used to play WP a lot when I briefly lived in Southern Pines but it has gone way downhill the last couple times I played. If you are local to the Sandhills, let’s try to tee it up sometime! There are a few of us FEGC folks here in the Triangle!

Trails is my favorite course at Bandon. It's oddly the most beautiful in my mind despite not being near the ocean. It feels peaceful, and as mentioned, the routing is superb. The par 3 12th is a clunker and numbers one and 18 are just meh (though they serve their purpose moving you from the dunes), but there is not another bad hole on the course. Even the uphill 15th presents a difficult strategic choice for longer hitters. Do you go for it in two knowing there is significant trouble surrounding the green and the potential for a lost ball or take your chances with a shorter uphill/blind wedge shot. Often the amount of wind dictates. Loved this course.

This course is the most impressive piece of golf architecture I have ever seen. It truly feels like two separate golf courses. I absolutely believe you could put someone out there who knows nothing about it and not tell them it's a reversible course and they wouldn't know. The alternate tee boxes are hidden or blend so well you wouldn't know. The greens work coming from both directions. It's truly remarkable what Doak and team were able to do here.

This is an amazing golf course. Perhaps the very best at Bandon Dunes. Great mix of challenging and scoreable holes. Plays well in heavy winds because of the width it provides, and unlike Pacific and Trails, you are still alive the majority of the time the wind blows your ball way off line. Out of position certainly, but not dead in gorse or 2 feet high grass. The third, seventh, and sixteenth are three of the best holes on property, but there are virtually zero stinkers. All have at least some architectural or strategic interest. Agree with Garret, the redan doesn't really work. The false front makes it so that balls must fly onto the green and at that distance in those winds, it can be impossible to hold. Definitely deserving of its two egg status.

This is a clear one egg course. Andy, you are a DMK hater. It scores at least moderately well in land, presentation, and design. Plus there is a fun component that must bump it up to at least one egg. A zero egg rating implies this is just another course. It so clearly isn't.

Looking forward to seeing what Marine & Lawn do to update the accommodations. We stayed two nights at MP Inn and the place was neat but in need of some serious updates. Hope they keep the sunken bar over at PN, just spruce it up.

Am I crazy to have some worry about Mackenzie and Ebert getting their hands on Muirfield? It doesn't seem that much of their work is too popular. Additionally, it also seems to be conducted for the wrong reasons. I don't think an additional grandstand is worth tinkering with the routing of one of the greatest courses in the world. I did mention it in the Course Profile for Muirfield, but I need a link to that video that was done! I thought that was fantastic and I can't find it now. I was very excited to hear about the purchase of Whispering Pines and Foxfire! However, as a local, this just eliminates 4 affordable courses. In an area overflowing with $200 tee times, there are hardly any options for the locals to play..... This was a bit of a downbeat comment... Sorry folks! Anyway, awesome insight as always, Garrett!

Am I crazy to have some worry about Mackenzie and Ebert getting their hands on Muirfield? It doesn't seem that much of their work is too popular. Additionally, it also seems to be completed for the wrong reasons. I don't think an additional grandstand is worth tinkering with the routing of one of the greatest courses in the world. I did mention it in the Course Profile for Muirfield but I need a link to that video that was done! I thought that was fantastic and I can't find it now. Thanks for your insights Garrett!

The big thing that I see different from the boring pga tour set up is how much the ball moves when it is slowing down by the hole. No 1% 6 foot circle around the hole locations Makes the player who can get the straight putt more often a big advantage