If it is true a picture is worth a thousand words, then Sandpines Golf Links would be a timeless snapshot when visualizing what a golf course could be. Located on Hwy 101 on the north side of Florence, Oregon, this Reese Jones design is picturesque in beauty and rewarding in playability. From the white tees (Par 72), the layout plays at 6,110 yards (6,602 yard from the blue) with traditional links fairways and immaculate greens. While it is easy to find unplayable lies or craft your way to a lost ball, this course is extremely fair.
At the 319-yard Par 4 first hole, the straight line of sight to the flag makes your start seem harmless. As you progress, you notice the right side fairway bunker and additional traps surrounding the green. At number two, 300 yards tee to green offers up a scoring opportunity. However, water on the left side landing area and high rough bank side on the right demands an accurate tee shot. In addition, at this course, your short game needs to be on cue. At the second, with water is still in play, your nerves will be tested immediately. Mental relief is available at the 483-yard third. This first Par 5 is a left dogleg. With forest and coastal shrubs on the left and right, playing safe off the tee is not a bad idea. Near the green, sand traps can plague you with any flawed approach. The fourth is a slight right dogleg, 337 yards with trouble lining both sides of the fairway. Trees/bushes on the left, trees and water on the right (mid fairway to the green). If you play here enough, your stomach is starting to knot up on the fourth green because you know what is coming next.
Welcome to the signature Par 3 at Sandpines. The 164-yard fifth hole. This yardage may seem routine, but it always plays longer. Standing on the tee, it is all water to the green. Beautiful. Remember, it can be a two club wind. Walking off this green with a bogey is good news. As you exhale to the Par 4 sixth, stay focused. Another dogleg right, 373 in yardage, your second shot is key here. Uphill to the green with a false front, being conservative is good if you believe in your short game. Next up is the 532-yard seventh. This Par 5 tests every facet of your game. All uphill from tee shot to hole out, driving to long irons to putting, each area will require quality on one of the more challenging holes. The eighth hole is a 174-yard Par 3 which plays shorter because it is downhill off the tee. A massive greenside bunker on the left will create havoc for a hooked tee shot. Closing out the front side is a straight Par 4, 400 yards. A severe slice off the tee is land of the lost with a steep embankment. A solid three wood or hybrid tee shot keeps a score of par or bogey possible.
Each side of Sandpines is equal in style, however, the second nine feels dramatically different. Coming off number nine you proceed up the hill to the tenth tee box. Seemingly out of nowhere, the wind is swirling. At 375 yards, this is a difficult Par 4. Slicing tee shot can put you on the downside of hole nine’s hillside bank and a hook lands you on sixteen’s left side. Ouch. You have done well to a walk off with a five here. Again the wind toys with you on the short 11th (133 yards). A good wedge gets you on the green, anything left is waste area/unplayable. Mirroring the seventh hole, is the 525-yard, Par 5 12th. This is all downhill. Quite open at the tee, the green is enveloped by trees and traps. The right dogleg 13th at 398 yards presents a tough task for those who slice off the tee (hazard area on the right). Two good shots are required here, and three if you have to chip. Above to your next trial of fortitude, comes the brutal 361-yard 14th. Downhill toward the green, right or left off the fairway means chopping out of high rough. With waste area and a bunker left of the green, getting out of this hole with a bogey feels like you just birdied a hole.
With the homestretch nearing, the uphill 15th comes as a breather. At 356 yards, it is not a gift on the scorecard. Playing this conservatively within the confines of your own abilities will have you prepared for the final three nerve jangling holes. After you walk off the 15th green, the 16th hole (305 yards) begins your final trek in a wind tunnel. More often than not this hole plays down wind. A tremendous tee shot to the right can shoot you across the 17th fairway in to the water, and a pull hook has you on the left bank. With greenside bunkers and water slightly beyond the green (right), an accurate approach is essential. Playing the opposite direction on the 142-yard 17th, some days you can be hitting in to a three club wind. Water all down the left side and traps in front as well as in back, without a doubt this Par 3 is about as hard as you will find. Heading toward the clubhouse, the Par 5 18th is relatively short (429 yards). The difficulty lies with water lining the left side fairway all the way to the green. On the right is fairway bunker, waste area and coastal rough (thick and stringy).
Why is this course better than most? First of all, from a golf perspective, it is eye candy. Second, you can get on this course at any time with ease (even on weekends). Furthermore, as mentioned before, the greens are in such impeccable condition there is not a mark on them. Most holes are isolated, meaning you do not see a lot of play behind or in front of you providing a sense of freedom or freewheeling. There is some distance between holes and a cart can be a necessity. Expect windy conditions; anything less is a bonus.
It is on the coast, for many this entails a drive to get there. And a beneficial idea is to get on their mailing list for discounted rates. These efforts are well worth the experience.
There are not enough adjectives to describe Sandpines Golf Links. Impressive, fantastic, exceptional, stunning. Perhaps the best or most accurate would be: special.
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