What do you give the resort golfer who has everything? It’s a question that some in the business asked when an announcement was made shortly after the Old Macdonald opening in 2010, of plans to add a fifth course to the Bandon Dunes Resort in southern Oregon. Surely four courses, all ranked in the World’s Top 100, was enough to attract fee paying golfers and ensure they not only had a great stay, but yearned to return on a regular basis. Bandon has been ahead of the game since opening in 1999, and yet again the building of the 13-hole Bandon Preserve Course has shown why it’s an industry leader.

Designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw on a small 22-acre plot of land wedged between the dune holes at Bandon Trails and the closers at Bandon Dunes, Preserve is a short course of rare quality. Coore has a habit of pushing the design envelope, as well as the developmental friendship. At Sand Hills he was given 8,000 acres to work with, and famously asked his client for more land so that he could route some of his back nine holes across an adjacent property. At Preserve, he was asked to conceive of a 12-hole par three loop, but after walking the site, encouraged developer Mike Keiser to instead build 13.

Far from the lark that people associate with par three layouts, this instead is a joyful excursion around a beautiful property that overlooks the ocean and boasts a high number of outstanding individual holes. Few of the par threes would be out of place on any of the four proper courses and a handful would be strong candidates for a “Best of Bandon” type listing of the premier short holes on the property. These include the 5th and 9th with their memorable sea views, the blind, uphill 10th and the charming 12th, its green split by a vertical tier and nestled amongst the dunes. The giant, partly obscured double green at the 4th and 7th is also great fun, as is the 109-yard closing hole, which can be played with a lofted club or a putter.

Preserve isn’t recommended purely because it’s short and fun, but because the approach shots hit are constantly intriguing, varied and attack the wind from virtually all quarters. Few places anywhere provide a better test of your short-irons, as well as your putting and recovery prowess. From the shortest hole of a mere 63 yards, through to the 150-yard 2nd, there are only a couple of holes that feel slightly underweight but none that can be played without a smile on your face. The fact that profits go to a local conservation fund makes the project seem even more worthwhile.

Despite the world-class offerings nearby and a reasonably decent green fee, Bandon Preserve has proven enormously popular with resort guests, to the point that it has quickly become essential playing for the vast majority who visit. Mike Keiser has a habit of hitting home runs and of reading the tea leaves to keep his clientele coming back. So it has been with Preserve, the perfect foil for the bigger courses at Bandon and the ideal way for those guests unable to complete 36-hole days to spend their afternoons.