Played on 7/15/18. Can't say much more about the course than the previous review. Certainly a very nice course, got the 1:00 PM rate for $60, well worth every penny. Should be a destination course ... Continue »

Played on 7/15/18. Can't say much more about the course than the previous review. Certainly a very nice course, got the 1:00 PM rate for $60, well worth every penny. Should be a destination course if one happens to be in the area.

Sandpines has new ownership as of spring 2018 (same management group). The course is now named Florence Golf Links (for the name of the city). Stayed in Florence the first weekend in June on a 2 week ... Continue »

Sandpines has new ownership as of spring 2018 (same management group). The course is now named Florence Golf Links (for the name of the city). Stayed in Florence the first weekend in June on a 2 week driving trip. Wanted to play as early as possible on Sunday. The tee sheet started at 7:30am and the first several groups were booked. So on Saturday I stopped by to see if I could get out as a single prior to the first tee time. The gentleman working in the pro shop was very friendly. He told me he opens up the place at 7am and I could go out at soon as the ground crew gave him the ok. He asked me if I had played the course, when I said no, he gave me a yardage book and told me I would need it. The next morning I showed up and teed off at 7:20am while the regulars were warming up on the range. The pro shop/ event center was getting a new exterior paint job while I was there. All the staff I encountered were very friendly.

The course has an enjoyable layout with a nice mix long and short holes. Off the tee the course is fairly open with many holes having mounding along the sides. Most of the holes have no trees much like a links course while several holes meander through the evergreen trees. The course is mostly flat with some rolling terrain. The wind is the biggest factor in how difficult the course plays. On a mildly breezy morning I reached the par 3 17th playing into the breeze. From a 142 yards out to a front pin I hit 15 yards off extra club and I needed 20 yards extra club. Water comes into play on several holes.

Condition wise the course was in fine shape. The greens rolled smooth with medium/fast speed. Short iron shots held well while longer shots would release a little. The fairways had good coverage and I had good lies the whole round. The rough was in good condition overall. The length was somewhat penal (mostly on longer shots). The bunkers looked to be on the finishing end of a rehab. Mentioned in a prior review was the under cut faces and long grass edges. The faces appeared to be redone and the long edges mowed down. I was in one bunker and the sand was in good shape. The tee boxes were in overall good condition and fairly level.

Overall the course was worth the $79 visitor rate I paid. The club house was nice. I enjoyed good conditions. Although the layout may not leave you in awe it is very enjoyable and had plenty of variety. The yardage book that was given to me definitely helped. The weather was 60deg. and sunny. The Staff was great!

This course has been on my "bucket list" for a very long time. For whatever reason, I thought some of the holes had ocean frontage. Wrong! The condition of the course was very good overall, except t... Continue »

This course has been on my "bucket list" for a very long time. For whatever reason, I thought some of the holes had ocean frontage. Wrong! The condition of the course was very good overall, except the greenside bunkers, which were all "compacted" The layout was nice, but nothing which blew me away.

The most impressive thing about the course were the people working there. They really seemed to care about the customer and did everything possible to insure we enjoyed ourselves. I got the impression that they liked what they were doing and it showed! Kudos to Sandpines for having such a great staff.

While a little disappointed, I guess because my expectations were so high, I had a great time and enjoyed the round. Playing first off, avoided the winds and we finished in 2:20, allowing plenty of time to explore the Oregon coast for the remainder of the day.

Played Sandpines for the first time 6/27/13. About half the course is carved out of ocean forest while the other half is carved out of the sand dunes. Wind is the primary factor in how difficult the... Continue »

Played Sandpines for the first time 6/27/13. About half the course is carved out of ocean forest while the other half is carved out of the sand dunes. Wind is the primary factor in how difficult the course will play. The course reminds me of Bandon Trails but not as severe or dramatic. It's very playable for all skill levels and the layout is a great mix of long/short par 4s, wide open and narrow tee shots as well as a very demanding group of par 3s. There are 5 or 6 holes that have water (lakes/ponds) come in play.

I really enjoyed the layout and the course is by far the best out of all the Oregon coastal courses outside of Bandon. However, the conditions were a bit spotty, especially considering the course was heralded by several major golf publications when it opened 20 years ago. There's a certain "rough around the edges" charm, but on my visit the greens were very furry (slow), bumpy and had just been treated with chemicals. Another issue was that many of the bunkers no longer had "facings". In general, the bunkers are very deep and instead of sod faces, the edges of the bunkers had either grown over the original forms or sand from underneath has eroded out from underneath the sod. For example, I had a shot from just outside a greenside bunker. While taking my stance, I could feel the ground give way a bit under my feet because there was no sand or soil underneath the edges of the bunkers. I nearly fell in the bunker.

Now the greens conditions might have been a fluke and I just had bad timing, but it definitely took away from my enjoyment of the course. Oregon & Washington residents get a break on green fees, but the course runs deals most of the time via their web site, golfnow or other avenues. If you are near the Central Oregon coast, Sandpines is worth a visit. I was a little disappointed in my visit, but I had high expectations based on all the great things I had read about the course.

I played this course many years ago. Working my way through some Oregon/Northern California courses without many photos or reviews and posting what photos and memories I have.

Sandpines is an exce... Continue »

I played this course many years ago. Working my way through some Oregon/Northern California courses without many photos or reviews and posting what photos and memories I have.

Sandpines is an excellent course. Before Bandon, this was the preeminent Oregon Coast course. Unfortunately, it has been forgotten about a bit with Bandon just two hours south. I really enjoyed my experience here. Wind-swept dunes shape the course and the designers did a great job incorporating the natural elements. Some holes are very wide open and exposed and others are nestled amongst rows of tall trees. Wind can have a big effect on playability. Either way, it has plenty of challenging elements. A rugged, links style layout and a worthy stop if you are ever making your way up or down the beautiful Oregon Coast.

Sandpines Golf Links Course Review
Florence Oregon Golf Course Reviews