Shorty's at Bandon Dunes Golf Club

Shorty's is a 13-hole par-3 course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, designed by David McLay Kidd and opened in 2019. The course occupies a compact site between the resort's practice facilities and the first tee of Bandon Dunes, Kidd's original 1999 design that established the property. Unlike traditional par-3 courses, Shorty's features holes ranging from approximately 40 to 160 yards, with most playing under 100 yards, emphasizing short-game creativity and ground-game options over aerial precision.

The routing takes advantage of the property's natural dunes topography and coastal wind patterns. Players navigate rumpled fairways, deep pot bunkers, and greens with significant contour, all designed to encourage varied shot-making approaches—bump-and-runs, pitch shots, and creative recoveries. The design philosophy reflects Kidd's affinity for the short courses found in Scotland and Ireland, where compact layouts serve as testing grounds for touch and imagination rather than distance.

Shorty's functions both as a standalone experience and as a warm-up or wind-down option for guests playing the resort's full-length courses. The walking-only format and relatively quick pace make it accessible for families and groups with mixed skill levels. The course has contributed to a broader movement in American golf toward short courses as legitimate design challenges, demonstrating that strategic interest and shot variety need not depend on length.