Can You Play Bandon Dunes on FSX Play? Here’s How

Bandon Dunes on FSX Play is the best-looking sim version of the original Bandon course available on any platform. But it is the only Bandon course you get.

FSX Play has the original David McLay Kidd design. The course that started the Bandon empire. The ocean views, the fescue rough, the wind off the Pacific — all of it is rendered in 4K LIDAR quality. But if you want Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, or the Preserve, you need Trackman or GSPro.

If the original course is enough for you, this is the best version of it you can play.

Why FSX Play’s Bandon Stands Out

The fescue is the defining feature of Bandon Dunes, and FSX Play’s 4K textures make it look like the real thing. The golden-brown rough, the native grasses, the dunes covered in vegetation — it looks exactly like the Oregon coast in mid-summer. Most sim platforms render fescue as a generic rough texture. FSX Play makes it look like a specific place.

The ocean views on the 4th hole are spectacular. The hole runs along the cliff edge with the Pacific Ocean on the left. On FSX Play, the water engine makes the ocean look alive. The waves break. The reflections shift. The view from the fairway is one of the best in the FSX Play library.

The wind matters at Bandon more than almost any other course. The Oregon coast is exposed. The wind is constant and gusty. FSX Play’s weather engine handles this correctly. The wind changes direction as you move through the dunes. The 7th hole plays differently based on wind direction. The club selection shifts throughout the round.

How to Access It

Buy Bandon Dunes from the Foresight online store. $40-60. Receive a license key. Activate it in FSX Play. Download and play.

Set conditions to firm and tournament wind. Bandon without firm conditions is not Bandon.

The Holes That Define the Round

The 4th: The hole along the cliff edge. On FSX Play, this is the highlight of the round. The Pacific Ocean is on your left. The fairway slopes toward the water. The wind is in your face. Hit a good drive or watch your ball bounce toward the ocean.

The 16th: A par 4 that plays through the dunes. The fairway is framed by native grasses. The green is tucked between dunes. On FSX Play, the visual framing makes this hole feel exactly like the real Bandon experience.

What You Miss

The rest of the resort. Pacific Dunes is the consensus favorite among Bandon regulars. Bandon Trails offers a forest-and-dunes experience. Old Macdonald rewards creativity. The Preserve is a fun par-3 round. FSX Play has none of these.

If you are a Bandon superfan, Trackman or GSPro is the better platform. If you just want to play the original course that started it all, FSX Play’s version is the best-looking sim version available.

The Cost Question

Bandon Dunes on FSX Play costs $40-60 for one course. Trackman includes all five Bandon courses with a $29,490 simulator purchase. GSPro has community builds of all five for $250/year.

If you own a Foresight system, add this course if you love Bandon. The 4th hole alone is worth the price. If you are platform-shopping and Bandon is a priority, Trackman or GSPro gives you the full resort experience.

For the full list of courses worth buying on FSX Play, read The Best Courses on FSX Play. Need the full software breakdown? Check the FSX Play Software Review.