Golf Digest 2017-2018
#10 Old MacDonald
I've only taken a caddy once in my life, and that was a forecaddy at Harbour Town, but when I go back to Bandon, I will definitely get one for Old MacDonald. The 18k square foot greens have so much variation and nuance that a good caddy will save half dozen strokes, and enhance ones experience! 
(The opening hole is named "Double Plateau". As the name implies, being on the correct level is a must otherwise par becomes a challenge.)
Old MacDonald is the fourth course at Bandon, and it was designed by Tom Doak to resemble a classic links course with long views stretching across the landscape. Several holes are almost always in view from each tee, and the golfer can either get a glimpse of what is to come, or reflect on what has happened. Doak also incorporated templates from Charles MacDonald and Scotland courses. It's such an authentic experience, and vastly different from Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes. 
(The third requires a strong drive up and over a towering dune. The long tree acts as a directional guide...
...once over the dune, the hole tumbles all the way to the green. Learning how to hit a approach with dead weight is one reason why I would love to tackle the course again.)
There are several renditions that are presented excellently by Doak. The "Hell Bunker" hole has a massive bunker that challenges the player to get by it in two shots. 
And there's the downhill biarritz with a severe swale stretching across the green. 
Or the "Road Hole" with it's penal and ferocious bunker
These are just three examples of the varied holes found at Old MacDonald.
I found the biggest challenge to be guaging the bounce and roll on the approach shots. In one situation, I overheard my playing partner's caddy say "it's 150 yards but I want you to play it 110 yards". This type of golf is unlike any most Americans have played. It's cool yet at the same time frustrating. 
Balls roll forever, even in the fairway! There are times one must give hazards unusually wide berth, otherwise the ball will catch a slope and scamper into it.
The bunkering is the showstopper at Old Mac. From the rivet faced pot bunkers to the yawning sleeper bunkers, these hazards will strike fear into your game. 
You'll even have to descend steps to get into some.
You'll even have to descend steps to get into some. Old MacDonald does has some flaws. I believe the biggest flaw is the beginning of the back nine where some of the holes can be downright unfair. Usually I would never say that, but there are shots that most players cannot pull off. Greens on rolling plateaus with little chance to hold them means a good caddy will probably give you the right club to climb to the putting surface. Like I said in the beginning, I will get a caddy next time I play here. I give Old MacDonald an 8 (excellent)(worth spending a long weekend).
(View from Pacific Dunes overlooking Old MacDonald.)
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