Bandon Winter/Spring Reviews - When did you stop raining so much Oregon?

[buzlin]

I have yet to par #5 on BD.  Well done Duff.

 

I can imagine how you felt watching your approach on #4 PD going right.  🙂

[duffer987]

1 hour ago, buzlin said:

I have yet to par #5 on BD.  Well done Duff.

 

I can imagine how you felt watching your approach on #4 PD going right.  🙂

Ya with not much breeze and any helping a bit, #5 was 6I/PW into the green the two days, which is a lot easier than some of the years trying to get a 3W or hybrid through that slot.

#4 was the same shot each day, playing out of the left bunkers and the one time is was a dead push over the edge.

 

Agree on it being neat to all walk off the first tee together down to your drives. That's another reason I like OM for that, as you have to be incredibly terrible or unlucky to not have a decent result. Pac as you point out, whole different ballgame. As the the 6th hole it would be a fun go for the green teeshot, opening one of the day in the mist and damp and ya just give me a hybrid 200yds out not in the bunker or rough.

[duffer987]

Due to the fog, didn't get many good pics the last 3 days of the trip, but I forgot to mention the punchbowl. On Mon-Tues they made a single course using the whole green and in a word it was nuts.

 

The most difficult, almost impossible holes we'd ever seen.

 

You cannot make it out from the pic, but they had 25 yard putts with the hole on a ridge and just some truly stupid pins, that had they left it for the end of week yobbos and pissheads things would have gotten beyond stupid.

First time we ever instituted a maximum putts and would move on. Weds on they split it into 2 and left some of the holes, but not all of them, which still meant people all over the shop.

[duffer987]

Went wrong way on phone, have some SR ones - although we've all seen/played it by now I guess?

Have to say their range is an excellent addition. Typically don't hit balls because we're playing enough golf and also because of faffing about with getting to and fro the practice centre before a round, but at SR it's as it should be - a short walk away. Anyhoo...

 

Easiest early birdie chance at the resort:

 

Even for a jaded golfer, that is pretty darn cool (and 'easier' than PD#4 and BD#16?):

 

Edaw68 sighting:

 

Love this approach shot, it's like an easier (sense a theme) version of BD#4:

 

Think #14 can get lost in the shuffle, but think it's the 'best' 4 on the back:

 

One of our 4 went left, which is why you do not see it:

[brianhorne8]

Three weeks out from a quick drive down for Trails in the AM and Old Mac in the PM. I know I'm doing it backwards but I wanted to play 36, so I'll fight the wind in the afternoon.

 

So pumped for OM. Played Trails and PD last year and Trails stole my heart right away. I can only imagine OM is going to do the same.

[duffer987]

2 hours ago, brianhorne8 said:

Three weeks out from a quick drive down for Trails in the AM and Old Mac in the PM. I know I'm doing it backwards but I wanted to play 36, so I'll fight the wind in the afternoon.

 

So pumped for OM. Played Trails and PD last year and Trails stole my heart right away. I can only imagine OM is going to do the same.

Nice 🙂

No trees on OM, so makes chasing 36 easier in that regard. Everything is literally framed so well on Trails and the collection of Par 4s are superb. Nice to be able to get down for the day that's for sure.

[ilikegolf26]

It doesn’t look like it gets a whole lot warmer in February, March, April than it is in even the summer months. How playable are the courses in February or March?

Edited December 28, 2021 by ilikegolf26

[Edaw68]

3 hours ago, ilikegolf26 said:

It doesn’t look like it gets a whole lot warmer in February, March, April than it is in even the summer months. How playable are the courses in February or March?

Generally very playable, unless you're in the middle of a rainstorm.  Some bunkers occasionally have standing water if it's been raining for several days.

[jrg75]

3 hours ago, ilikegolf26 said:

It doesn’t look like it gets a whole lot warmer in February, March, April than it is in even the summer months. How playable are the courses in February or March?

Been in March, April, May, June and August.  To me, generally not about temperature but more the potential for a pretty nasty rain/wind event.  The time I went in March, I had one of the most pleasant days ever there and also one of the worst (1" of sideways rain), neither were apparent on a 3 day forecast.

 

My trips in May, June and August were generally what I expected.  Temps in 60s, afternoon wind, mostly dry.  Personally, going only once a year, I like the added certainty but of course, nothing is guaranteed on the Oregon coast 

[PorkChopExpress]

Feb is a crapshoot. In one trip we were in shorts one day, full on rain gear the next. Only to have SNOW top it on the last day we were there. lol

[duffer987]

16 hours ago, jrg75 said:

Been in March, April, May, June and August.  To me, generally not about temperature but more the potential for a pretty nasty rain/wind event.  The time I went in March, I had one of the most pleasant days ever there and also one of the worst (1" of sideways rain), neither were apparent on a 3 day forecast.

 

My trips in May, June and August were generally what I expected.  Temps in 60s, afternoon wind, mostly dry.  Personally, going only once a year, I like the added certainty but of course, nothing is guaranteed on the Oregon coast 

 

That wouldn't have been March 14th would it? We were a two ball on Pac behind a bunch of 4 balls, so slow anyways and then the wind. And then It starts tipping down on 2 and by 4 the greens were puddling and by 6 it was standing water everywhere. Guy had his missus with him and he said they were going in on 7, so I bailed as well. First time ever doing that - just brutal conditions. Rest of the trip 2 days either side of that was fine.

[jrg75]

10 minutes ago, duffer987 said:

 

That wouldn't have been March 14th would it? We were a two ball on Pac behind a bunch of 4 balls, so slow anyways and then the wind. And then It starts tipping down on 2 and by 4 the greens were puddling and by 6 it was standing water everywhere. Guy had his missus with him and he said they were going in on 7, so I bailed as well. First time ever doing that - just brutal conditions. Rest of the trip 2 days either side of that was fine.

It was actually about 5 years ago but your description is pretty accurate and we were on Pac.  It was my first trip, and the first time playing Pacific......... Not knowing the course, having inadequate rain gear and being generally miserable, we called it on hole 14 not realizing we were basically as far away from the clubhouse as we could be.  Long walk back......The memory quickly faded and I was on the phone with reservations about a month later scheduling my second attempt (gore-tex in tow).

Edited December 29, 2021 by jrg75

[puttnforthe8]

On 12/2/2021 at 12:44 PM, buzlin said:

Trails has the best "feeling" opener imo.  But the "off we go" feeling after everyone has tee'd off at every course is one of the best feelings in my golf world.  Well, maybe not at PD where I always happen to slap a weak slice down the right just short of that bunker.

Underrated comment here @buzlin!   There have been very few other "off we go" moments I have had on my journeys; but I always have them at Bandon.

 

Future Pac Dunes #1 tip - aim further left than your mind can process!  I learned this after some adventures out right.  I now look at this line.  🙂   BTW - this is right now - damn, I wish I was there - no one has gone off in some time.

 

 

 

  

Edited December 29, 2021 by puttnforthe8

[PorkChopExpress]

Love that first tee shot on Pac 1. 

 

Though it's not as tight as it used to be

 

[BG5]

I figured I would give this thread a bump 🙂  

 

I went to Bandon Dunes for the first time in late June a two years ago.  I was there for  8 days and I played 261 holes in that 8 day period.  I also took a caddie every round and that trip probably cost me abouty $7,000 which is something I cannot do every year.  I turned 40 so I was able to justify it with my better half but I doubt a trip like that will happen anytime soon.

 

Now I am having a strong urge to go back to Bandon ASAP and looking at the prices for December and January its very tempting.  I know its a total crap shoot with weather but was thinking about a 4 day trip.  I estimated with flight, food, golf etc a 4-5 day trip would cost me about $1500 all in.

 

My question is that worth it or should I just go for 2-3 days in the Summer months and pay about $2500?  

 

Thoughts on those that have taken trips in december and january and did you ever regret it.  For $100 a night lodging and $100 rounds it seems hard to pass up

[jvincent]

@BG5 if you are OK with the increased chance of bad weather Dec/Jan are certainly good deals.

 

IMHO Mar/April are probably the best bang for the buck in terms of price/odds of good weather/available daylight.

[knock it close]

1 hour ago, BG5 said:

I figured I would give this thread a bump 🙂  

 

I went to Bandon Dunes for the first time in late June a two years ago.  I was there for  8 days and I played 261 holes in that 8 day period.  I also took a caddie every round and that trip probably cost me abouty $7,000 which is something I cannot do every year.  I turned 40 so I was able to justify it with my better half but I doubt a trip like that will happen anytime soon.

 

Now I am having a strong urge to go back to Bandon ASAP and looking at the prices for December and January its very tempting.  I know its a total crap shoot with weather but was thinking about a 4 day trip.  I estimated with flight, food, golf etc a 4-5 day trip would cost me about $1500 all in.

 

My question is that worth it or should I just go for 2-3 days in the Summer months and pay about $2500?  

 

Thoughts on those that have taken trips in december and january and did you ever regret it.  For $100 a night lodging and $100 rounds it seems hard to pass up

My groups been doing thanksgiving week for like 4 of the past 5 years and I've gone the last two. Works perfect for us since it's the first week of the last price drop and we're canadian so no family oblos. 5 days, 4 36'ers, 1 18&preserve. I'd say this year we had perfect weather for 3 rounds, great weather for 4, decent for 1.5 and tough for 1.5. I want to say it was pretty similar the year before and the guys had similar experience before I started joining.  The big issue is you're fighting light, so you gotta be first couple groups and then a quick turnaround if you wanna try for 36

Edited December 8, 2022 by knock it close

[kaschreiber]

4 hours ago, BG5 said:

I figured I would give this thread a bump 🙂  

 

I went to Bandon Dunes for the first time in late June a two years ago.  I was there for  8 days and I played 261 holes in that 8 day period.  I also took a caddie every round and that trip probably cost me abouty $7,000 which is something I cannot do every year.  I turned 40 so I was able to justify it with my better half but I doubt a trip like that will happen anytime soon.

 

Now I am having a strong urge to go back to Bandon ASAP and looking at the prices for December and January its very tempting.  I know its a total crap shoot with weather but was thinking about a 4 day trip.  I estimated with flight, food, golf etc a 4-5 day trip would cost me about $1500 all in.

 

My question is that worth it or should I just go for 2-3 days in the Summer months and pay about $2500?  

 

Thoughts on those that have taken trips in december and january and did you ever regret it.  For $100 a night lodging and $100 rounds it seems hard to pass up

My first trip was the weekend that rolled over Jan to Feb. 3 day trip, played each course 1x and PD 2x (this was pre-Sheep). We finished each and every day in slacks and a polo and never broke the rain gear out once. 

 

[spud3]

If you have the right gear (read: "GoreTex head to toe"), Jan/Feb is fine.

 

If you don't (read: "got a rain-resistant jacket on sale at Dick's"), then your chances of extreme disappointment and discomfort are high.

[BG5]

Gents,

 

I took my first trip to Bandon in 2020 and I was there for 8 days.  I played 261 holes of golf in 7 days and had a riot but spent a huge chunk of cash taking caddies and paying full price 🙂

 

So this time around I decided to book a cheaper trip in November ($100 a round and lodging for $120) and figure how can ya go wrong.  My buddy is out there right now and has had hit or miss weather but the prices are pretty stinking good so even if I get some rain on me it wont be the end of the world.  

 

I could only get 2 days lodging but am on the waitlist for 2 more so hopefully it happens

 

My Schedule is as follows this trip 

 

Day 1 - Pac Dunes and Bandon Trails

 

Day 2 - Bandon Dunes and Pac Dunes

 

Day 3 - Sheep Ranch and Sheep Ranch

 

Day 4 - TBD

 

Day 5 TBD

 

I am excited beyond belief 🙂

[eboettne]

19 hours ago, BG5 said:

Gents,

 

I took my first trip to Bandon in 2020 and I was there for 8 days.  I played 261 holes of golf in 7 days and had a riot but spent a huge chunk of cash taking caddies and paying full price 🙂

 

So this time around I decided to book a cheaper trip in November ($100 a round and lodging for $120) and figure how can ya go wrong.  My buddy is out there right now and has had hit or miss weather but the prices are pretty stinking good so even if I get some rain on me it wont be the end of the world.  

 

I could only get 2 days lodging but am on the waitlist for 2 more so hopefully it happens

 

My Schedule is as follows this trip 

 

Day 1 - Pac Dunes and Bandon Trails

 

Day 2 - Bandon Dunes and Pac Dunes

 

Day 3 - Sheep Ranch and Sheep Ranch

 

Day 4 - TBD

 

Day 5 TBD

 

I am excited beyond belief 🙂

 

Nice! I would qualify myself as a budget golf trip taker but not in the way that I go to local munis.  I shoot for the resorts I want to play in shoulder or offseasons to save some $. I'm 35 and still not in the highest tax brackets as I imagine some others are that visit Bandon are.  I do fine and am comfortable but not sure I could justify July prices to the wife(or myself to be honest).

 

I've done end of Nov/Beginning of Dec and we had a blast.  Played 36 for 3 days straight, you have to get pacesetter tee times then hustle to your 2nd 18 but you feel like you're getting away with something playing Pac Dunes for $50. 

 

I think there's something to be said for where you are used to playing golf as well.  The Californians and Arizonans may not enjoy golf in the conditions quite as much.  Being from North Dakota, it's an upgrade from our spring golf.

 

Since the 1st trip, we have moved on up to shooting for end of February where it's a bit warmer and has more daylight but still have potential.  It leaves a little bit more time to take your time between rounds, maybe even have a sit-down lunch.  

 

 

I'm impressed you could get the tee times and lodging you did inside a year, it'll be a blast. 

 

[spud3]

All of my trips have been during the Nov-Apr part of the year, with the exception of last year's Solstice in mid-June.

 

The thing that really stood out about that trip was the courses play essentially the same in June as they do in the shoulder- or off-season.  Unless you're in a heavy downpour, the only real difference is the temperature and precip, and you just need the right gear for those conditions.  There is definitely a prevailing wind direction in summer vs winter, but there's been plenty of times we were playing in a summerly wind during the winter.  The Southern Oregon Coast is a strange and fickle weather vortex...

[Lefty_89]

Was just there for my fourth trip last week (Sun-Fri) and it was unreal. Sunshine every day, no / light wind...only thing that got us a few of the days were frost delays. 

 

Last year in December was a different story. 7 days with rain during 5 of them.

[mallrat]

Off season golf kind of is what it is down there. I have 16 or 17 trips down there with 1 between the months of April - Sept with the majority being Nov or Feb. I normally go for 3 or 4 days (mostly as a single). I have played more holes in slacks and whatever up top will keep me warm that day vs rain gear. It seems to be on a 4 day trip, 1 day is miserable, but everyone is in the same boat so you embrace the suck, actually some of my most memorable days are those. 1 day of pants and basically a 1/4 zip pullover and 2 days where the rain gear goes off and on but not for very long. 
 

As for the weather, just an example of the fun on bad days. We are a 4some and get to #8 on Pac, already over an inch of rain that day. Green is almost flooded, caddie says to my buddy “just putt it into the river. We get to 9 (pin is on the upper green) but hits a massive slice on his drive into a 35-40 mph crosswind. Ball goes out about 100 yards then starts slicing about 150 yards backwards. Ball ends up in 6 fairway further away than when he hit his tee shot. Just fun good times. 

[jrg75]

3 hours ago, mallrat said:

Off season golf kind of is what it is down there. I have 16 or 17 trips down there with 1 between the months of April - Sept with the majority being Nov or Feb. I normally go for 3 or 4 days (mostly as a single). I have played more holes in slacks and whatever up top will keep me warm that day vs rain gear. It seems to be on a 4 day trip, 1 day is miserable, but everyone is in the same boat so you embrace the suck, actually some of my most memorable days are those. 1 day of pants and basically a 1/4 zip pullover and 2 days where the rain gear goes off and on but not for very long. 
 

As for the weather, just an example of the fun on bad days. We are a 4some and get to #8 on Pac, already over an inch of rain that day. Green is almost flooded, caddie says to my buddy “just putt it into the river. We get to 9 (pin is on the upper green) but hits a massive slice on his drive into a 35-40 mph crosswind. Ball goes out about 100 yards then starts slicing about 150 yards backwards. Ball ends up in 6 fairway further away than when he hit his tee shot. Just fun good times. 

Playing a second shot into upper 9 from 6 fairway with heavy winds gives me cold sweats.  I may have walked that one in to 10 tee box.