Random Bandon Thread

[Mikolar]

Just got back and as before, BD is a great place...a bit expensive but the golf is great. There was a lot of watering going on at the Sheep Ranch and all were saying that the course will be open in time for the 2020 Amateur. We were told that all the holes on the Sheep Ranch run east and west so that a cross wind will be normal on each hole, regardless of the usual wind directions. One other thing is that no sand traps are being built on the course.

[dale4ace]

Awesome thread, my buddies and i are heading there in a little less than 2 months (Canadian Thanksgiving). Will be our first time and have read most if not all the threads on here about BD, this is our itinerary and would love any input from the veterans of BD

 

Oct 10 - Arrive into PDX around noon, hit up costco for snacks/liquor and slowly drive into BD (3.5-4 hours according to google maps). If we get there early enough, Range/Punchbowl/ or Shorty's

Oct 11 - Old Mac (7:30 am) / Bandon Dunes (1:20 pm)

Oct 12 - Bandon Trails (7:30 am) / Pac Dunes (1:10 pm)

Oct 13 - Pac Dunes (8:00 am) / Bandon Trails (1:30 pm)

Oct 14 - Bandon Dunes (7:30 am) / Old Mac (1:30 pm)

Oct 15 - maybe one more go at punchbowl/shorty's and drive back to PDX for evening flight home.

I'll be packing 3 pairs of shoes, two sets of rain gear, sunscreen, lipchap, swimsuit for the hot tub, and maybe 12 balls.

I think our tee times are more or less locked in, but would love input on where to eat, lookout spots (i.e. where to get the best photos), which caddies to use and for which rounds, what do i not know that i should? etc...Thanks!

[duffer987]

> @dale4ace said:

> Awesome thread, my buddies and i are heading there in a little less than 2 months (Canadian Thanksgiving). Will be our first time and have read most if not all the threads on here about BD, this is our itinerary and would love any input from the veterans of BD

>

> Oct 10 - Arrive into PDX around noon, hit up costco for snacks/liquor and slowly drive into BD (3.5-4 hours according to google maps). If we get there early enough, Range/Punchbowl/ or Shorty's

> Oct 11 - Old Mac (7:30 am) / Bandon Dunes (1:20 pm)

> Oct 12 - Bandon Trails (7:30 am) / Pac Dunes (1:10 pm)

> Oct 13 - Pac Dunes (8:00 am) / Bandon Trails (1:30 pm)

> Oct 14 - Bandon Dunes (7:30 am) / Old Mac (1:30 pm)

> Oct 15 - maybe one more go at punchbowl/shorty's and drive back to PDX for evening flight home.

> I'll be packing 3 pairs of shoes, two sets of rain gear, sunscreen, lipchap, swimsuit for the hot tub, and maybe 12 balls.

> I think our tee times are more or less locked in, but would love input on where to eat, lookout spots (i.e. where to get the best photos), which caddies to use and for which rounds, what do i not know that i should? etc...Thanks!

 

Let me just say as a bit of a pedant, I LOVE the symmetry of the bookended/inverse pattern for the rounds over the 4 days.

I'm not much of a Preserve fan TBH, but it's worth a look once at least, and could make for a leisurely last morning before hitting the road. That said, if your flights are 7pm or later, I'd try and sneak another round in on one of the main courses.

[spud3]

1. Oregon is a controlled liquor state, meaning you won't be able to buy anything stronger than beer/cider/wine at Costco. All hard liquor stores are run by the state liquor control commission, so prices do not vary much between stores. There is a store in Bandon if you want to reduce the time it takes to get out of Portland. There's a liquor store in the Cascade Station shopping mall (also a Golf Galaxy there) on your way out of the PDX area. Stop there first on your way to Costco (which is a couple miles or so farther on Airport Way).

2. You'll probably need more than 4 hours to drive from PDX to BD, even if you don't hit any traffic. I-205 can get pretty clogged up, even at noon. Plan on 5 hours, then you'll be pleasantly surprised if it's less

3. That's a lot of golf, especially if you're not used to walking/carrying. Trails and OM are the toughest walks, so are good candidates for caddies.

4. All the on-site restaurants have their menus posted on the web site. Try 'em all.

5. Best photo op spots: any ocean hole, especially OM 7 green, BD 17 tee.

 

[dale4ace]

> @duffer987 said:

> > @dale4ace said:

> > Awesome thread, my buddies and i are heading there in a little less than 2 months (Canadian Thanksgiving). Will be our first time and have read most if not all the threads on here about BD, this is our itinerary and would love any input from the veterans of BD

> >

> > Oct 10 - Arrive into PDX around noon, hit up costco for snacks/liquor and slowly drive into BD (3.5-4 hours according to google maps). If we get there early enough, Range/Punchbowl/ or Shorty's

> > Oct 11 - Old Mac (7:30 am) / Bandon Dunes (1:20 pm)

> > Oct 12 - Bandon Trails (7:30 am) / Pac Dunes (1:10 pm)

> > Oct 13 - Pac Dunes (8:00 am) / Bandon Trails (1:30 pm)

> > Oct 14 - Bandon Dunes (7:30 am) / Old Mac (1:30 pm)

> > Oct 15 - maybe one more go at punchbowl/shorty's and drive back to PDX for evening flight home.

> > I'll be packing 3 pairs of shoes, two sets of rain gear, sunscreen, lipchap, swimsuit for the hot tub, and maybe 12 balls.

> > I think our tee times are more or less locked in, but would love input on where to eat, lookout spots (i.e. where to get the best photos), which caddies to use and for which rounds, what do i not know that i should? etc...Thanks!

>

> Let me just say as a bit of a pedant, I LOVE the symmetry of the bookended/inverse pattern for the rounds over the 4 days.

> I'm not much of a Preserve fan TBH, but it's worth a look once at least, and could make for a leisurely last morning before hitting the road. That said, if your flights are 7pm or later, I'd try and sneak another round in on one of the main courses.

 

flight is 3 pm....or else we would! haha

[dale4ace]

> @spud3 said:

> 1. Oregon is a controlled liquor state, meaning you won't be able to buy anything stronger than beer/cider/wine at Costco. All hard liquor stores are run by the state liquor control commission, so prices do not vary much between stores. There is a store in Bandon if you want to reduce the time it takes to get out of Portland. There's a liquor store in the Cascade Station shopping mall (also a Golf Galaxy there) on your way out of the PDX area. Stop there first on your way to Costco (which is a couple miles or so farther on Airport Way).

> 2. You'll probably need more than 4 hours to drive from PDX to BD, even if you don't hit any traffic. I-205 can get pretty clogged up, even at noon. Plan on 5 hours, then you'll be pleasantly surprised if it's less

> 3. That's a lot of golf, especially if you're not used to walking/carrying. Trails and OM are the toughest walks, so are good candidates for caddies.

> 4. All the on-site restaurants have their menus posted on the web site. Try 'em all.

> 5. Best photo op spots: any ocean hole, especially OM 7 green, BD 17 tee.

>

 

Amazing! thank you, yea not sure what i saw previously but checked google maps again and saying 4h 35m...i think 5 is safe like you said, hopefully we can hit some balls before sunset on the first day. We all walk and carry back home so i think (or hope?) we should be good, but if not we may just have to fork up the caddie fee i guess.

Thanks for the great info/suggestion on liquor, i will definitely incorporate that into the drive to hit up the liquor store and maybe golf galaxy.

[duffer987]

> @dale4ace said:

> > @duffer987 said:

> > > @dale4ace said:

> > > Awesome thread, my buddies and i are heading there in a little less than 2 months (Canadian Thanksgiving). Will be our first time and have read most if not all the threads on here about BD, this is our itinerary and would love any input from the veterans of BD

> > >

> > > Oct 10 - Arrive into PDX around noon, hit up costco for snacks/liquor and slowly drive into BD (3.5-4 hours according to google maps). If we get there early enough, Range/Punchbowl/ or Shorty's

> > > Oct 11 - Old Mac (7:30 am) / Bandon Dunes (1:20 pm)

> > > Oct 12 - Bandon Trails (7:30 am) / Pac Dunes (1:10 pm)

> > > Oct 13 - Pac Dunes (8:00 am) / Bandon Trails (1:30 pm)

> > > Oct 14 - Bandon Dunes (7:30 am) / Old Mac (1:30 pm)

> > > Oct 15 - maybe one more go at punchbowl/shorty's and drive back to PDX for evening flight home.

> > > I'll be packing 3 pairs of shoes, two sets of rain gear, sunscreen, lipchap, swimsuit for the hot tub, and maybe 12 balls.

> > > I think our tee times are more or less locked in, but would love input on where to eat, lookout spots (i.e. where to get the best photos), which caddies to use and for which rounds, what do i not know that i should? etc...Thanks!

> >

> > Let me just say as a bit of a pedant, I LOVE the symmetry of the bookended/inverse pattern for the rounds over the 4 days.

> > I'm not much of a Preserve fan TBH, but it's worth a look once at least, and could make for a leisurely last morning before hitting the road. That said, if your flights are 7pm or later, I'd try and sneak another round in on one of the main courses.

>

> flight is 3 pm....or else we would! haha

 

Gotcha. That's definitely a hit the road and GTFO then :-)

[buzlin]

Here's something totally random..................................so how many people knowingly/deliberately use their glutes when walking? Especially uphill? I know people use them while running or sprinting, but not sure how much they get engaged while walking. Anyway, why is this relevant? It can help with fatigue, as the glutes are a pretty large muscle group. Carry on, literally.

[buzlin]

Yes, as Spud mentioned, try them all if they're menus look interesting to you (lunch and dinner). After a few trips, we still mix it up for lunch, but usually end up at McKee's or Puffin for dinners since we're usually too tired and wasted to fully appreciate much more.

[duffer987]

Here's some random :-)

Anyone know if there's a corkage fee at The Gallery? (They make a big deal about their wine selection, so maybe it's a non-starter). I'll ask when I get around to making dinner reservations for our foursome, but was going to bring up a couple bottles for one of my Vancouver-based friends and was thinking it'd be nice to have one of them with our dinner.

[buzlin]

Not sure if this has been posted, but the Golfholics have begun posting their Bandon trip videos on YouTube. They started with BD, posted yesterday. Worth checking out.

[quikblitz]

Just finalized my solo trip to Bandon for end of May! Here's my schedule:

 

Arrival day: should get to the property around 3 or 4, debating on whether to play a round at the Preserve versus just getting settled in as it will be a long travel day from the East Coast.

 

Day 1 Bandon Dunes 7:40 AM Pacific Dunes 2:00 PM

 

Day 2 Old Macdonald 8:40 AM Bandon Preserve 2:30 PM If I play the Preserve on my arrival day may switch this round to something else but looking to have a small break after 36 holes, my feet may need it. Or if I still have some energy after the Preserve may look to get out and play 9 holes near sunset on either Pacific or Bandon.

 

Day 3 Pacific Dunes 7:20 AM Bandon Trails 2:00 PM

 

Day 4 Bandon Dunes 7:30 AM After the round I head out to the airport.

 

Also contemplating getting a caddie for the second round on day 1 and day 3. I walk most of the time I play but have never walked 36 holes in a single day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Edaw68]

> @quikblitz said:

> Just finalized my solo trip to Bandon for end of May! Here's my schedule:

>

> Arrival day: should get to the property around 3 or 4, debating on whether to play a round at the Preserve versus just getting settled in as it will be a long travel day from the East Coast.

>

> Day 1 Bandon Dunes 7:40 AM Pacific Dunes 2:00 PM

>

> Day 2 Old Macdonald 8:40 AM Bandon Preserve 2:30 PM If I play the Preserve on my arrival day may switch this round to something else but looking to have a small break after 36 holes, my feet may need it. Or if I still have some energy after the Preserve may look to get out and play 9 holes near sunset on either Pacific or Bandon.

>

> Day 3 Pacific Dunes 7:20 AM Bandon Trails 2:00 PM

>

> Day 4 Bandon Dunes 7:30 AM After the round I head out to the airport.

>

> Also contemplating getting a caddie for the second round on day 1 and day 3. I walk most of the time I play but have never walked 36 holes in a single day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

I'd say the itinerary is fine. You've got all the courses so you can decide your favorite after playing them all. On day one rather than the Preserve you can also hit the range, shorty's, or the punchbowl, all free but a good start to the trip. Saving some energy on day 2 is a good idea, although if you're already in walking shape the excitement of a first trip tends to overcome 36 hole tiredness. The toughest one looks like day 3 with Trails (toughest walk there) as the second round, so that one wouldn't hurt to get a caddie.

[Gnucastle]

> @buzlin said:

> Not sure if this has been posted, but the Golfholics have begun posting their Bandon trip videos on YouTube. They started with BD, posted yesterday. Worth checking out.

 

Agreed on this. My buddy and I are heading up to Bandon on Thursday - I Just finished the Golfholics entire three part Bandon Dunes series. Pretty cool stuff.

This will be my second time at the resort but first time playing all courses (itinerary below). I am a 7 hcp and am pretty long off the tee - my buddy is a 15 hcp and not as long (usually out drive him by 40/50 yards). Any suggestions on tees for us to play? Both play the same? Different (how is this on the flow of play if anyone has done this?)?

 

Round 1: Bandon Dunes

Round 2: Old Mac

Round 3: Pacific Dunes

Round 4: Bandon Trails

[spud3]

That's a pretty big difference. What tees do you play from when you are playing at home? I think your buddy should play one set of tees up from yours, maybe two.

 

Whatever flow interruptions this may introduce are minimal compared to how miserable your buddy will be trying to hit from the same tees as you. I normally play the green tees, but I made the mistake of playing from the back tees on BD once because the rest of the group I got paired with were hitting from there. Not a fun round for moi.

 

If you want to play the same tees, then you should move up, rather than him moving back.

[newg33b]

I played the Green tees at all four courses. In spite of showing 6200-6300 on the card for each course, I find that the courses play way longer than that due mostly to the wind. I have decent distance (probably 275-280 on average) and had no second thoughts playing Greens. If you hit it that much further than your buddy, he may want to play the Gold tees. Both of you will certainly be able to hit some long clubs into greens based on how the courses at Bandon play. I think the majority of players I saw played Greens, but I played with some guys that played Golds and one that played Blacks on Bandon. There really aren't any big issues with this: most tees are close enough to the previous green that there isn't a whole lot of backtracking 40-50 yards like some other courses. I don't think there's a huge issue with not playing the same tees, although it may not give you exactly the same experience as your buddy.

[duffer987]

> @newg33b said:

> I played the Green tees at all four courses. In spite of showing 6200-6300 on the card for each course, I find that the courses play way longer than that due mostly to the wind. I have decent distance (probably 275-280 on average) and had no second thoughts playing Greens. If you hit it that much further than your buddy, he may want to play the Gold tees. Both of you will certainly be able to hit some long clubs into greens based on how the courses at Bandon play. I think the majority of players I saw played Greens, but I played with some guys that played Golds and one that played Blacks on Bandon. There really aren't any big issues with this: most tees are close enough to the previous green that there isn't a whole lot of backtracking 40-50 yards like some other courses. I don't think there's a huge issue with not playing the same tees, although it may not give you exactly the same experience as your buddy.

 

Agreed. As long as the wind is up greens are more than enough interest for pretty much any golfer on the 'wrong side' of scratch IMHO. We always go greens, seeing as we're always there in winter, and have said if we go in warmer months we'd go black one round just to see, but not because greens aren't enough.

 

TBF, Pacific without the wind is short and bar a couple par 3s and #7 can be a wedgefest... but how often is the wind not up? ;-)

[Gnucastle]

Thanks, guys. This is good feedback. I avg 280 - 300 off the tees at the home course in California but generally pretty gentle conditions - buddy hits ~250 (but he just go the new M6 TaylorMade driver so this may ramp up!).

Going back to the Golfholics video on Bandon Dunes they are decent players and played the tips and from what I recall they had mid-irons and wedges in most of the time (170 - 120). However it sounded like they were clubbing up by at least two clubs in what seemed to be a gentle breeze (10-15 mph). I am thinking this is what we will get as we are only about 1 month behind in timing.

[quikblitz]

> @Edaw68 said:

> > @quikblitz said:

> > Just finalized my solo trip to Bandon for end of May! Here's my schedule:

> >

> > Arrival day: should get to the property around 3 or 4, debating on whether to play a round at the Preserve versus just getting settled in as it will be a long travel day from the East Coast.

> >

> > Day 1 Bandon Dunes 7:40 AM Pacific Dunes 2:00 PM

> >

> > Day 2 Old Macdonald 8:40 AM Bandon Preserve 2:30 PM If I play the Preserve on my arrival day may switch this round to something else but looking to have a small break after 36 holes, my feet may need it. Or if I still have some energy after the Preserve may look to get out and play 9 holes near sunset on either Pacific or Bandon.

> >

> > Day 3 Pacific Dunes 7:20 AM Bandon Trails 2:00 PM

> >

> > Day 4 Bandon Dunes 7:30 AM After the round I head out to the airport.

> >

> > Also contemplating getting a caddie for the second round on day 1 and day 3. I walk most of the time I play but have never walked 36 holes in a single day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

>

> I'd say the itinerary is fine. You've got all the courses so you can decide your favorite after playing them all. On day one rather than the Preserve you can also hit the range, shorty's, or the punchbowl, all free but a good start to the trip. Saving some energy on day 2 is a good idea, although if you're already in walking shape the excitement of a first trip tends to overcome 36 hole tiredness. The toughest one looks like day 3 with Trails (toughest walk there) as the second round, so that one wouldn't hurt to get a caddie.

 

Thanks for the advice. I'm pretty happy with the itinerary. The only thing that might change is if the Sheep Ranch is open for play in May 2020 but that would be a nice problem to have!

[eboettne]

> @Gnucastle said:

> Thanks, guys. This is good feedback. I avg 280 - 300 off the tees at the home course in California but generally pretty gentle conditions - buddy hits ~250 (but he just go the new M6 TaylorMade driver so this may ramp up!).

> Going back to the Golfholics video on Bandon Dunes they are decent players and played the tips and from what I recall they had mid-irons and wedges in most of the time (170 - 120). However it sounded like they were clubbing up by at least two clubs in what seemed to be a gentle breeze (10-15 mph). I am thinking this is what we will get as we are only about 1 month behind in timing.

 

I hit it about 270-280 off the tee and bounce between a 0 and 1 HCP. I played greens my whole trip and never even considered playing back tees. Not that I couldn't but there was never a time that I felt a course played too easy.

[dpark]

> @buzlin said:

> > @wtoomey said:

> > The change to the bunker of Bandon #15!

> >

> I understand why they made the changes, but I don't like them. That hole was a mentally intimidating risk/reward hole. One of my favorite on any of the courses. That said, I love trying to control a cut.

>

 

The change is AWFUL in my opinion. Was there in late march when they were taking it out, and was back again in July when the work was completed.

 

We used to call that bunker the Devil's A$$hole, and it was intimidating and you did whatever you could to avoid being in it because it was pretty much a guaranteed bogey if not worse. I don't understand why they took it out. Maybe due to slow play... I hope that they don't do the same thing on #6 Pacific and take out the bunker left of the green...

 

[dpark]

> @buzlin said:

> Gents,

> I'm starting this thread as a way for us to post random stuff about Bandon. Could be anything, pics, stories, suggestions, whatever you want. I often have things I want to post but don't want to thread jack, and they're not worth starting a new specific thread. So here goes nothing.

> Probably posted before but here are a couple pics of DMKs bag. He was on property for the 20th Anniversary of Bandon Dunes. Don't know if he was out there working on anything.

>

>

I was there and saw his bag too but this was back in late March. He was using a trolley on that day!

 

 

 

 

[dpark]

> @desaille said:

> Anyone know if they will have rough to catch the ball from coming all the way back?

> If no rough, missing there and rolling down, the play could be to bump it up left so you can still have a putt.

 

Hi Charlie! Hope all is going well at PR.

 

When we went back in July, there was no rough, just the standard 2nd cut off the edge of the green. If you land on the green you should be OK because you aren't going to have much backspin, but if you are short, you are going to roll down the hill. Maybe not to the bottom depending on how long they let the grass on the hillside grow.

 

Here is a pic the day they were filling in the bunker with sod. It doesn’t look steep in the photo because of the angle. We were sad that they bunker was going away.

 

 

[duffer987]

Thanks for the update - but that is crap. They've completely neutered that hole, first with the mounding and now the bunker.

It's the 15th hole too, any PoP considerations with 3 holes left after that would be a pretty weak argument IMHO. I'm a hack and felt the courses already skewed 'easy' tee to green - relative to other well regarded courses - and this certainly doesn't help.

[spud3]

> @duffer987 said:

> Thanks for the update - but that is crap. They've completely neutered that hole, first with the mounding and now the bunker.

> It's the 15th hole too, any PoP considerations with 3 holes left after that would be a pretty weak argument IMHO. I'm a hack and felt the courses already skewed 'easy' tee to green - relative to other well regarded courses - and this certainly doesn't help.

 

Agree. This is one change I don't like. Didn't like the mound being taken down, but without the bunker, there's no dire consequence to over-cooking the cut shot into that green.

[Gnucastle]

> @eboettne said:

> > @Gnucastle said:

> > Thanks, guys. This is good feedback. I avg 280 - 300 off the tees at the home course in California but generally pretty gentle conditions - buddy hits ~250 (but he just go the new M6 TaylorMade driver so this may ramp up!).

> > Going back to the Golfholics video on Bandon Dunes they are decent players and played the tips and from what I recall they had mid-irons and wedges in most of the time (170 - 120). However it sounded like they were clubbing up by at least two clubs in what seemed to be a gentle breeze (10-15 mph). I am thinking this is what we will get as we are only about 1 month behind in timing.

>

> I hit it about 270-280 off the tee and bounce between a 0 and 1 HCP. I played greens my whole trip and never even considered playing back tees. Not that I couldn't but there was never a time that I felt a course played too easy.

 

Thanks! Ebo - that pretty much is what I am hearing. I'll go greens too. Weather looks pretty good later this week out at Bandon.

[jrg75]

Great thread, have a question for the true Bandon aficionafos. I'm making my 4th trip to Bandon next April and am thinking about skipping Old Mac. Am I crazy? I've played it on each of my previous 3 trips but BD, BT an PD are so great, I plan to play them each twice. This will not be my last trip to this epic place, I plan to go nearly every year and I will rotate Old Mac in on future trips. Any thoughts?

[buzlin]

> @jrg75 said:

> Great thread, have a question for the true Bandon aficionafos. I'm making my 4th trip to Bandon next April and am thinking about skipping Old Mac. Am I crazy? I've played it on each of my previous 3 trips but BD, BT an PD are so great, I plan to play them each twice. This will not be my last trip to this epic place, I plan to go nearly every year and I will rotate Old Mac in on future trips. Any thoughts?

 

I don't think it's crazy at all. We considered skipping it for our trip next year, but we have two newbies coming, so it's getting 1 of our 6 rounds. When SR opens, there's a decent chance it'll get dropped, but rotated in every other year or so like you're thinking. There's no reason to play it over others if you don't like it as much.

[Edaw68]

> @buzlin said:

> > @jrg75 said:

> > Great thread, have a question for the true Bandon aficionafos. I'm making my 4th trip to Bandon next April and am thinking about skipping Old Mac. Am I crazy? I've played it on each of my previous 3 trips but BD, BT an PD are so great, I plan to play them each twice. This will not be my last trip to this epic place, I plan to go nearly every year and I will rotate Old Mac in on future trips. Any thoughts?

>

> I don't think it's crazy at all. We considered skipping it for our trip next year, but we have two newbies coming, so it's getting 1 of our 6 rounds. When SR opens, there's a decent chance it'll get dropped, but rotated in every other year or so like you're thinking. There's no reason to play it over others if you don't like it as much.

 

Agreed, it's your trip, do what you want. I always recommend to new people to play all 4 courses a couple times, then form your own opinions on the course priorities/rankings. Sounds like you're well past the new person stage and know what you want. There are a lot of people that like Old Mac and will disagree with the choice, but it's your choice not theirs. Luckily on this site we don't get nearly the amount of social media crying over disagreements that other platforms get. Downright civil here.

[buzlin]

Just don't call Bandon expensive and we're all good. Am I right Duff?