Random Bandon Thread

[duffer987]

Well there's the booking the golf/lodging... then the booking flights/car rentals/working out logistics... then there's 30 day mark. Those are typically the stages for me.

This year we booked our trip while there, so that moment kind of got consumed within the trip. And being in California and driving up, I have to vicariously enjoy the others booking their stuff.

30 days apart from being a month out, is also the time when I lock down my clubs for the trip and stop chopping/changing. I swap out irons now and again during the year and switch putters, just for something to do. But leading up to the trip I want at least 3 rounds in with my go-to gear in the bag.

[jrg75]

Yep, sounds about right. I just locked down my equipment right before Christmas, no more tinkering until after my trip. All my travel reservations are complete, I always love that part. With a little over 3 months to go, plan on working short game a lot then really focus on putting about 30 out. Also getting some decent cardio in. All that aside, I seem to pull up the Bandon webpage and check out course cameras about one a day and watch the videos, think my wife is getting sick of the background instrumental music for the Pacific video.

[spud3]

 

Here's a thread to help with that:https://forums.golfwrx.com/discussion/1416828/things-to-do-while-waiting-for-bandon/p1

[eboettne]

I'm 50 days out and I honestly have little peaks where I get too excited for the trip and have to rein myself back in. Not being able to golf at all beforehand makes it tough too so I focus on getting cardio in, scheduling some golf simulator time to get my swing as prep'd as I can and put my energy into other things like following hockey.

[duffer987]

I can play pretty good with a month off - funnily enough my first post Bandon round came after 28 days off and after going double double start, carded a 76; however, big however, beyond that 1 month sell by date and things have a chance of getting pretty darn sideways. Two or three months off? Ya I'd just want good teeballs and take whatever I get with the rest of the game.

[Swingem]

Ramping up for the next Bandon trip, Feb 20-24. This will be my 17th, with a group that is usually 32 - 40 guys from the NW and Northern Cal. This year will be the groups 20th annual trip to Bandon. My first was in 02 and missed last year due to a layoff. Our crew of eight went to Las Vegas last year, I didn't attend. Soooo looking forward to it. Looking forward to, maybe...getting a look at the new sheep ranch. We played the OG Sheep Ranch probably 6-7 times. So much has changed over the years. When we started going it felt like we had the place to ourselves for the first five years, sheep ranch was a myth to be discovered. We watched Trails ( I fell in love with Trails ), Old Mac and The Preserve get built. Had many epic, post-round drunken money games, with 8-10 guys at Shorty's. It's nice to look back, and maybe it was good to have a year off. I feel my Bandon Mojo flowing again.

[spud3]

32-40 guys?

 

Just curious, do you get that arranged ahead of the normal opening of booking for the year, or does someone have to make the call on Jan 1 and hope there's enough space for rooms?

[Swingem]

Arrangements are made before we leave the prior year. We get some grandfathering consideration I guess. Most stay at Lily Pond. our group of 4 one year, was fortunate to get put up in the grove because they over-booked Lily Pond, and we never went back. I have many great memories there though. The year after we stayed in the grove we started renting a house just off site for our 6-8 guys. Takes some of the load off of the resort lodging so they're OK with it. It's about a quarter mile from the back gate by the Old Mac clubhouse. 4 rooms with 2 queen beds in each, a living room, Chef's Kitchen, dining room, and a pool table / bar room. There's also a putting green / short game area, fireplace and outdoor kitchen out back. Every year since, we've hosted a pre-tournament party there on Thursday night. Good times, and can't wait..

[WestCoastHacker]

Booked a trip for my group of eight guys for May 2021 on New Years Day (the first day they were taking reservations). We have:

2 x Sheep Ranch

2 x Pacific

2 x Bandon

1 x Trails

1 x OM

With eight guys we wanted back to back tee times for each round. Only 500ish days to go...

[dcmidnight]

 

Looks similar. I called in September '19 to make reservations for October '20 and they were starting to book up. 13 months out there were no rooms at the Lodge so get got King singles at the Inn.

Lets see if tables paste in this new editor...

 

[shackmangolf]

dcmidnight - that schedule looks great. My only suggestion is that playing bandon dunes in the evening is awesome as the sun goes down. Also, for some reason Old MacDonald always backs up, playing Old Mac in the am is my choice (plus the wind is worst there). I find a 5th nine on the frontside of Bandon dunes as the sun goes down is a really good (& free option).

FYI - I prefer the Inn over the lodge. The library is chill and fun.

[WestCoastHacker]

I always thought the Inn was the low-key best place to stay on property.

[Cwing]

Swingem, how about some restaurant/ things to do recommendations.

[Swingem]

We make breakfast at the house, eat lunch at the resort (trails has had the best menu in my experience) and we have a group dinner in the St. Andrews room the other nights. We've been into town a few times in the past, and there are some good places, but its been a few years so the selections may have changed. McKee's has always been a solid choice. Things to do? The Bunker Bar is great, we had the place to ourselves in the past but it's gotten crowded now. Now we prefer to be at the house with a top shelf selection of scotch, bourbon, or tequila. A big fire in the outdoor fireplace, Late night chipping and putting competitions, Drunken pool, poker. One year we had 20 guys gathered around watching women's figure skating when the Olympics was on. Take a nighttime walk down to the beach. Go to a strip club in Coo's Bay, Make your own adventure.

[eboettne]

 

Glad to hear this, I had the option of sharing a Lodge King Room or a double inn room and went with the Inn. We stayed at Lily Pond last year and I loved all the space to spread out + the fireplace.

[mallrat]

First time I have ever heard the Coos Bay strip club recommended. Normally it is stay away at all costs.

[duffer987]

One man's trash is another man's treasure? ;-)

[Chanceman]

We are booked in for last week in April 2021. Already have 12 in line to stay at Lily Pond.

Schedule for our six days is Bandon Dunes, Sheep Ranch, Bandon Trails, Pacific Dunes, Old Macdonald, Sheep Ranch.

Interesting I was told that Sheep Ranch would be closed one of the days for maintenance - how's that for forward planning.

We are a bit older 65-70 so we play The Preserve or Shorty's as our second round each day. I might try for a late afternoon 9 at BD or PD though as it is awesome down there on the coast side at sunset.

How do you get so excited about a golf trip still over 15 months away!

PS what will the Sheep Ranch logo be??

[duffer987]

They had SR stuff up in the main lodge gift shop, some old fire truck t-shirts that were a rip off and a few other items. Cannot remember if they had an identifiable logo yet.

[spud3]

When I was there in December, the main gift shop had a little 'Vote for your favorite Sheep Ranch Logo' box. They were displaying three different logos and you got to vote on a slip of paper. I should have taken a pic of the three choices, but didn't think to do it at the time.

[oregongolf]

I wonder if they are the same ones they ran on social media? If I recall correctly, I wasn't too impressed with any of them.

 

It was one of my earliest questions I had for them when they did their Sheep Ranch livestream.

[jjthomp2]

was it put up on Instagram? Would love to see the 3 they're considering

[oregongolf]

Either IG or Facebook. I don't remember for sure... may have been a vote on their story? I can't find it.

[spud3]

I was not particularly impressed with any of the three. But I'm not particularly impressed with any of the course logos...

[kaschreiber]

Our Fall 2021 trip is booked. Had to be flexible with lodging dates already that far in advance. 16 guys staying in the lodge from 10/12 to 10/16. Preserve the day of arrival, Sheep Ranch and Bandon, Pac and Trails, Old Mac and optional replay on Bandon, Sheep Ranch on day of departure. We were able to get 9 from our group last October paid up for their deposits in 24 hours based solely on how good the trip we had was. To echo Chanceman, 640 some odd days to go and our group is already talking about. The place is special.

[jjr]

Exactly 30 days to go, get rid of the winter rust with some practice, punch bowl and we'll be on Trails @ 11:30. Can't wait .

[Edaw68]

I booked an impromptu trip for next week a few weeks ago. Looks like I'm catching a downturn in temperature that week.

[dutz]

My group is going February 26-March 1. I called yesterday to adjust some things. With all the chatter on here about February 2021 I decided to go ahead and book next years trip also. It was a heck of a time to get times already. Staying at the lodge February 18-21. Trails & Sheep Ranch, Old Mac & Pacific Dunes, Sheep Ranch & Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Dunes the last day. The reservation specialist said it is crazy with reservations right now. Our trip this year did get lucky and caught a cancellation on Pacific Dunes right before I called in. She said she had just cancelled it on her last call. Fit our schedule better and allowed us to play 2 full tracks that day vs. Preserve and Bandon.

[slipperyky]

Anyone know if they have foam rollers, massage sticks, or anything like that available at Bandon? Feel like they would come in handy at the start and end of each day.

[eboettne]

Same dates as you, see ya in about 40 days!