Random Bandon Thread

[dpark]

They started this project last summer. We were there in July and the bunker complex in the middle of BD#9 was all torn up and was ground under construction. Shame they put a bunker on the right side. That was the "speed alley" to hit a low drive if there was a wind at your back so you could get to the green in two. Sounds like they took that away for the big boys later this summer. Shame that it means no more eagle putts for the rest of us. I know I can't get home from the left side of #9. It's gotta be at least 30 yards longer.

[jrg75]

Sounds like a USGA move for the US Am. Bummer, the right side made that hole so much more enjoyable.

[gambit]

Can’t believe how great the weather was. I was expecting at least one day of rain but not a drop. Hit the ball pretty well even if the score didn’t reflect it. Out caddy was great and if anyone is looking for a caddy I’ll throw his name out there. We had a frost delay on day 2 which threw a wrench into things a bit so we didn’t play Old Mac. Loved the preserve. For me it’s a pretty close call between Trails and Bandon Dunes. Pacific was nice but not close to the other two in my opinion. Third day of walking I thought I was going to die on the 4th hole. Recommendations for first timers...get a caddy, get some exercise in before the trip so you get used to walking, and don’t feel the need to play from the tips. Courses play much longer than the yardage states, especially if you’re into a 4 club wind like we were.

 

Food wise, if you can’t get into the Gallery for dinner you can get the same menu at the bar that’s right next to it. I got wings from McKees the first night and they were drenched in too much sauce and too much breading. They had wings at the bar. Asked for them to be fried plain and sprinkled with salt after. Wayyyyy better. Rock fish sandwich from the Trails restaurant was good. Burger from the restaurant by Pac Dunes was good as well. Wagyu burger from the Gallery is absurdly big. Ask for regular fries instead of the potato wedges or pomme frites.

[mallrat]

I thought it was all DMK making the decision.

[SouthLand]

It's still plenty penal. I was in it yesterday having mucked up my put from 40 yards off the front of the green. Was happy just to get out.

Snagged a last minute invite to fill in for a dropout. Played badly, but the weather was so killer it barely mattered.

[duffer987]

Indeed. With maybe an exception or two, all the changes made the course easier/more playable and to fiddle with something going on 20yrs old, not to host big tournies.

[SouthLand]

 

We played BD and PD.

Cloudy yesterday and foggy this morning, but it burned off today for just brilliant sun and some wind. Crazy playing PD again in good weather. Totally different experience but still an asswhupping.

First time staying in the cottages. Those are pretty sweet.

Some of the greens are pretty beat up. PD 1 was decent in the middle but real ragged on the edges. Almost straight bad. BD had some bumpy spots.

[jrg75]

I suppose but I saw what they did to Chambers Bay before the '15 open, and can't imagine they didn't have some input. I'm not a big fan of their mindset that some of the best players in the world should be limited to a score around par. The bunker addition on 9 seems like their handiwork.

[spud3]

@SouthLand - looks like the gorse is blooming early. Love the smell of that stuff...

Week and a half out for us. The bug is biting hard this year.

[SouthLand]

It was smelling great. First I had noticed that, as it was colder last time for me. Caddy had mentioned that every now and then, later in the bloom, if it gets really warm, 80-85ish, you can hear the gorse popping from the heat and drying out. Wild.

What day are you down there? We're there the 13th-16th.

[duffer987]

I'd not thought about the gorse, we're there in April, so it'll look a heckuva lot different than Nov, lol

[spud3]

We're there 16th-19th.

 

I've said it before - I know gorse is a dangerous, noxious, invasive weed, but it has its charms...

[duffer987]

Absolutely! The way it can frame holes - especially at Bandon where it's not really in play except of really rubbish swings - is pretty neat.

Not Bandon, but what me and Edaw68 had at Moray Old last Spring:

[spud3]

You could drop that right into BD and no one would know...

[Edaw68]

The fighter jets overhead were a clue it wasn't Bandon.

[eboettne]

Got back from a trip Feb 26th - March 2nd:

Almost missed our connection in Denver due to de-icing our 1st flight, frantic sprint through the airport got us to the flight to San FranLoved the flight to North Bend, short and get a great look at the Bandon property and dunescape all around that area of OregonThe shuttle from OTH to the resort was sublime, slamming beers while chatting with new friends made for a memorable way to start the tripPlayed the Preserve the day we arrived and the day we left. That course is a lot of fun. The views are awesome and hole 13 with a putter is a must, all other clubs should be banned from that hole. Staying at the Inn, thanks to whoever recommended room 101. Much bigger than the other rooms from what I saw and had the fireplace(not that we needed it). Great view of 18th green at BD as well, smoking cigars out on the patio with the stars overhead was great. That being said, I think I'll go back the massive rooms at the Lily Pond for my next trip especially if we try to squeeze 4 people in.Every meal I had was fantastic, I think my palate may not be as picky as others here. Meatloaf was great, pot sticks at Trails End fantastic and everything else was enjoyable as well.THE GORSE!!! 1st trip was in December, I won't ever be able to go back. The gorse made the courses look even cooler, helped me appreciate Old Mac more as well as it framed holes much better out there.Courses were in great shape outside of a few greens but it honestly didn't affect me in the slightest. Hit the weather lottery, no more than a 2-2.5 club wind the whole time(usually a 1 club wind), Thursday morning at Pacific Dunes was unreal. Zero wind and sun for the first 4 holes. I appreciated Bandon Trails even more this time even though it was my 2nd favorite course. I also feel like I understand Old Mac now and it was awesome, hated it the 1st time.Old ranking PD, BT, BD, OM New ranking BT, PD, OM, BD

[gambit]

Bag came in today...

 

[dcmidnight]

Yahtzee.

[SouthLand]

Vessel? That's a damn fine looking bag. Let us know how she carries.

[gambit]

Titleist Linksmaster caddie bag. I think I read it weighs around 5lbs or so but it carries much lighter than that. The material seems to be very high quality.

[kaschreiber]

Watch: Bandon Dunes Championship final-round livestream from College Golf LiveCollege tournament on Pac right now with a live stream available. Absolutely blue bird day there today.

[spud3]

Course looks fabulous. We're five days out and this is killing any hopes of getting any work done today...

[dadsfromlockhart]

thank you

PD looked beautiful.

now I’ve lost another 90 minutes I should have been working

 

[beckjg135]

where do you find these bags? i cant seem to locate it anywhere besides old brochures of them online

[duffer987]

I'm looking forward to some gorse-apolooza pics ;-)

Hope the Oregon weather has been nice enough to let you get some pre-Bandon rounds in!

[Edaw68]

There's a lot of yellow on the course cams.

[gambit]

I got mine from the Trails/Preserve pro shop. They had a black one with the Trails logo too.

[SouthLand]

Ugh. My guys all bailed due to WooHan Panic. Supposed to be down there tomorrow morning.

That hurts.

[jrg75]

How did the resort handle the cancellation? Headed out in April and wondering if airlines will be running by then.

[Goose71]

I called yesterday and spoke with them. We are 8 going down April 16 from Vancouver BC and are worried about travel restrictions. They are giving us a 14 day window for cancellation instead of 30 which is nice. Already had one of 8 bail. Looks like it'll be 6 of us going down as Long as Mr. Trump let's us in the country.