Random Bandon Thread

[dcmidnight]

On 7/27/2025 at 8:34 AM, ND2005 said:

They don't care about you as an individual. That's not a knock on them, it's just business. Golf demand is at an all time high right now and they have at least 10x demand versus capacity. 

 

They could up their greens fees 50% and I truly believe it would have zero affect on demand. $370 a round in high season is honestly nothing given the quality you are getting. Every course there is in the top 15-20  depending on the list - now look at what the courses around them are charging. Its crazy really.

[TempoTown]

35 minutes ago, VNutz said:

One of my playing partners sacked his caddie after our first round last year. Not a bad caddie at all, they just didn't vibe the way he'd liked. Not something I would have done, but it wasn't my decision. But his replacement was worse, so there's that...

I'll just note I did see the drunkest caddie of my life in my last trip. We noted it fairly early in the round, but we caught up to them on 17 at Pac. He was so drunk he did the following from what we saw through 18:

 

- Slapped his player right in the butt after a tee shot

- Called the entire group "a bunch of re****s" back to us who were waiting on the tee box

- Carried the bags so tilted down that slope on 17 that half the clubs were about to fall out (and may have once he came out of sight down the hill)

- Slurred his words so badly it was hard to fully understand what he was saying

- Lost a player's headcover somewhere on 18, of which the player forced him to go back out and find it in the dark after the round was done (we finished right around sunset)

 

I cannot imagine what the rest of the round was like. I've seen some guys out there who definitely looked on some sort of substance, but this was probably the drunkest I've seen anyone on a golf course, including golfers at charity scrambles. 

 

 

[TempoTown]

23 hours ago, ND2005 said:

Yes, have had a bad caddie. But not egregious enough that I’m gonna badmouth any individuals online. If you are not vibing with your caddie, talk to the caddie master and they’ll reassign you. 
 
and no, you don’t get firm confirmation until you show up. I actually saw a veteran caddie say f*** off when he realized the guy who’d requested him was a single bag. Said he only does doubles and just walked off. And the ones who are more social media prominent are VERY particular about their expected tips. They’ll leave you after day one if they aren’t getting what they expect. 

 

What is the going rate for some of these big social media guys these days? 200 a bag? Or is it even more than that given demand lately? 

[popechild]

6 minutes ago, TempoTown said:

 

What is the going rate for some of these big social media guys these days? 200 a bag? Or is it even more than that given demand lately? 

And how do you know which ones are social media prominent to avoid asking for them? All I've got at the moment is names pulled from random forum posts over the years.

[ND2005]

18 minutes ago, popechild said:

And how do you know which ones are social media prominent to avoid asking for them? All I've got at the moment is names pulled from random forum posts over the years.

 

There are a few that have instagram handles and try to drum up business there. I don't know all their names. But yeah they are usually asking for 200 if you want to reserve them in advance

[dcmidnight]

I dont know how to say this without offending anyone - but if there are BD caddies on social media trying to drum up business at 200 a bag - keep looking. Or randomly pick some from recent trip reports. Or take your chances with the caddie master when you explain to them what you want. 

[fjk]

So any course reports?

[cer5059]

Wonder if Bandon does anything for tsunami watches?

[dcmidnight]

6 hours ago, cer5059 said:

Wonder if Bandon does anything for tsunami watches?

 

The resort or the town? The resort itself is the safest place you can be, waves would have to be, I dont know, 150 feet high to make a dent in those cliffs? And if theres a 150 foot wave racing for shore they probably have bigger problems LOL.

[VNutz]

9 hours ago, cer5059 said:

Wonder if Bandon does anything for tsunami watches?

The entire Oregon coast has tsunami zone warnings in certain areas where the cliffs are lower and thus more prone to issues. As mentioned above the course itself and likely most of the town are in a great spot with the bluffs being so tall. It's the lower areas where the water can flow over that would be in danger. 

 

I think last time there was a tsunami warning there, maybe this winter/spring?? the course was closed down for an hour or two so they definitely have a protocol for it.

[Jeff58]

The tsunami surge series “hit” the Oregon coast around 11:30 PM, which almost exactly corresponded to low tide. Maximum surge height was less than 2’. Typical high/low tide level delta is 4-5’.

[spud3]

1 hour ago, VNutz said:

The entire Oregon coast has tsunami zone warnings in certain areas where the cliffs are lower and thus more prone to issues. As mentioned above the course itself and likely most of the town are in a great spot with the bluffs being so tall. It's the lower areas where the water can flow over that would be in danger. 

 

I think last time there was a tsunami warning there, maybe this winter/spring?? the course was closed down for an hour or two so they definitely have a protocol for it.

There was one the last time I was there, details in the trip report here:

https://forums.golfwrx.com/topic/2031014-bandon-trip-reports-post-em-here/

 

TLDR: Tsunami alert system works great, you can actually hear the town's sirens at the resort.  They brought everyone in (similar to a lightning shut-down) for about thirty minutes, relayed through the marshals.  Talking with a caddy afterwards, he said it was pretty much a clusterf*, as they had no real tsunami protocol.  

 

I bet they do now.

[spud3]

On 7/28/2025 at 6:43 AM, dcmidnight said:

 

They could up their greens fees 50% and I truly believe it would have zero affect on demand. $370 a round in high season is honestly nothing given the quality you are getting. Every course there is in the top 15-20  depending on the list - now look at what the courses around them are charging. Its crazy really.

And eventually they would end up as Pebble Beach North, albeit with five courses; i.e., priced out of the range of all but the most wealthy.  Maybe it's inevitable.

 

I get the efficiency of booking large groups.  From a business perspective, if you're really focused on maximizing profits, it's a no-brainer.  But I have been clinging to the faith in Mike Keiser's original purpose: to serve the Retail Golfer.  Every year, there is less and less evidence that faith is warranted, and stories like TempoTown describes above are a perfect example of that. That scene would have never occurred ten years ago.  I've had my own similar experiences with a large group of Toyota Sales guys who were treating the place like it was their personal playground.

 

As his sons take over more and more of the operations of the organization, I've seen less and less focus on the Retail Golfer.  This gives me less reason to think that his sons are going to carry that original purpose forward, especially once Mike is gone.

 

But until that happens, (or they actually do price themselves out of my range), I'll keep going back.

[dcmidnight]

2 hours ago, VNutz said:

It's the lower areas where the water can flow over that would be in danger. 

 

Good point, I know there are a bunch of tsunami warning street signs on the roads in that town...sort of before you get to the dunes area - in fact I think the art gallery was called the Tsunami Art Exhibit or something like that. I could definitely see it being a concern in that area.

Edited July 30 by dcmidnight

[Pnwpingi210]

I’ll preface this by saying I like Bandon and play it during the winter frequently.

 

that being said it’s kind of becoming the papi van winkle of of golf resorts.

 

it was a good vibe when booking a tee time 6 month or less in advance was reasonable.  It was chill and a great golf experience.

 

the last time I was their in peak season (last year) it was different.  Demographic seemed much less focused on golf and much more focused on look at me I’m at bandon.

[TempoTown]

5 hours ago, spud3 said:

I've had my own similar experiences with a large group of Toyota Sales guys who were treating the place like it was their personal playground.

 

 

 

One other story I forgot to tell.

 

My caddy was talking about a guy he had a couple of weeks ago who was part of a group. He said he usually asks guys what they're playing to handicap-wise, just so he gets a sense of their ability, along with understanding misses, strengths/weaknesses, etc. The guy responded that he doesn't golf. The caddy said "oh, so you don't have a handicap because you don't play enough?" The guy responded "no, this is my first time golfing."

 

So yeah - can anyone imagine that type of story happening at Bandon pre 2020 unless it was a local who just got dragged along for the views? You hear of corporations bringing a big group of people for ski trips and other outings. Expect that Bandon is now that place as well going forward, and they will absolutely get tee times prior to you entering the lottery system. 

Edited July 30 by TempoTown

[dcmidnight]

5 hours ago, spud3 said:

As his sons take over more and more of the operations of the organization, I've seen less and less focus on the Retail Golfer. 

 

I hear what you're saying and get the frustration. But to be fair, that phrase is over 25 years old now. Things/business/life changes. Its been 25 years of people getting beaten over the head with how great BD is, 25 years of articles and videos and reviews about how we needed to go to BD. I think this was inevitable. I dont think any company is doing business the same way they were 25 years ago.

 

Personally I guess its just what bothers you. To me I'm just as bothered by the ubercoolgolfguy carrying his Mackenzie bag and trestle sticks and loudly acting like an jack-a than I am with someone from Toyota. I guess I just dont care where they come from or what group they are with. Chances are pretty good some of those guys are pretty jacked to be there.

 

And...I dont want to say I dont believe some of the stories here. Thats not it. But I think to some extent we're making it cool to complain about stuff like this when the reality probably is, 99.99% of people that go there either dont get bothered by stuff like this or dont even notice.

[dcmidnight]

Also I do want to add - for all the people just lurking in this thread, please dont listen to us. Go to BD. Do everything you can to get out there. Its worth every minute of effort you put into it. Chances are more than good that you will go on your first trip and not notice one single thing out of place. You will go out there and just spend every single minute being out-of-your-mind happy and you will think everyone in here is insane. Just go.

Edited July 30 by dcmidnight

[jpdx]

For sure. Some are there just for a free trip and the vibes. Some are genuinely thrilled to be playing there, one thing for sure though: its a special place. 

[TempoTown]

2 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

Also I do want to add - for all the people just lurking in this thread, please dont listen to us. Go to BD. Do everything you can to get out there. Its worth every minute of effort you put into it. Chances are more than good that you will go on your first trip and not notice one single thing out of place. You will go out there and just spend every single minute being out-of-your-mind happy and you will think everyone in here is insane. Just go.

 

Absolutely. Most of my complaints are more how the influx of these super large groups / corporate outings are, in my opinion, what has forced them to go to a lottery that is very difficult to get into, which saddens me as someone who can't wait to return. But if you somehow luck out in the lottery - you should do everything in your power to get the dates to work out and head out there. It is absolutely special and hands down the best piece of golfing property in the country. 

[fjk]

So how are the greens? Maintenance coming up in a month and change. 

[TempoTown]

10 hours ago, fjk said:

So how are the greens? Maintenance coming up in a month and change. 

I'm a 10 handicap so take it for what it's worth in terms of my ability to notice greens, but I thought they were all excellent except Sheep. We played that first thing out in the morning and the greens were still pretty bumpy. 

 

The only challenging thing we dealt with course-wise was they have a championship coming up at Bandon so all the tee boxes were screwed up (e.g. we had to use the alternate tee on 2, while all of the tee boxes were moved up on the front 9 and back on the back 9). 

 

Playing into 2 from that alternate tee box with the wind was fun though. I had to take a driver...

[Double Mocha Man]

39 minutes ago, TempoTown said:

The only challenging thing we dealt with course-wise was they have a championship coming up at Bandon so all the tee boxes were screwed up (e.g. we had to use the alternate tee on 2, while all of the tee boxes were moved up on the front 9 and back on the back 9). 

 

 

That would be the USGA Women's Amateur on August 6 - 10.  On which course(s) were the tees messed up? I'm trying to figure out which course they are playing that on.

[Swingem]

14 hours ago, TempoTown said:

 

Absolutely. Most of my complaints are more how the influx of these super large groups / corporate outings are, in my opinion, what has forced them to go to a lottery that is very difficult to get into, which saddens me as someone who can't wait to return. But if you somehow luck out in the lottery - you should do everything in your power to get the dates to work out and head out there. It is absolutely special and hands down the best piece of golfing property in the country. 

I feel your pain. Bandon isn't the same experience it was 20, or even 10 years ago. But then it never could be. Keep in mind that many of those "large" groups that get "preferential" consideration have been with Bandon Dunes from it's one golf course beginning. Our group began with 4 guys (now 40), in 1999 and have been every year since. For the sake of debate, from our perspective I could make the argument that our Bandon is now awash in newbs, corporate junkets, and bro's. But I won't. The Bandon experience is still very, very special.  

[VNutz]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

That would be the USGA Women's Amateur on August 6 - 10.  On which course(s) were the tees messed up? I'm trying to figure out which course they are playing that on.

For the 2020 US Am the caddies said that they used primarily Trails and Bandon Dunes. They said Pacific would be too difficult to hold events on if weather picked up.  

[TempoTown]

1 hour ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

That would be the USGA Women's Amateur on August 6 - 10.  On which course(s) were the tees messed up? I'm trying to figure out which course they are playing that on.

We only saw the tees messed up on Bandon, with the black nets all over the place in certain collection areas in the fairway. 

 

The course still played to its full length. It's just that the front 9 was similar to a Green/Gold combo tee set, while the back 9 was Green/Black. 

[TempoTown]

13 minutes ago, Swingem said:

I feel your pain. Bandon isn't the same experience it was 20, or even 10 years ago. But then it never could be. Keep in mind that many of those "large" groups that get "preferential" consideration have been with Bandon Dunes from it's one golf course beginning. Our group began with 4 guys (now 40), in 1999 and have been every year since. For the sake of debate, from our perspective I could make the argument that our Bandon is now awash in newbs, corporate junkets, and bro's. But I won't. The Bandon experience is still very, very special.  

How are you guys handling the lottery? Just having all 40 guys enter? Or once your group gets big enough, can you call in for certain group pricing / tee times? 

[Swingem]

On 7/28/2025 at 6:29 AM, VNutz said:

One of my playing partners sacked his caddie after our first round last year. Not a bad caddie at all, they just didn't vibe the way he'd liked. Not something I would have done, but it wasn't my decision. But his replacement was worse, so there's that...

One year we had a caddie sack his player. One of our guys had his game go sideways one day and he was frankly, an A-hole. We were kind of goofing on the whole thing with his caddie (a cool guy). At the end of the round he graciously suggested that it wasn't a good fit. After he got paid the other three of us kicked in another hundy for his trouble. Then we rode our buddy the rest of the trip for getting fired by his caddie.