Random Bandon Thread

[Double Mocha Man]

5 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

 

Or how about if you work in an office where you dont/cant take personal calls during the day?

 

I can see it now, people are going to get picked and miss the call due to...whatever reason....and its going to be a mess.

 

Also its not really clear how many people ther person that "wins" can make a reservation for. 

 

Well...I am certainly going to enjoy my May 2025 trip on the offchance its a while before I get back LOL.

 

I fondly recall my first trip to Bandon Dunes in 2001.  Called 2 weeks ahead and spoke with a reservations agent in the Lodge.  Booked a room in the Lodge.  Booked a tee time on each of Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes... that's all they had then.

[WestCoastHacker]

I hate to say it but I think this random draw method of booking is probably the end of my going to Bandon.  It's just going to be too diffucult trying to juggle a whole group's schedule without the certainty of a date far in advance.  Add that to the experience degrading and the cost increasing over each of my 4 trips there and I just don't think the hassle will be worth it.  Last time I went there was the end of May of 2022.  Sheep Ranch's greens were borderline unplayable, Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes were freshly punched and you couldn't get near a restaurant or bar without an hour plus wait.  Maybe people who have been more recently will tell me I'm wrong or that it's no longer like that.  I hope so.  My first trip there is still among my best golf trips of all time.  I'd like nothing more than to think that experience still exists at Bandon.

[graveydellic]

On the reservations front - it's complicated because of the demand, at least in peak months.  I have my own ideas about how it should be run, but it ultimately doesn't matter how much of a hassle it is, because it's going to be completely sold out regardless.  Some will win and some will lose.  I suspect they have made tweaks from when they did this 6 months ago, but it won't be a perfect process.  I'll continue to take a December trip because the demand then will likely never necessitate a lottery win, but I do feel for the people that want to get an eightsome in the summer months.  

[ND2005]

1 hour ago, WestCoastHacker said:

I hate to say it but I think this random draw method of booking is probably the end of my going to Bandon.  It's just going to be too diffucult trying to juggle a whole group's schedule without the certainty of a date far in advance.  

 

I don't like this new system either, but you'll still know your dates a year and a half in advance. Seems like plenty of advance planning notice. 

[knock it close]

Well frost hit us and disrupted two 36 hole days but other than that it was a great trip. Got poured on playing shorty's for like 10 minutes but other than that and the frost gorgeous weather. Greens at Pac were exceptional in the morning, OM, Bandon and Trails were all very good, sheep were better than I've seen them but still a ways behind the rest but you could hole putts. Footprints would show later in the day at all the courses as they got hammered the week before we got there with rain. Food was solid everywhere, had mediocre service one night at the Gallery, Thanksgiving in the gazebo at trails was incredible. 

 

My and my one buddies clubs both didn't make the connection so we had to bail on our round at Portland Golf Club on our arrival day, ended up finding a little pub in Portland called the leaky rough and had a very good burger and a half dozen pints while we waited for our clubs to show up. Played Eugene the next day which was really good, drainage was good and the greens really solid.

 

Another great trip, and my body feels exceptional from missing probably 16 holes due to frost and another 18 from no clubs.   

[dcmidnight]

14 hours ago, ND2005 said:

 

I don't like this new system either, but you'll still know your dates a year and a half in advance. Seems like plenty of advance planning notice. 

 

The more I've thought about it the more I think you're right and...its really not any worse than the old system.

 

In the Fall of '23 I got on their email list so I knew when May of 2025 would open up for reservations. I got an email on a random Monday morning in November when I happened to be in Las Vegas. Literally sprinted back to my room to get on the phone, maybe 20 minutes after getting the email. Was on hold for over two hours. I had known the dates our group wanted but also told them I may have to move it up or down a week depending on availability. Turns out we were fine and got the days we wanted but it was still @ 20 months ahead of time to give people notice on the dates.

 

I guess the new system isnt that much worse? Seems like you would want all of your group to enter though and then the one person with the best number is in charge.

 

IMO they are trying their best. Its tough when lodging is limited and every golfer in the world wants to go there.

[bcc624]

1 hour ago, dcmidnight said:

 

The more I've thought about it the more I think you're right and...its really not any worse than the old system.

 

In the Fall of '23 I got on their email list so I knew when May of 2025 would open up for reservations. I got an email on a random Monday morning in November when I happened to be in Las Vegas. Literally sprinted back to my room to get on the phone, maybe 20 minutes after getting the email. Was on hold for over two hours. I had known the dates our group wanted but also told them I may have to move it up or down a week depending on availability. Turns out we were fine and got the days we wanted but it was still @ 20 months ahead of time to give people notice on the dates.

 

I guess the new system isnt that much worse? Seems like you would want all of your group to enter though and then the one person with the best number is in charge.

 

IMO they are trying their best. It’s tough when lodging is limited and every golfer in the world wants to go there.

One post here said this system is worse because a fire fighter isn’t going to be able to accept the call from Bandon if he is putting out a fire. Another post said how will they take the call if they are in a meeting. This system sounds better than the firefighter and the white collar employee sitting on hold for hours and hours like they have for the prior two years. 

[dcmidnight]

17 minutes ago, bcc624 said:

One post here said this system is worse because a fire fighter isn’t going to be able to accept the call from Bandon if he is putting out a fire. Another post said how will they take the call if they are in a meeting. This system sounds better than the firefighter and the white collar employee sitting on hold for hours and hours like they have for the prior two years. 

 

The more I thought about it - I dont think its better or worse. If the fire fighter is putting out a fire, he wasnt going to be available to call and wait on hold under the old system either, so that comparison doesnt really hold for me.

[graveydellic]

The one thing I always wonder - how good is their customer data? i.e. on the backend do they give any sort of preference to regular guests or returning guests.

 

I have had a few people tell me that they have randomly been given small gifts at check in for their 5th visit, 10th visit, etc.  Yet I have booked and gone 6 times in the last four years and never received anything.  An enterprise of their size doing this much volume should theoretically have customer preferences of caddies, tee times, courses, lodging, time of year, dining, etc.  It's the kind of data that drives many hospitality businesses, but I am not so sure Bandon has it down (nor does it really matter given the demand).  

[ND2005]

2 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

 

The more I've thought about it the more I think you're right and...its really not any worse than the old system.

 

In the Fall of '23 I got on their email list so I knew when May of 2025 would open up for reservations. I got an email on a random Monday morning in November when I happened to be in Las Vegas. Literally sprinted back to my room to get on the phone, maybe 20 minutes after getting the email. Was on hold for over two hours. I had known the dates our group wanted but also told them I may have to move it up or down a week depending on availability. Turns out we were fine and got the days we wanted but it was still @ 20 months ahead of time to give people notice on the dates.

 

I guess the new system isnt that much worse? Seems like you would want all of your group to enter though and then the one person with the best number is in charge.

 

IMO they are trying their best. Its tough when lodging is limited and every golfer in the world wants to go there.

 

Yeah for our group trip in 2023 I had to sit on hold for hours. I was very fortunate I had a day where I could just sit in my office with the speakerphone on and do work while I waited. 

 

Last year I struck out on Sand Valley because I didn't have that much downtime, and by the time I got through the season was pretty much completely booked up. 

 

 

[popechild]

8 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

 

Yeah for our group trip in 2023 I had to sit on hold for hours. I was very fortunate I had a day where I could just sit in my office with the speakerphone on and do work while I waited. 

 

Last year I struck out on Sand Valley because I didn't have that much downtime, and by the time I got through the season was pretty much completely booked up. 

 

 

A friend and I tried for multiple months earlier this year. Watched every Monday/Tuesday for a few weeks for the email, called the minute it came in. In Feb we both waited for two hours on hold before both getting cut off around the same time. Called back, phone system error. Spent another hour calling back every few minutes, finally got through, waited on hold another hour and a half, nothing available for more than a single night the entire month for even a foursome by the time we got through. The new method is vastly superior to me. Still lousy odds, but minimal pain. 

 

On a separate note, am I correct that only United flies into/out of OTH? I'm looking for a flight out of there for next Oct 26th and nothing shows up on United or anywhere else, even though all airlines show flights that far out to pretty much anywhere else. Does OTH only operate seasonally? Don't know if I should be waiting for an OTH option to show up at some point or if there won't ever be one. 

Edited December 3, 2024 by popechild

[ND2005]

3 minutes ago, popechild said:

A friend and I tried for multiple months earlier this year. Watched every Monday/Tuesday for a few weeks for the email, called the minute it came in. In Feb we both waited for two hours on hold before both getting cut off around the same time. Called back, phone system error. Spent another hour calling back every few minutes, finally got through, waited on hold another hour and a half, nothing available for more than a single night the entire month for even a foursome by the time we got through. The new method is vastly superior to me. Still lousy odds, but minimal pain. 

 

On a separate note, am I correct that only United flies into/out of OTH? I'm looking for a flight out of there for next Oct 26th and nothing shows up on United or anywhere else, even though all airlines show flights that far out to pretty much anywhere else. Does OTH only operate seasonally? Don't know if I should be waiting for an OTH option to show up at some point or if there won't ever be one. 

 

Yes United is the only airline. The flight from Denver to OTH is seasonal but the flight from SFO is year round. May need to wait til closer to the flight date? 

[popechild]

4 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

 

Yes United is the only airline. The flight from Denver to OTH is seasonal but the flight from SFO is year round. May need to wait til closer to the flight date? 

Thanks, that's helpful. The SFO flight shows every day through Oct 25th (the day before I'd need it) but nothing after that. Maybe they just don't release OTH flights as early as they do for EUG and other places.

[eboettne]

12 minutes ago, popechild said:

Thanks, that's helpful. The SFO flight shows every day through Oct 25th (the day before I'd need it) but nothing after that. Maybe they just don't release OTH flights as early as they do for EUG and other places.

I know they don't release the direct flights from Denver to OTH until that year so I'm guessing you may just need to wait a bit.  I'm going October 15th 2025 and that direct flight hasn't appeared yet either. Fingers crossed they will go that late again, this year the last direct flight from Denver to OTH was October 16th. 

[Double Mocha Man]

3 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

 

The more I've thought about it the more I think you're right and...its really not any worse than the old system.

 

In the Fall of '23 I got on their email list so I knew when May of 2025 would open up for reservations. I got an email on a random Monday morning in November when I happened to be in Las Vegas. Literally sprinted back to my room to get on the phone, maybe 20 minutes after getting the email. Was on hold for over two hours. I had known the dates our group wanted but also told them I may have to move it up or down a week depending on availability. Turns out we were fine and got the days we wanted but it was still @ 20 months ahead of time to give people notice on the dates.

 

I guess the new system isnt that much worse? Seems like you would want all of your group to enter though and then the one person with the best number is in charge.

 

IMO they are trying their best. Its tough when lodging is limited and every golfer in the world wants to go there.

 

So are you taking that call in your car with that state trooper directly behind you?

[knock it close]

7 minutes ago, Double Mocha Man said:

 

So are you taking that call in your car with that state trooper directly behind you?

It's 2024 do we not have bluetooth?

[Double Mocha Man]

9 minutes ago, knock it close said:

It's 2024 do we not have bluetooth?

 

Good point. I do, but a lot don't... I still see lots of phones up to lots of ears. Who is taking notes on the dates, courses, tee times and room reservations?

[StoutKing]

20 hours ago, WestCoastHacker said:

I hate to say it but I think this random draw method of booking is probably the end of my going to Bandon.  It's just going to be too diffucult trying to juggle a whole group's schedule without the certainty of a date far in advance.  Add that to the experience degrading and the cost increasing over each of my 4 trips there and I just don't think the hassle will be worth it.  Last time I went there was the end of May of 2022.  Sheep Ranch's greens were borderline unplayable, Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes were freshly punched and you couldn't get near a restaurant or bar without an hour plus wait.  Maybe people who have been more recently will tell me I'm wrong or that it's no longer like that.  I hope so.  My first trip there is still among my best golf trips of all time.  I'd like nothing more than to think that experience still exists at Bandon.

I also love Bandon but haven't been in years because it's too crowded.  Not going to play the game.  I don't like golf that much.

[Double Mocha Man]

5 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

I also love Bandon but haven't been in years because it's too crowded. 

 

"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded." - Yogi Berra

[ND2005]

18 minutes ago, StoutKing said:

I also love Bandon but haven't been in years because it's too crowded.  Not going to play the game.  I don't like golf that much.

it is certainly more painful to book, but once you’re on site I don’t think it feels “crowded” - the limited lodging really puts a cap on the crowd size. 

[StoutKing]

26 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

it is certainly more painful to book, but once you’re on site I don’t think it feels “crowded” - the limited lodging really puts a cap on the crowd size. 

That was a poor choice of words on my part.  What I meant was difficulty of obtaining reservations due to demand.

[WestCoastHacker]

19 hours ago, ND2005 said:

 

I don't like this new system either, but you'll still know your dates a year and a half in advance. Seems like plenty of advance planning notice. 

 

I didn't do a good job of explaining the problem that my group has.  The last time I booked, I knew I had to call at 8am on January 1 of the year prior to when we wanted to go.  That gave our group of 8 time to sort our schedules and pick a week that works for everyone.  While we had to be "on the ball" on booking day, we never had an issue getting the dates we wanted mostly because we were organized and put the effort in to be quick to book.  I think now the concern is our group can't really pick a set of dates and expect to get it.  We would need to work out multiple dates that work for all eight of us and that is difficult to do.  And even if we get those sorted amongst ourselves, there is no guarantee that we could get them even if there is other availability during the block.  So it makes it difficult to plan.  If you are a smaller group, or your group is mostly retired and without small children, this might be less of an issue.  But for us, I think it is close to making it unworkable.  Take that, and add in the other issues i noted, plus the other excellent golf trip options that exist...Not sure we'll be going through the hassle anymore.  

 

 

[dcmidnight]

Haha, please know I'm being half sarcastic when I say this...but do the guys you are going with have schedules that are already fully booked...20+ months ahead of time? When I sent out my first group email it was almost two years before our trip dates. I said hey, here's when booking opens, here are the dates for a 6 night trip, depending on availability I might need to move up or down a week. And since it was almost *two years* out...no one had an issue. I think thats the only way to approach it.

 

I wont argue against the idea that there are plenty of places you can go...but certainly not like BD. In (almost) 2025, any golf destination  worth going to is going to be booked up pretty far ahead of time.

[WestCoastHacker]

14 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

Haha, please know I'm being half sarcastic when I say this...but do the guys you are going with have schedules that are already fully booked...20+ months ahead of time? When I sent out my first group email it was almost two years before our trip dates. I said hey, here's when booking opens, here are the dates for a 6 night trip, depending on availability I might need to move up or down a week. And since it was almost *two years* out...no one had an issue. I think thats the only way to approach it.

 

I wont argue against the idea that there are plenty of places you can go...but certainly not like BD. In (almost) 2025, any golf destination  worth going to is going to be booked up pretty far ahead of time.

 

Not fully booked, but people know when kids have spring break, when they might have promised their wife they would take a big family vacation, when they generally have work conferences and things like that. 

 

As for where else you can go that's good, I guess that depends whether or not you are confined to public golf options.  

Edited December 3, 2024 by WestCoastHacker

[Golfnuck]

23 hours ago, bcc624 said:

2026 reservations will officially be conducted via random drawings. 
 

 

How Our 2026 Reservations Process Works We have divided 2026 into three reservations periods, each with a registration window and a random drawing to determine the order of reservations requests.

STEP 1 - REGISTRATION WINDOWS Registration is now open online. If interested, please select the time periods you are hoping to visit while registering on our website. You may select any or all periods.    January - April, 2026 Registration closes December 22, 2024 May - September, 2026 Registration closes January 19, 2025 October - December, 2026 Registration closes April 20, 2025

STEP 2 - RANDOM DRAWING  The random drawings for each time period will occur within a couple weeks of their corresponding registration windows closing. We will notify you via email of the drawing date.

STEP 3 - OUTBOUND BOOKING PROCESS If your entry is selected in the drawing you will receive another email assigning a number that indicates your place in line. Our reservations team will call you directly when it is your turn to book. Should you miss our call, we will leave a message and make additional attempts throughout the day.

 

Yeah received that email too.

 

Will be there on my traditional New Years trip and we used to make our reservations in person for the following year.  Now I am not sure how or if I can register us for the Dec 2025 trip or if I have to register now to reserve for the 2026 New Years trip????  Interesting times.

 

Also note we are now a "Bandonista".

 

Thanks for being a Bandonista - we look forward to seeing you out on the links! 

Edited December 3, 2024 by Golfnuck

[ND2005]

34 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

Haha, please know I'm being half sarcastic when I say this...but do the guys you are going with have schedules that are already fully booked...20+ months ahead of time? When I sent out my first group email it was almost two years before our trip dates. I said hey, here's when booking opens, here are the dates for a 6 night trip, depending on availability I might need to move up or down a week. And since it was almost *two years* out...no one had an issue. I think thats the only way to approach it.

 

I wont argue against the idea that there are plenty of places you can go...but certainly not like BD. In (almost) 2025, any golf destination  worth going to is going to be booked up pretty far ahead of time.

yeah when I have booked in the past I’ve asked guys what our target month is and if there are any known conflicts, then we just hone in on possible dates from there. 

Edited December 3, 2024 by ND2005

[2bGood]

On 12/2/2024 at 12:25 PM, WestCoastHacker said:

I hate to say it but I think this random draw method of booking is probably the end of my going to Bandon.  It's just going to be too diffucult trying to juggle a whole group's schedule without the certainty of a date far in advance.  Add that to the experience degrading and the cost increasing over each of my 4 trips there and I just don't think the hassle will be worth it.  

 

I think you miss understand how it will work. If you are booking for 2026, you will still know your date a year + in advance. You are in lottery to get drawn to make a your reservation for a window of xxx months. 

 

I prefer the old system, but this is not that big of deal. Instead of me camping out on hold the day the booking opens up, I will get assigned a day they will call me. 

Edited December 4, 2024 by 2bGood

[WestCoastHacker]

46 minutes ago, 2bGood said:

 

I think you miss understand how it will work. If you are booking for 2026, you will still know you date a year + in advance. You are in lottery to get drawn to make a you reservation for a window of xxx months. 

 

I prefer the old system, but this is not that big of deal. Instead of me camping out on hold the day the booking open up, I will get assigned a day they will call me. 

I don't think I do.  But I did clarify my original post as I was not clear on what our particular issues were.

[oregongolf]

Bandon as a business is a cash cow, but everything leading up to planting a foot on property kinda sucks. Bandon as an experience, especially with a group is world class.

I've just learned to live with the headache beforehand and everything else makes up for it when you arrive. It used to feel like the anti-Pebble in so many ways and most good, but every day it's getting closer. Not just my opinion, but lots of friends who were employees and/or loopers.

 

[StudentGolfer4]

I have been included in a group trying to go to bandon for the past few years. So far we haven’t had any luck. What we have learned is the reservation system works for some jobs and not for others. For our group, the new reservation system doesn’t seem any better than the prior ones. 
 

So far, we haven’t been lucky enough to get anyone on the phone, a call back, selected, or however you want to phrase it. But the idea of getting random dates, even 2 years ahead of time isnt an option for some of the group. One guy is a teacher and needs to go over summer, fall, or spring break. A couple guys work in personal finance so they can’t go during tax season. The ones with young kids cannot travel on spring or fall break because that’s when their families travel together. Then we have some guys in sales than say book it and I’m there. Obviously the demand is there and the lodging is booked years in advance. I don’t have the solution, I’m just another frustrated potential customer.