Bandon Dunes in January?

[BG5]

Gents,

I am thinking about taking my 2nd trip to Bandon Dunes in early January.....mainly because I can do a trip for cheap.  I was lucky enough to go to Bandon Dunes for 8 days a few years ago in June and we had great weather.  I played at least 36 holes each day on that trip but the issue was by the time I got done (I used caddies on all rounds) I spent around $7000 which was well worth it but a ton of cash.

 

So now I want to go back to Bandon but want to do it more budget friendly.  If I go in January I can arrive on Monday (have enough time to play 9 or the par 3) and leave on a Friday and still have enough time for a round on the day I leave.  So basically arrive in Bandon on a Monday and leave on a friday with 5 rounds of golf (1 each day but first day might only get in 13 holes).  Total cost with airfare, rental car, loding and golf is about $1150 and I think if I dont go crazy on food I could do the entire trip for like $1400 which is pretty good considering I will have 5 days to golf.

 

The big issue is the weather....I dont expect it to be perfect.....I am not gonna try to play 36 any day so only planning on 18 because I want flexability with weather.  

 

Thoughts....does this seem like a good deal?  Worth the risk with weather?  Any feedback from people who go in January

[jvincent]

As you note, it's a risk call on the weather. If you are going by yourself you can just watch the forecast and book last minute.

 

As a single you should have no problem getting tee times. I've done last minute in November before as a two-some and we had no issues getting times that allowed us to get 36-day.

 

You'll probably need to stay off property, but that's not a big deal and may actually save you some money.

[dan360]

The weather is sort of what makes it.  Summer can be gorgeous, winter can be too if you catch a break but otherwise, embrace the wind, rain, and links golf!

 

Take good rain gear, extra socks, rain grip gloves, and a positive attitude.  

[mallrat]

I was talking with a buddy about this yesterday. The vast majority of people we know go between Nov & Feb. The groups range from solo (normally me) to his group of 16 every Feb. I normally go for 3 days his group does 5. On average it works out to 1 horrible day, 1 good/great day and a couple average rainy days. 

[jrg75]

It's a decent idea and one I've thought about myself to save some money.  I don't mind playing in poor weather but the thing that kept me from booking a January trip was the lack of daylight.  Part of my favorite part of Bandon is playing from sunup to sundown, 36+ if I can get it.  Tough to do in January and while the resort is cool, last thing I want is a quick 18 followed by killing lots of time while not golfing.  My suggestion is April....been going that month the last few years and it's perfect.  Plenty of daylight for 36 holes, weather is decently predictable (played in shorts last year) and the cost is easily 60% of peak, especially if you consider replays.

[BG5]

Waiting till the last minute is not a bad idea.  I will be going with a buddy but i cannot imagine tee times being an issue as long as we are flexible

[Edaw68]

I’ve had gorgeous weather in January and lousy weather. Both times still fun. Bring your gear and a good attitude.  Worth the risk.

[spud3]

+1 on all comments above.  January is a crapshoot, but way worth the risk.  Biggest risk are frost delays.  Replays are really cheap, so set up a full round as early as you can and then play short loops on whatever course is most open til it gets dark.

 

If there's no rooms available, stay in town and just use that as a place to sleep.  The resort is only about ten minutes away.

[knock it close]

17 hours ago, mallrat said:

I was talking with a buddy about this yesterday. The vast majority of people we know go between Nov & Feb. The groups range from solo (normally me) to his group of 16 every Feb. I normally go for 3 days his group does 5. On average it works out to 1 horrible day, 1 good/great day and a couple average rainy days. 

Ya I'll echo that, we go thanksgiving out of the 20 rounds in the past two years we've had 3 horrendous, 3 not great, 4 perfect perfect rounds, and the other 10 somewhere in between ok and good weather. 

[BG5]

1 hour ago, knock it close said:

Ya I'll echo that, we go thanksgiving out of the 20 rounds in the past two years we've had 3 horrendous, 3 not great, 4 perfect perfect rounds, and the other 10 somewhere in between ok and good weather. 

 

I feel like its worth rolling the dice.  I will be there to golf for 5 days so hopefully I can at least get 2 really good days of weather.  I guess out there ya never know 🙂

[jjr]

1st week of February pre pandemic 2020, my buddy and I played 4 days , 18, 13 preserve and an extra 9, for 3 days, our last day at Old Mac it rained pretty good on 16 & 17 otherwise it was wonderful weather. I planned the trip based on the past 5 years weather history in Feb, not sure id anyone agrees with my planning, maybe we got lucky. 

Edited November 8, 2023 by jjr

[kaschreiber]

first trip I took was the end of Jan into Feb - we had 0 rain, ended each day in short sleeves. I think the time of year you're talking about is the best kept secret to those that know. do it. 

[eboettne]

I used to think February was the best kept secret until my trip got cancelled due to a snowstorm at Bandon this year.  The guys that I was going with agreed we'd sack up and pay for May next trip.  Would allow us to only take 2 flights instead of 3 as well.

[Prudacris]

totally worth the risk.  went last year for the first time. first week of january. 1 day of absolute raining sideways. 2 days of on off rain, 1 day was gorgeous and mild. 

[mallrat]

On 11/5/2023 at 5:05 PM, jrg75 said:

It's a decent idea and one I've thought about myself to save some money.  I don't mind playing in poor weather but the thing that kept me from booking a January trip was the lack of daylight.  Part of my favorite part of Bandon is playing from sunup to sundown, 36+ if I can get it.  Tough to do in January and while the resort is cool, last thing I want is a quick 18 followed by killing lots of time while not golfing.  My suggestion is April....been going that month the last few years and it's perfect.  Plenty of daylight for 36 holes, weather is decently predictable (played in shorts last year) and the cost is easily 60% of peak, especially if you consider replays.

36 is very possible, fwiw. I generally ended up playing 27 or so. Often the 1st tee times are booked which makes 36 really hard. So if you don’t mind an extra 9 - 13/14 is possible almost every day. Surprisingly enough, the majority there are of the opposite mindset as you. Most are there to sleep in and stay up late drinking. 

[byoshio82]

Staff say January is the best time to go. However I have been in January and February when I lived in Oregon a handful of times and I’ve played in shorts one day and full rain gear the next. Other times I have had to wear winter gear one day and then next it was like a windy fall day. 
 

crap shoot for sure but for the cost it’s hard to beat and you get to experience Bandon at its max experience with full weather. Make sure you got a place with a hot tub and you’re golden!

[jrg75]

4 hours ago, mallrat said:

36 is very possible, fwiw. I generally ended up playing 27 or so. Often the 1st tee times are booked which makes 36 really hard. So if you don’t mind an extra 9 - 13/14 is possible almost every day. Surprisingly enough, the majority there are of the opposite mindset as you. Most are there to sleep in and stay up late drinking. 

Fair enough and I can see the draw of January, unbelievable value if you get decent weather.  Wish I lived close where I could watch the weather and if I saw a nice 2-3 stretch, drive and take advantage of January, even if I only got 18, maybe 27 a day.  Locals have it made. For me, it's a full day of travel each way and I plan 18+ months in advance.  I like the added reliability and extra daylight that April gives me.

[mallrat]

21 hours ago, jrg75 said:

Fair enough and I can see the draw of January, unbelievable value if you get decent weather.  Wish I lived close where I could watch the weather and if I saw a nice 2-3 stretch, drive and take advantage of January, even if I only got 18, maybe 27 a day.  Locals have it made. For me, it's a full day of travel each way and I plan 18+ months in advance.  I like the added reliability and extra daylight that April gives me.

 

I think that’s the key though, being able to do that. I can see not wanting to chance it if you are traveling. 

[ND2005]

12 hours ago, mallrat said:

 

I think that’s the key though, being able to do that. I can see not wanting to chance it if you are traveling. 

 

It's too far a trip for me to be willing to risk it. Peak season rates are higher for a reason. Been the past two Augusts and have never even had to put on my rain gear. 

[BG5]

When guys go in January what would be the minimum amount of days you would want to golf?  4 days?

[spud3]

As many days as you can afford.  3 days is enough to get all the courses in, as long as you can get a early start time each day and there are no frost delays.  4 gets you a better chance of getting a good weather day or two, but the weather is always a matter of luck.

[BG5]

17 minutes ago, spud3 said:

As many days as you can afford.  3 days is enough to get all the courses in, as long as you can get a early start time each day and there are no frost delays.  4 gets you a better chance of getting a good weather day or two, but the weather is always a matter of luck.

 

 

Yeah the weather scares me a bit but the price is to good......I have free points with flights so I dont have to pay for a flight which is huge.  I can stay 4 nights and play 3 (18 hole rounds) and 1 on the par 3 for a grand total of $600.  That includes all golf and lodging.  Staying off site to make it cheaper plus no lodging right now but they do have tee times.  I figure for that price is worth the risk.  I plan to eat real cheap to keep costs down

 

I was looking at North Carolina to do mid-pines, tobacco road and pine needles and it was gonna be in the $450-$500 range and weather is not always great there as well.

 

My buddy is trying to get me to go to Nevada and play wolf creek and Congesta during that time as well but the price again is about $500 

 

It really does not seem all that bad when looking at price.....and if I take a day off golf then it gets cheaper so I could easily be well below that

[spud3]

Just take all your rain gear and be ready to use it.

 

If you're only doing 18 per day, then you'll be fine for any frost delays.

[mallrat]

15 hours ago, BG5 said:

 

 

Yeah the weather scares me a bit but the price is to good......I have free points with flights so I dont have to pay for a flight which is huge.  I can stay 4 nights and play 3 (18 hole rounds) and 1 on the par 3 for a grand total of $600.  That includes all golf and lodging.  Staying off site to make it cheaper plus no lodging right now but they do have tee times.  I figure for that price is worth the risk.  I plan to eat real cheap to keep costs down

 

I was looking at North Carolina to do mid-pines, tobacco road and pine needles and it was gonna be in the $450-$500 range and weather is not always great there as well.

 

My buddy is trying to get me to go to Nevada and play wolf creek and Congesta during that time as well but the price again is about $500 

 

It really does not seem all that bad when looking at price.....and if I take a day off golf then it gets cheaper so I could easily be well below that

In the winter I try and do 4 days but wife normally only gives me 3. I will head out late the night before (after dinner) and stay in Florence or Eugene. Then head over early. I generally play 27 holes a day when there. 36 a day for multiples wears my back out too much. Also for a $50 or $60 bucks for 9 holes, I’m ok with. Doing that my 2nd round often starts after 1 and there is no one behind me and if I play enough balls I won’t see anyone in front of me.

 

It’s fun to try and play the same hole different ways. At home if I play more than 1 ball I hit the same club. There I’ll hit driver, try a bunt driver, hit driving iron. 

[BG5]

5 hours ago, mallrat said:

In the winter I try and do 4 days but wife normally only gives me 3. I will head out late the night before (after dinner) and stay in Florence or Eugene. Then head over early. I generally play 27 holes a day when there. 36 a day for multiples wears my back out too much. Also for a $50 or $60 bucks for 9 holes, I’m ok with. Doing that my 2nd round often starts after 1 and there is no one behind me and if I play enough balls I won’t see anyone in front of me.

 

It’s fun to try and play the same hole different ways. At home if I play more than 1 ball I hit the same club. There I’ll hit driver, try a bunt driver, hit driving iron. 

 

That is a great idea and I agree that paying $50 for 9 holes is def worth it....if ya get in a few more thats cool to but I love the idea of playing holes in different ways and just having fun at Bandon.  There is no place on earth and now I am trying to figure out how I am going to break the news to my wife that I am going 🙂

[mallrat]

56 minutes ago, BG5 said:

 

That is a great idea and I agree that paying $50 for 9 holes is def worth it....if ya get in a few more thats cool to but I love the idea of playing holes in different ways and just having fun at Bandon.  There is no place on earth and now I am trying to figure out how I am going to break the news to my wife that I am going 🙂

This might seem weird but the best thing I have done is take her with me once. It was years ago (like 2006/7) and we were driving from Portland to Pebble for a wedding. We decided to go down 101 and stop and play 2 rounds at Bandon (she holds and we used to take a golf vacation every year). After that trip she saw that there really was no trouble to get into and nothing really stupid to do so she has no problem with me going. Knowing it’s just golf let her know it’s my happy place so whenever I get really stressed or am having a bad run she basically says go. 

[jvincent]

1 hour ago, BG5 said:

There is no place on earth and now I am trying to figure out how I am going to break the news to my wife that I am going 🙂

 

Hey honey, just heading out to run some errands, back in a week.

[BG5]

19 minutes ago, jvincent said:

 

Hey honey, just heading out to run some errands, back in a week.

 

Now thats funny

[VNutz]

23 hours ago, BG5 said:

When guys go in January what would be the minimum amount of days you would want to golf?  4 days?

I've only gone in the offseason, November and Feb/March trips. With a group of guys I've done 3 days once and 4 days twice. Personally for all the travel to get there and the experience with friends I prefer the 4 day trip. The 3 day trip was a whirlwind and felt like I barely saw the place. 4 days lets you get more settled in and feel like it's more than just a weekend away. But that's also with a group where 36 is rarely played in a day. If I were to go alone where I could max out my golf I could probably make do with a 3 day trip.

[carrera]

On 11/5/2023 at 7:01 PM, Edaw68 said:

I’ve had gorgeous weather in January and lousy weather. Both times still fun. Bring your gear and a good attitude.  Worth the risk.

Correct.  Some buddies were up there last weekend where (on Saturday) they got 5.4 inches of rain.  I think Shoe rated the day a 0.5 on his 1-10 scale.  They still enjoyed it and have stories for a lifetime.