6 Days @ Bandon - June 2025

[TK3]

Hey guys,

 

Well, we are finally able to cross off another Bucket List Golf Trip - my buddies and I are going to Bandon Dunes on June 9th - 14th 2025.

We are playing all 5 courses + the Preserve.  So far, have booked Sheep Ranch and Bandon Dunes twice.

 

My question to those who have already played there is, are our choices to play SR + BD twice correct, or should PD be included instead?

 

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

A very Merry Christmas to all and a Blessed 2024.

TK

[jrg75]

My opinion, Trails and Pacific are both better than Sheep Ranch.  I usually went Pacific and Bandon for my replays on my first 3-4 trips but as I've now been a number of times, trails is working it's way into the replay rotation.  That said, you really can't go wrong with any of the courses, SR has spectacular views and there will probably be members in your group that like it best.  Congrats, you will have a blast.

[Dancin]

I think PD is the best course there but if you are more interested in scenery your group may like BD or SR better. If your group is scratch or plus handicaps I would not play SR twice. They will probably find more challenge in the other courses.

[Chanceman]

Personally I quite liked Sheep Ranch but its not the level of difficulty that Pacific Dunes is. Bandon Dunes is a definite double up. Trails would be a definite as well.

[sabram]

My faves at the resort are Pacific Dunes and Old Mac. I may be an outlier. Old Mac is really unique and a lot of fun.

[toothysaw2]

our group was just there a few weeks ago after booking in november 2021.  i hope you are as lucky with the weather as we were.  sunny and 60 pretty much every day, with very little wind.  we played all 6 courses once and then pac dunes a second time.

 

our group average ranking for the courses was:

 

trails

bandon dunes

pacific dunes

old mac

sheep ranch

 

there was some variety, but every single one of us put trails first and sheep ranch last.  and it's still great!  you can't go wrong whichever courses you choose to play twice.

 

preserve is hands down the best par 3 course i've ever played.  any hole on that course could be dropped into any other course on property and fit right in.  it feels like playing a round of golf.  versus most short courses (the hay, the cradle, etc) i've played that are very fun and chill, but feel like practice/fun.  by the time you're there the new shorties should be open, which looks a little more like that type of short course.  i'm sure it'll be awesome.

 

make sure you have plenty of time for the punch bowl too.

 

the whole thing is the best.  it'll be worth the wait.

 

 

[BG5]

You will get so many different opinions on this.  Here is the deal.......all 5 courses are all world so you wont be disapointed no matter what you do.

 

I always would want to play Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes twice and then Sheep would be my 3rd.  The great thing about Sheep is that its the easiest of the courses and it also has the most ocean views so you could easily swap it with BD or PD and be fine.  Bandon Trails is also great and has its own feel.  I have only been 1 time to Bandon Dunes and I was there for 8 days and my rounds were as follows.

 

Sheep Ranch - 4 times

Pacific Dunes - 3 times

Bandon Dunes - 3 Times

Bandon Trails - 2 times

Old Mac -2 times

Preserve - 2 times.

 

Bandon Dunes is easier than Pac Dunes so that is another thing but If I was telling someone to play 1 round at the resort it would be Pac Dunes.  Tough choices but the views on the ocean are insane on Pac, Bandon, and Sheep

 

[samwm]

As mentioned, you can't go wrong here. The views at Sheep Ranch are world-class and if that's a selling point for your group you'll all be thrilled.

 

One thing to keep in mind about Sheep Ranch: it's the most exposed course at Bandon and you're best off playing in the morning:

 

 

Also, the poa transition at Sheep should be well along by 2025:

 

 

 

 

 

[puttnforthe8]

I would never do SR twice unless had to.  Pacific and Trails for sure.

[knock it close]

If your last round would be your second one at sheep I'd do it, if not I'd pick a different course. I love playing sheep the first and last round of the trip, it's fun, it's easier, the views are incredible, and I just have so much fun playing it and playing it first and/or last really helps that. 

[puttnforthe8]

12 minutes ago, knock it close said:

If your last round would be your second one at sheep I'd do it, if not I'd pick a different course. I love playing sheep the first and last round of the trip, it's fun, it's easier, the views are incredible, and I just have so much fun playing it and playing it first and/or last really helps that. 

Plus the easiest walk - after doing 5-6 rounds (36 a day for some), the easier walk will be welcome

[ESOX ZO]

On 12/16/2023 at 10:01 AM, samwm said:

As mentioned, you can't go wrong here. The views at Sheep Ranch are world-class and if that's a selling point for your group you'll all be thrilled.

 

One thing to keep in mind about Sheep Ranch: it's the most exposed course at Bandon and you're best off playing in the morning:

 

 

Also, the poa transition at Sheep should be well along by 2025:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tell me I'm not seeing ball marks all over that green??

[Strategery]

Played all 5. I love seeing the variety of opinions. That's part of what makes Bandon so special.

 

My favs were Bandon & Pacific.

I loved Old Mac and Sheep Ranch. They were so much fun and different from what I normally play.

Trails was last for me, and that's weird to say because it was great. 🙂

[jvincent]

5 hours ago, ESOX ZO said:

 

Tell me I'm not seeing ball marks all over that green??

 

That's the poa growing in.

[1OCGolfer]

I went a couple years ago when Sheep Ranch first opened up.

My personal rankings would go:

1. Pac Dunes (best course on property)

2. Sheep Ranch (most fun course on property)

3. Bandon (best test of golf on property)

4. Old Mac (most unique course on property)

5. Trails (best walk, I know I'm in the minority with this opinion but I just didn't get it.)

 

Sheep was the only course we played twice but we did play once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Our group all agreed that Sheep Ranch was the most fun course on property. The views are spectacular and the holes are relatively easy so everyone plays relatively well. It's a nice break from getting your face kicked in by the other courses, IMO. 

 

We were supposed to play Bandon Dunes twice but canceled our second round. We had played BD earlier in the trip in the afternoon when it was blowing 25 mph and it was looking like we were going to have similar conditions for our second round.  Our group took a vote and everyone resoundingly agreed to cancel and to this day. I don't think we regret our decision. 

 

If you do play a course twice, I would definitely recommend trying to play one time in the morning and one time in the evening.  I think you appreciate different aspects of the course when you're fresh compared to when you've already walked 6 miles and Tom Doak is destroying your confidence. Playing the first few holes of Pac Dunes, Old Mac, and Sheep Ranch in the fog will be some of my favorite memories from Bandon.

 

I do want to go back again to Bandon and the one course I can't wait to play is Old Mac.  Since I've been to Bandon, I've taken a few golf trips and have gotten the chance to play a few original template holes as well as other golf architects' interpretations of the template holes. I'd like to see how these holes at Old Mac compare to the originals. However, if you haven't played template holes or don't care to nerd out on golf course architecture, this may be a play once and never again. 

 

[graveydellic]

Don't forget Shorty's, which will be open starting July of '24.  Looks like another killer Par 3 course.

[Golfnuck]

It's Bandon there are no "right" answers.  

 

I am also in the minority here that ranks Old Mac near the top.

Edited December 21, 2023 by Golfnuck

[sabram]

32 minutes ago, Golfnuck said:

It's Bandon there are no "right" answers.  

 

I am also in the minority here that ranks Old Mac near the top.

I'm with you. Love Old Mac

[VNutz]

If there's any course on the property to play twice, especially on a first trip, to me it's Pacific. It's the hardest of the courses IMO and also the most visually confusing and intimidating for a first time play. The first time out you're trusting your caddie a lot and aiming at targets and can be hard to trust, if you get a 2nd round on the same trip it can be a whole different course. Bandon Dunes would be my second choice, but for the most part that course is pretty clearly right out in front of you and not too visually confusing.

 

To me Bandon begins with BD and Pacific, the rest are all a bonus. The views at SR are second to none, but I found the course itself lacking. I'd put the 4th at Pacific up against anything SR has to offer.

[angler99]

All courses are amazing. If I had to rank them, I'd say:

 

Trails

Pacific Dunes

Tie - Old Mac and Bandon Dunes

Sheep Ranch

 

I scored the best round at Sheep Ranch and Old Mac was the only day where it was 48 degrees and raining sideways. Would love to play Old Mac again with dry weather, but I still had an absolute blast.

 

You really can't go wrong with whatever course you decide to play twice.

 

While I think Trails is the best, purest golf course of the bunch, I wouldn't recommend someone skipping Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, or Old Mac to play Bandon Trails if it's their first trip, but that doesn't seem like it will be an issue for you.

[sleuth]

 Any golf course I play I look for challenge/playability, uniqueness (will I remember this later?), and conditions.

 

They're all great, but I'd rank them...

1. Bandon Dunes - unequivocally the best course and test of golf skill.

2. Bandon Trails - the course is very good, but the environment is why I love it. It's like you're taking a hike through the Pac NW, and so happen to be playing golf.

3. Pacific Dunes - it's a great course, but I think people love it for the scenery and rank it well above where it should be. Something like 8 or 9 holes are on the Pacific coast.

4. Old Macdonald

5. Sheep Ranch

 

PD should be included. SR is good, but not that great and wouldn't warrant a 2x play. If you've already booked call them leading up to your itinerary. I made changes the month prior to our trip, and while on site, the day prior to change courses.

[Fairways_and_Greens]

Just got back myself for the 4th time... Outside the views, Sheep is pretty meh.  What resonates with you as far as golf goes?

 

 

 

On 12/15/2023 at 2:04 PM, TK3 said:

Hey guys,

 

Well, we are finally able to cross off another Bucket List Golf Trip - my buddies and I are going to Bandon Dunes on June 9th - 14th 2025.

We are playing all 5 courses + the Preserve.  So far, have booked Sheep Ranch and Bandon Dunes twice.

 

My question to those who have already played there is, are our choices to play SR + BD twice correct, or should PD be included instead?

 

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

A very Merry Christmas to all and a Blessed 2024.

TK

 

[Guest RobS]

As others have said, you can't really go wrong with whatever you choose.  For me, Bandon Dunes is a definite 2nd round.  I'd go Pacific over Sheep for 2nd round but wouldn't be disappointed either way.  You'll get a lot of different answers.  That's how good the place is.  Lot's of people love Trails for example.  While I think it's a great, challenging course, I can take it or leave it at that venue.  If Trails were anywhere else, I'd love it.  Closer to home, east coast, I can play several courses similar to Trails but I can't get the Pacific coast experience of the the 2 Dunes courses or Sheep.

[ESOX ZO]

On 12/20/2023 at 8:59 PM, jvincent said:

 

That's the poa growing in.

Oh interesting, intentional or unintentional? 

[jvincent]

4 minutes ago, ESOX ZO said:

Oh interesting, intentional or unintentional? 

 

Inevitable.

 

Fighting against the poa invasion is a losing battle. It eventually takes over after the initial seeding / grow in with fescue. It takes a few years for it to fully take over. 

[mallrat]

On 12/21/2023 at 7:58 AM, Golfnuck said:

It's Bandon there are no "right" answers.  

 

I am also in the minority here that ranks Old Mac near the top.

Here’s my thing with OM, I’m a huge fan of 2/3 of the course and some are just ok BUT it is always just the funnest round there. Never had a bad time on that course. Not my top course but a must play. Also coming over the hill on 3 will always be my favorite view on property. 

[mallrat]

On 12/26/2023 at 6:26 AM, jvincent said:

 

Inevitable.

 

Fighting against the poa invasion is a losing battle. It eventually takes over after the initial seeding / grow in with fescue. It takes a few years for it to fully take over. 

Many a super in the PNW has lost a job thinking they can keep Poa out. 

[jvincent]

7 hours ago, mallrat said:

 Also coming over the hill on 3 will always be my favorite view on property. 

 

Yep.

[The Pearl]

There is really no correct answer, particularly for a 1st timer. There is no wrong answers at Bandon. You are likely to get a wide range of opinions from your group post trip.

 

My only personal opinion after 6 Bandon trips is this.....

 

I would never, ever play any of the par 3 courses when I could pay another round on one of the big courses. 

[eboettne]

30 minutes ago, The Pearl said:

There is really no correct answer, particularly for a 1st timer. There is no wrong answers at Bandon. You are likely to get a wide range of opinions from your group post trip.

 

My only personal opinion after 6 Bandon trips is this.....

 

I would never, ever play any of the par 3 courses when I could pay another round on one of the big courses. 

 

I'd agree with this. Par 3 course is for an arrival or departure day.  Or if you're gassed from playing 36/day too many times.