Pacific Dunes - 47-38-85
2 birdies, 1 double, 2 triples
Had the wind from the south (winter wind)

Managed to triple #2 from 115 out when I bladed a 54* over the green and into the scrub, unplayable.

2-putt birdied 3 after knocking 5 iron on from 220 (downwind).

Tripled 5 after getting under the lip of a bunker and taking 3 swings to get out.

Birdied 13 after sticking a 60* to a foot.

3-putt bogeyed 15 after being green high in 2.

Played 18 the best I ever had from 575 into the wind going 3 wood, 4 iron, 50* to 12 feet but missed the birdie putt.

Oh, and if you saw me on the course camera from #1 I hit hybrid slightly heavy but it still rolled out to 20y short of the green

Edit: had 4 3-putt bogeys on the day.

Bandon Dunes 41
0 birdies, 1 double

Blasted 2 3-woods on to the green on #3 then 3-put par.

Doubled 6 after hitting into the bunker, hit a good shot out, then 3-putt.

Perfect day today, around 60 with 15 mph winds.

Pacific Dunes was in great shape. The greens were really fast. Felt like I was putting with an anvil all day.

Bandon Dunes greens seemed quite a bit slower when compared to Pacific. You can still see aeration marks in them but they didn't really hurt putts at all.

As you can see my first 9 was an abomination. Took me a while to commit to hitting down on the ball, then the back 9 was great. Was getting tired on the 3rd 9 of the day. Decided to call it then even though I had plenty of time to finish. I actually played the front 9 of Bandon as a single. Played through a foursome on the 3rd and finished in 1:25.

Playing Bandon and Trails tomorrow. The weather is really supposed to turn tomorrow. Upper 50s with steady rain and 20-25 mph winds with higher gusts. Basically the same forecast for Thursday but maybe a touch less rain and wind. Friday looks really good.

Solid - keep the updates coming!

First thing to start off tonight, I can say that I received the full Bandon treatment today. Off and on rain with 25-40 mph winds. It wasn't showers today, full on rain. I have never been so soaked in my life. I was wringing water out of my rain gloves.

Many interesting shots today, but 2 that stick out above all others:

I hit a 6-iron from 149 (4 extra clubs), hit it good, and came up 10 yards short.

I hit a 5-iron 305 yards.

AND THE REALLY REALLY BIG NEWS OF THE DAY, I AM PLAYING SHEEP RANCH TOMORROW

Bandon Dunes

45-42=87
2 birdies, 5 doubles, 1 triple

They cut the holes high and dry today, but I somehow only had one 3-putt on the day (that I can remember). I hit two really bad tee shots that rode the wind and ended up 40 yards off target, but still playable.

Playing 16 dead into the wind I hit a good 3-wood and STILL have 149y to the green. Hit 6-iron from below the cross bunkers and it lands 10 yards short. It was a solid 40 mph wind at that time with blinding rain.

On 18 I had 283y to the green and nailed a hybrid on and 2-putted for birdie.

Bandon Trails

39-37-76
2 birdies, 2 doubles

Considering the conditions this might have been the best round I have ever played. So many memorable holes and shots. This has to be my favorite course on property. Teed off in blinding rain and have to go hybrid, 6 iron to just short of the green on a 356y hole.

Made a 40 footer for birdie on 4.

6th is downhill downwind 359y. I hit 5 iron that carries the fairway bunker and hit the speed slot leaving be with 54y to the green. So a 305y 5 iron. Totally normal.

Hit a 250y hybrid into the wind on the 11th after a 190y 3-wood off the tee.

Birdied the uphill, downwind 494y 16th by getting home in 2 with a 6 iron.

Edit, almost forgot. I played in 4:25, as a single, amongst foursomes everywhere. The group in front of me quit after 10. The group in front of that thought it would be fun to leave Coors Light empties throughout the course. Actually don't know if they were empty or they just forgot them. Every ball they found though they left for me on the next tee box. Got about 4-5 ProVs.

Just adding that there are lots of people reading that aren't commenting so keep it up!

Old MacDonald
34-44-78
2 birdies, 1 double

Started out in driving rain and heavy wind. It let up by the start of the 5th hole and it was good will less wind after that. Birdies on 5 and 6 put me back to even. Hit 5 iron on #6 to 12 feet for eagle, but missed the putt. Also, on 5 the pin was in one of the collection areas on the green. Hit it to 4 feet and made the birdie.

11 was playing downwind and I hooked my drive right into the gorse and made double. 14 I hit my drive over the green barely short of the gorse but couldn't get up and down for birdie. Some missed greens on the back lead to some bogeys.

Sheep Ranch
35 (+2)
7 pars, 2 bogeys

Guessing this course is going to be very high on the rankings. I don't know if it will overtake Pacific Dunes or not, but the oceanfront acreage and the number of greens sitting right above the ocean will be unmatched.

First thought is this course will be VERY windy, even more than Old Mac is. I had about 20 mph on Old Mac today and Sheep Ranch was a solid 30 mph. The routing I played:

#1 (actual #15) 315y par 4. This one will play into the summer wind with the fairway and the green all along the ocean. The green looks like an infinity pool spilling into the ocean.

#2 (actual #16) 170y par 3. This will play into the summer wind as well and it will be able to be played over 200y. Same green effect as #15 with the green perched right above the ocean. This will share a green with #2, another par 3.

#3 (actual #4) 460y par 4. This will play downwind. Nothing too special about this hole, which will be a dogleg right where you can't see the green standing on the tee.

#4 (actual #5) 190y par 3. This will play back towards the ocean with a right to left wind. The green is wide in front and narrows to the back. The back pin will be right above the ocean.

#5 (actual #6) 440y par 4. Have a feeling this will be one of the best holes on property. It will play downwind and you can cut off as much ocean as you want as you are staring right at it from the tee with the green shoved up against the cliff.

#6 (actual #7) 155y par 3. Will play downwind with the ocean behind the green. I played it dead into the wind from 138 and my well struck 8 iron ballooned and landed 30 yards short of the pin

#7 (actual #8) 425y par 4. Downhill and into the wind. There is some gorse right of the fairway that will probably cause you to aim left where your approach will be to a green above you.

#8 (actual #9) 405y par 4. Plays along the south end of the property with gorse lining the left edge. Plenty of room right. Hole will play uphill.

#9 (actual #10) 380y par 4. Fairly straight, downhill par 4 where you will not be able to see your ball land. Gorse right of the fairway. I got to play it downwind and was even with the front of the green but just left.

General thoughts:

The course has some growing to be done but I'm sure it will easily make the June 1st deadline.

You would never know that this was a Coore-Crenshaw course. With zero bunkers on the course it just looks off to me. My guess is after a year of play that they will eventually add bunkering.

This course is going to be an easy walk, the best on property by far.

BTW I did take a lot of pics and video from Sheep Ranch and I will try to get those up on Saturday when I have a free day (read: laundry) in Vegas before my conference starts on Monday.


One other thing of note. I overheard multiple employees talking on property and the surf was the biggest they have ever seen. Must have been 20 foot waves, although it's hard to tell from that far away. They were impressive though.

on the sheep experience. can't remember if you ever played it in it's previous form?

Negative

Switched my morning round to Trails today as I wanted to play it without driving rain and wind. Also playing the preserve before I hit the road back to Eugene.

curious how you got to the course...do the shuttles run there now and if so, are they using the road east of Old Mac 17 and 18? is there some sort of pro shop in place?

Shuttle bus from the Bandon clubhouse. A starter and caddy go out with you. Funny thing is a caddy is required ($50) but there was only one caddy for three people so I ended up carrying my own bag. Didn't know if I was supposed to pay anyways. I did since the play was free.

They also gave you a hat that said Sheep Ranch 2020, and Preview Player on the back.

Back to the shuttle bus you go out the road as if you are leaving the property towards US101 and you make a left at the stop sign. They take that road to where you turn left to get to sheep ranch.

There is no infrastructure there yet, no clubhouse, no turn stand, nothing. Guessing they open up with a temporary pro shop in a trailer or something. I have no idea how long it takes to build something like that.

Bandon Trails
42-40-82

All pars and bogeys. Couldn't have had better weather for the first 12 holes. Zero wind and pleasant temps. Wind kicked up at the end to about 15-20 but nothing major.

It took til the 4th day to see how far my irons actually fly out there. I was a consistent 1 to 1.5 clubs shorter when compared to home.

Bandon Preserve
41 (+2)

Hit 12/13 greens. The one I missed is because I didn't take anything higher than an 8 iron and the 2nd played 161y dead into the wind. I came up 30 yards short. The greens on the Preserve are in really good shape. I would say they are better than Trails.

Used the preferred method of putter off of the 13th, made par.

This is hole #6, 440y. Green is in the distance.

Sample of the greens. It falls off right into the penalty area.

thanks. sounds like the old way to get to the sheep ranch. also sounds like they likely won't have anything but temp facilities in place when it opens in june, although there's a chance they could rush something if they broke ground tomorrow.

sick hat....what's the logo look like?

No logo, just says:

On Front: Sheep Ranch 2020
Ob Back: Preview Player

Weather looks epic for this upcoming week. I arrive Thursday and leave Monday afternoon. Lots of high 50s temps and no rain forecast. Hold.

Our only shot at sheep ranch preview play is Thursday when we arrive as you can’t book a preview loop until you’re on property.

If you can try and send people out as a single or twosome for sheep ranch you will have a good shot. If you don't get it right away just keep asking after every round.

Edit: Although the sign said that they would stop doing it on the 31st, so ask right away!

Bandon Eve. Little bit different experience than ideal since we have to stay off property (what with the US Am), but I'm still super excited.

Yeehaw! have fun - I hear it's windy this week.

I'm quite excited to watch the Am on tv starting tomorrow.