Holy schnikes. I'm doing everything I can right now to get my driver figured out before the trip. Of course after pounding 20 in a row I grab my five iron. First swing I thin it, lose the bottom hand and hyperextend my elbow. It happens from time to time but I'm usually good 2 minutes later. This one I had to stop the session. I really really hope this goes away FAST.

RED,

I know y’all normally go in January. What is the latest you would tee off and think “I feel confident we will finish this round”?

Wednesday morning was a washout. Heavy rains and high winds. But out afternoon time at trails started with the same but our final 15 holes were great. Played pretty poorly but hit some golf shots and love trails so much it doesn’t matter

Today looks better/good. Bandon/Pac so we’ll get all 5 courses and preserve in this trip but the weather was the worse I’ve seen and super atypical for this time of year.

i always expect to finish a round in under (or right around) four hours. our group plays ready golf and the marshals there do a fantastic job of keeping the pace of play up. it is extremely rare to have to wait on the group ahead of you for any shot.
when it gets dark depends a lot on the cloud cover that particular day, but sunset is usually around 5pm (obv. you can look this up for yourself). starting at 1pm would mean having to hustle and it would be getting dark as you finish, but could be doable.

Thanks! I grabbed some partial lodging for my preferred dates, with hopes to fill in the rest as cancellations happen so that I could book some tee times. I have a 1230, 1250, and 1250 among them (also two 950s, so those are good). Sunset is listed as 508 or so on those days, so I figured solid chance of completion barring frost delay etc. We are obv also on waitlist to tee off earlier if possible.

i honestly wouldn't worry about a frost delay. clear early morning skies are needed for frost and those are rare on the Oregon coast. they will split the tees if that does happen so you likely still won't incur much of a delay.
sunset may be at 5:08, but weather dependent you'll have more time after that before it becomes unplayable.

better than tv

bandon dunes webcams, old mac 7 green 8 tee.



and a big ass rainbow just flashed on the screen. wonder if KJ got a look at it

We were sitting upstairs at Pacific grill after our round and did notice that.

Wild trip. Caddies said we got January weather in April (slightly warmer) but the worst 3 days of the month were our first 3 full days at the resort. Oh well!

Yesterday was nicer but still rough. Got 36 in at Bandon and pacific. Wind and rain mostly stayed away for am. Then It dumped and blew hard while we had lunch (pac grill grilled cheese is awesome) and the first few holes and last few at pacific weren’t great but we got all 5 courses (and two preserve rounds) in.

Tied my second best ever round of 75 at Bandon yesterday morning. Couldn’t miss (hit the first ten greens) and the birdies weren’t dropping but it was about as stress free of a round as I’ve ever played. Delightful walk with my gf and brother.

Not many pictures this week as the phone was packed away in a zip lock most of the time but still an awesome week and I’ll post a few more thoughts later.

great round at OG Bandon. which tees do you typically play?
looking forward to hearing more.
sounds like you got the full Bandon experience with the wind and rain, which everyone should experience at least once in their life.

Green tees. My buddy on the trip who is +1 played black. 4 others play green. +1s wife who is a 5 played gold and my gf plays orange. So we were all over the tee boxes based on groups and such.

Green tees are the ones to play. Even if I was a +1 I still would play greens to keep it fun. Maybe if I get bored one day I would try blacks but it would be on an empty course.

gotta admit they provide a huge selection of tee options. you'll be walking down a fairway halfway to the hole and stumble upon a random tee off to the side.
we typically play green, but i've played from the gold a few times recently because that was the spot for the three other guys in my group. Bandon and Old Mac change quite a bit moving up a box...most notably Old Mac 3. the gold tee box is on top of the hill and you don't have to take the over-the-hill drive past the ghost tree.

My group will prob be playing one green, two gold, one orange, but I'll hit from the green on Old Mac 3, gotta challenge the Ghost Tree!

5 days before wheels up. 8 days til on site.

I'm starting to look at the long range forecast although we all know it is pointless.



We arrive after lunch Sunday and plan is to just hit the practice range, Shorty's and and Punchbowl in the evening.

it will probably rain every day, but most likely at night or early morning. it's not uncommon to wear waterproofs on the range and take them off before the first tee.

looks like the wind is starting to turn. didn't look this morning but this afternoon is much more from the west than i've recently seen. i'm guessing KJ wishes he had this breeze on his face last week.

There is a slim chance I go to a range before play any day, and a 0% chance I go to the range before play if it's raining.

straight to the tee for thee?

I feel SO much better if I can just hit like 10-12 shots before teeing off. Like 3-4 50 yard wedges, a couple 7 irons, couple of 4 hybrids, couple of drivers.

Breakfast ball in play each day if need be. Not having to hit balls before is def an acquired skill. My weekday rounds first off there is no time for warm up so I am used to it now, so much that I don't even warm up when I have time now.

**** weather and super early tee times is just about the only reasons I don’t warm up.

Last weeks trip I didn’t go to range a single morning. Nasty weather 3 mornings and second tee time of the day the other meant it was my first Bandon trip without visiting the practice center to warm up.

i'm just not that great teeing off straight from the parking lot, although i also play early and don't often have time for some range swings. around 20 swings is my preference.

I like to hit a few before each round, kind of religiously, but it's always sucked because the range at my club is about a five minute cart ride, plus yea, I don't warming up in the rain. New trackman studio in the pro shop is a game changer for warmups.

Will maybe do a trip report or sorts but I wanted to put some thoughts out. Ranking of restaurants:

Dinners:

1. McKee's - all you need for post golf food
2. Tufted Puffin - can order off the steak house menu or a bar menu (no reservations though). Can also get a table or at the bar in the Bunker Bar and order off the same menus
3. Pacific Grill - smaller menu but good options and good views from second story dining room. Next to punch bowl so a good option for before/after putting. Can be loud with guys drinking/getting drinks for PB
4. The Forge - didn't impress me - food was decent but not my style for a golf trip
N/R. Trails End - not doing dinner currently; likely staffing issues although I hear they sometimes set up large groups over there in the evenings

Mentions for in town options: Edge-waters, Lord Bennett's, and Wheel House. A few fine pizza and one Chinese food restaurant that area good way to get some good food for your buck after golf.


Lunch:

1. Pacific Grill - grilled cheese is awesome. Burger solid. Great sides. They get you going if you're between rounds or if you're in for lunch after playing it's a good spot to chill and recap
2. Trails End - Poke bowl and adobe chicken are excellent. Good option to go in you're heading out on trails
3. Tufted Puffin - solid burgers/sandwiches and even salads (steak salad very good)
4. Sheep Ranch - a little more robust than a true turn stand - the pastrami sandwich gets good reviews

In-town (and would qualify for an early dinner, too I think) is Tony's Crab shack. For a CO guy I liked the seafood options and vibe of the place. Might be a tourist trap but I'm a tourist

Breakfast:

1. Gallery buffet - especially before a 36 hole day I like to load up on food. Good staples with a few things that change each day - hot coffee and the service can be as quick or leisurely as you like based on your tee times, schedule, etc.
2-4. Each of Pacific, Trails, and Sheep have breakfast sandwiches and wraps, etc. - everything I've had has been fine and its pretty quick and reasonable

Turn-stands all have essentially the same stuff. Sandwiches, wraps, hotdogs, brats. Cookies (with loud ass wrappers - pro tip is to take it out right away and wrap it in a napkin if you like to nibble between shots etc.), muffins, candy bars, energy balls, etc. Drinks of all variety.

Airports to fly into:

1. North Bend (OTH) - it's so nice to land and be at the resort 30 minutes after getting your rental car and bags. Or work with a shuttle company or cab if you're not renting a car. Which is mostly not needed unless you want to go to town or explore around the area when not on the golf courses. I have flow into and out OTH twice each way with no weather delays so I don't have the issues some have experienced clouding my review. Would suck to get re-routed to EUG but I'm sure you still make it to Bandon before too loing

2a. Eugene (EUG) - decent flight options and just over a 2.5 hour drive. Huge golf shop a few minutes from the airport if you find your forgot anything or just want to stock up. A few shuttle options and car services if you don't want to drive

2b. Medford (MFR) - about the same drive to Bandon but an even smaller and easier airport to navigate. An in-n-out in Medford if you don't live near one and don't care if anyone tells you they're overrated; it's the experience and a damn find fast food burger. No shuttles I'm aware of to Bandon

3. Portland (PDX) - 4.5 hours or so from Bandon. The most flight options into - but then you have to drive. It's a damn pretty drive especially if you head directly to the coast and down 101 the rest of the way


I've gone 100% ship-sticks the few trips. Would only consider traveling with my clubs if I really needed them right before or after for a tournament, etc. But I've been seeing mostly 3 business day transit time even if you choose the cheapest (5-day) option. Soft-sided travel bag with a stiff-arm club protector and taking the heads off any woods that allow for it and I've also had no issues with clubs or bags being broken, etc. I think fed-ex may be more gentle than the airlines :shrug: