Forgot to mention that Bandon changed their deposit policy on reservations. In addition to one night of hotel you also have to pay for your first round of golf. Nothing major but I thought I would pass that along.

< 4 weeks out

03/21/2017 Pacific Dunes 11:00 AM 1 1 @ $135 None
03/22/2017 Old Macdonald 7:50 AM 1 1 @ $135 None
03/22/2017 Bandon Dunes 12:50 PM 1 1 @ $70 None
03/23/2017 Pacific Dunes 7:30 AM 1 1 @ $135 None
03/23/2017 Bandon Trails 1:00 PM 1 1 @ $70 None

Driving from Eugene on the 21st. I wanted to play the Preserve on the 21st after Pacific but it's not open that day. I might just have to play it the 22nd after my other two rounds if I'm still standing.

< 3 weeks out
driving 4.5 hours from portland the morning of 3/12 and playing on the first day of daylight savings and driving back the evening after the 3/15 round. i'd gladly swap at least one of those bandon rounds for a pacific round, but i was a last minute recruit so the group could avoid having 7 players, so i had zero say in the routing.

03/12/2017 Bandon Dunes 2:00 PM 4 4 @ $135 None
03/13/2017 Bandon Trails 8:30 AM 4 4 @ $135 None
03/13/2017 Old Macdonald 2:10 PM 4 4 @ $70 None
03/14/2017 Pacific Dunes 7:40 AM 4 4 @ $135 None
03/14/2017 Bandon Dunes 1:10 PM 4 4 @ $70 None
03/15/2017 Bandon Dunes 8:10 AM 4 4 @ $135 None

two re-routes in two days pushing a cart. in my mind i'm currently considering this as the bandon death march but hopefully i get over that when the time comes. going to bring plenty of fresh pairs of socks and well broken shoes. on top of that itinerary i'm sure there will be plenty of drunken hijinks on punchbowl, shorty's, or both.

i should also mention that i re-read the entire thread before posting and the KingJames trip report still holds up as an extremely fair, accurate, and well written account of a first trip to Bandon.

if his report doesn't get you excited to play golf and specifically play golf at Bandon you might as well list your clubs on craigslist and give it up altogether.

I'm splitting that drive up for a couple of reasons. My flight doesn't get in until 10:30 ish into PDX. I also have plenty of Marriott points and the closest one to the resort is in Eugene.

I hope to get work done fast enough to get out of LA quickly that Monday and maybe get there early Tuesday and get out as a single. Then I can fit 36 in.

I'm still trying to figure out how to come up with the $ to play Pebble when I am there the week before Bandon. I have a feeling some clubs will be sold on GolfWRX soon.

Try not to stiff your caddie (if you even lol take one) or be slick & block sliders cause...

Also, try not to worry about how much a looper makes, not everybody has to hump a cubicle 60 hours a week to make $2k+ take home. What a caddie makes per loop really isnt any of your business, just pay the bag rate and tip accordingly. Some people get to walk golf courses for a living, some people get to play poker for a living, some people get to fly a plane for a living, some people get to play a sport for a living, etc etc...no time for jelly and judgement.

Dont take offence , just my 2cents based on my understanding of the likely opinion you have toward loopers (overpaid help) after reading what you type when referencing them

^^ Totally inappropriate and unnecessary to generalize and throw that Caddie program under the bus.

You seem to be that member (if youre even a member anywhere that has a program) that only plays when he can carry his own bag and not have to take a caddie. Youre the member that wont take a caddie ever unless its some big event or a random time you need to impress a client. And then you will tip as minimally as poss and block all guest tips because you feel what you payed the caddie/caddies in your group is enough

I mean , I could really go into picking apart your bs assessment of that Bandon caddie and point out why youre a goofball for not supporting what is likely one of, if not the largest caddie program on the west coast...but you and your buddy go right ahead and enjoy huffing your own bag, on a Caddie/walking golf course, saving that $100+/bag, expecting to leech off what other golfers are paying $100+/bag for, while also complaining about your $180 hotel room.

Lol @ you dude

Regards,

Every legit Looper

what a misguided post.
people who use caddies don't need to be convinced to take one.
people that have the characteristics you describe won't have their minds changed no matter what you say.
anyone potentially on the fence about using a caddie will likely be so turned off by your attitude that they'll avoid hiring one.
nice work 'legit looper'

Redeyes, what do you think is the percentage of people using individual vs group caddies at Bandon?

tyty - I'm excited for your trip and Scott's. Hope to see some pics and hear some reports.

The caddie stuff is as most things a personal preference. I've been 3 times now. Took a caddie all four rounds my first trip (detailed in OP) and have taken loopers about half of my rounds since. I enjoy taking a caddie but it's also a great walk to push or carry your own bag.

And my brother is looping at Bandon now (starting his second season) so I def respect the grind they have.

A lot more individual caddies than group caddies from my experience and talking to my brother.

ps I'm hoping to go out to Bandon for the 4th of July. I hear it's pretty quiet that week/weekend as not a lot of buddies golf trips during a big family/holiday weekend.

Malice, that's a good question for which i don't have a good answer. i'll defer to KingJames' brother for a more accurate response than i can give.

other than my trip in a few weeks i've only played Bandon around the first week of january. granted i've probably played ~40 rounds there during that time of year, but it is the offseason and i'm guessing many people that play then do so because they are on a budget and aren't the type to spring for a caddie.

most of the players in my group (we go down with 24-28 players) have played all the courses dozens of times and feel comfortable enough with their course knowledge to not hire one. many have had caddies in the past but choose not to now.

I will say that when a vantage point on the course allows you to see multiple holes and multiple groups playing, it does seem a fair amount of groups have 8 people (4 players, 4 caddies)

during my last trip this past January one of the players in my foursome (a 5 hc) hired a caddie because Old Mac has always tripped him up. the caddie was very friendly, gave the whole group suggestions on the tee box about drive placement, would suggest approach shot placement if he was close to you, and would give general advice on the greens w/out reading your putt (i.e. 'you should hit this one really firm and don't try to die it in'). he didn't rake bunkers or give yardage for other players, but i found his overall attitude and general help was worthy enough for me to slip him $40 on the 18th green.

If the weather is good I think I might just tack on a round at Pebble Beach when I am in Monterey the week before Bandon. Getting a single out shouldn't be a problem. Nothing like playing 5 in the top 100 in a single trip. I technically could add Torrey when I'm in SoCal over the weekend too.

[x] bastard

I don't know exactly what the greens fee for a non-resort guest is these days at Pebble Beach, but I'd guess a single round is about a quarter of my entire golf budget for the year. Given the chance I'd still snap play it, can always cut back elsewhere.

$495 + cart fee

Bandon may have changed their rotation, but I believe the following is the scheduled agronomy/maintenance/closed days for each course.

Mondays: Bandon
Tuesdays: Trails/Preserve
Wednesdays: Pacific/Punchbowl
Thursdays: Old Mac
Friday-Sunday: all courses open

That would seem to be correct according to what I have booked. I guess I never knew that they closed the punchbowl.

i think it also makes financial sense for the resort to close down the adjacent auxiliary attraction on the same days when the main course is down (i.e. trails/preserve and pacific/punchbowl) so they don't have to open up the clubhouse and pay staff to work that day for half the crowd.
a year ago we played the Preserve on a Wednesday afternoon after driving down from PDX and tried to play Punchbowl afterwards only to find it closed. Didn't matter because Shorty's was open and practically right across the street so we played the par 3 course with only 4 clubs each until it was too dark to see.

agree to disagree

Not trying to convince a person who regularly takes caddies obv

Correct, and is one of the reasons I posted
Turned off cause they are unfamilar with the norm of supporting the caddie program at a walking/caddie course, or that caddies are actually that costly??

LOL 'weekend warrior'

Lol cart guy

Yea , take that cart at Pebble..lol

I will say this regarding caddies:

When (if) I play Pebble I will take a caddy. $495+80+50, The $130 for the caddy at Bandon when I am going in the slower season and the round is $130, or replays being $70, that's a harder pill to swallow.

One other thought when you play Pebble it's just one round. When you go to Bandon you are playing 4+ rounds.

If I could afford it would I take a caddy at Bandon, absolutely. At least for the first time I play each course.

ok you loopy clown, this is the last time i'll respond to you before putting you on ignore.

'turned off by your attitude' means who the hell would want to be in the company of someone like you and your attitude for 18 holes? how are you going to make my round more enjoyable?

regarding pebble, someone asked what the non-resort guest rate is, so i told them. the below image is directly from the pebble website.



one last thing, i haven't paid for a cart in over 10 years and play golf year round in portland walking no matter the weather...i'm far from a 'weekend warrior'.

why don't you just drag your sorry ass back to the politard swamp and quit polluting this thread.

Damnit redeyes you made me go look at his politics posts, somehow they are even worse than his golf posts.

I only know that because of a quick search of his most recent posts...it only took one or two reads before the truth became apparent.

I appologize, I came at you a little harsh...wasnt and still arent appreciative of how you threw Bandons program under bus over one experience

Though I thank you for helping me find the true deserving target of my OP

LoL, you mad old man? Why so mad? You fit my OP profile? Cheap cheap, cheap cheap

If you think I make the money I make not providing the best service a member and his guest/guests could expect, youre the "loony clown" sir

Dont be mad, not all of us can make decent livings walking a golf course, 2.5-4 hours/day, 6-7 days/wk and meeting/talking with some of the most influential businessmen, sports figures and celebrities this world has to offer.

Its good to be the help sometimes

Cool story bro

Duuuh football

Lol @ truth became apparent

Umm 1st off, lol who are you again?

2nd, if you think that anything some random on a poker forum has to say about me is of any significance or has any impact whatsoever in my life moving forward, you are sorely mistaken and obv one delusional soul.

3rd, and best of all when considering your implied intellectual superiority while referencing my post history all weirdo stalky like, Ill say this....durrr duuuh football, duuh puppy dogs, pussy cats and err duuuh beeeer....


lol, you philistines

/derail, you aint getting me jammed up you pea brains

Good day sirs

Whenever i finally get the chance to go to bandon ill pass on a caddy just from reading this **** from no quarter. Nice job ruining a awesome thread you misserable ****

+1 and I'll never play there. What a prick!