Just booked a short trip at the beginning of November; hoping for some good fall weather

Will play all four courses once if the weather doesn't suck too badly. 6 week countdown.

then driving back to CO with my brother who works out there - will go the Reno route and play some cards; should be fun



Sand Valley (Wisconsin/same owner as Bandon) is def. going to be my trip for 2018; place sounds epic and with a Coore/Crenshaw and McLay-Kidd courses I can't imagine not liking it or finding it less than super playable and fun.

I miss that place. Don't think I am going to be able to make it there in 2018 unless work takes me to that part of the country.

I'm going November 19-22. Kinda upset friends wouldn't just pay more for better weather, but I'll pray to the gods. If we get tons of wind/rain I don't know how much fun it'll be.

If I ever get the chance to play there I hope it is really windy*. Seems like it would be a fun time using the ground game.

*but not so windy you can't get a ball to stay still on the greens.

lots of wind is fine and rather enjoyable because you get the links experience.
rain is also fine if you're properly prepared.
both together results in my group skipping our last round at bandon this year and getting a rain check. 30+ mph winds with sideways rain isn't fun if you've already played three rounds there (and we play year round in oregon).

As I have discovered the hard way good rain gear is worth paying extra money for.

Rain gear is the one thing you shouldn't skimp on, but even goretex can only do so much.

Yea I should have said wind+rain, which would be a total waste of a trip imo, so hopefully we luck out

I predict your odds at >65%. Bandon is in the Oregon banana belt and doesn't see the rain PDX does.

Leaving this weekend.



Staying at the Inn, if that matters?

Weather forecast doesn't mean much at this point, but the 10-day shows ~50% rain, highs of upper 50's, guess that's not too bad for late November.

Hopefully we get at least 1 clear day.

here's the most reliable link for a weather forecast once the time gets close.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...16328067220289

and here's an hourly forecast for Bandon.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick...Type=graphical

Hoo boy that round at preserve is going to be colder than a witches britches. Heading up on Dec 3-7. I am blessed to live a bit over 3 hrs south, so usually get 20-30 rounds a year at the resort. Will post a little TR this time. I guess McKees is closed all of December and the place is packed. We have to eat at the Gallery 3 out of 4 nights. Barely got a table at Trails one night and no luck at Pacific. Bummer because Pacific has best food and the nice little fire pit over the punchbowl. Makes for a nice evening.

are they renovating McKee's similar to what they did to the Gallery a few years ago? first i've heard of this.

Just got off the phone with them, and we got 2 evenings at pacific grill, 1 at gallery -- nothing was available at trails end any of the days we are there

I seem to recall when the American's blamed their poor rain gear as a reason they lost The Ryder Cup one year.

TR for my most recent trip; this is now my fourth trip to the resort in the last 24 months. I'm completely smitten with the place and although my list of courses and areas to visit is growing I can't help but spend my time and money heading back to the Oregon coast. The uniqueness of the courses and the variety of weather and playing conditions makes every round memorable and enjoyable.



I flew from Colorado into Eugene this trip and the drive is about 2-hours shorter than from Portland and it's a nice reduction. After initially booking a Chrome Lake double for lodging I was bumped to the North-West room in the lodge about a week before my trip. This is one of the best things about Bandon; the reservation agents are super knowledgeable and helpful and if the only availability is not your ideal choice they will get you booked and then get you on the wait list for anything that comes open (tee times, room preferences, meal reservations, etc.)

Having now stayed at the Lily Ponds, the Inn (twice) and the Lodge my favorites are the lodge and Inn. The Inn is probably the best option for a small group (less than 8) because of the library/bar. It's a great spot to watch sports, play cards and hangout. I think the lodge was great for this solo trip as it's most conveniently located with regard to the most of the dining options, Jacuzzi, fitness center, bunker bar, etc.

The first morning was almost a disaster when I was seated at the Gallery and looked around to see that there was no buffet option. Being a Tuesday and the last day before the rates dropped for November the resort was on the slow side; to the extent that there was menu only options for breakfast. All was good as I ordered the filet medallions and eggs, added some avocado and had a nice meal. After a very quick driving range session it was off to the first tee at Pacific Dunes.

The courses were all in great shape; the greens were all smooth and relatively quick. Pacific had the nets down on #1 and #16 that week - but no other spots that I saw. Weather was partly cloudy with a soft breeze. Played with a twosome from Portland who were great guys; drove down the day before as the weather for 3-days was looking awesome.



My replay was at Trails and the clouds had burnt off and it was a bluebird afternoon with almost no wind. My brother who has caddied at Bandon the last two years was free for the afternoon so he was able to join me. His golf game has remained on average about the same during his time out there (quality of strikes and such) but his ability to get around the courses was awesome; having seen a few hundred rounds on each course he knows where to position himself and he definitely can read the greens. I shot my handicap and lost a match like 6&5 almost entirely due to him bettering his handicap by a lot due to his familiarity. Again the course was in great shape; some of the greens were sandy from punching but they rolled true.







Went into town with my brother after the round and hit up the Arcade Tavern for Taco Tuesday and Bingo. It was Halloween night and it was quite the scene. Between the locals, the caddies, the Halloween celebrators and the World Series watchers it packed and lively. Tacos were solid, Bingo was fun ($2/board, 3 boards/game and 6 games/night means you can have a few hours of fun for $36 - and the average Bingo netted ~$200) and it was great to meet some more caddies and my brothers friends.

Called it a night right after Bingo ended as I was tired and had another 2 36-hole days scheduled.

Wednesday morning started with the same breakfast and a quick warm up before heading to Old Mac. Old Mac is quite the conundrum to me; it has a few of my favorite holes on the property (3, 5, 7, 13, 16 & 18 are all awesome to me) but I rank it 4th on my list of preference for courses. Can't explain it - but I always enjoy my rounds at OM. Got paired with 3 younger guys from Vancouver and we had a blast; especially when one of the guys I really got to chatting with hit it in the road hole bunker (right after we discussed not doing that) and ended up making a tidy 5 or 6 footer to post 11 on the hole. 3 attempts in the bunker and then a shot backward out. Course was in excellent shape and the weather was cloudy and breezy.





Had a replay on Bandon and it was just me and it was one of the most fun afternoons of golf I could have without any company. Was behind too many foursomes to really consider playing through but pace of play is always pretty good at Bandon, so if I hit a few extra chips and putts I never felt like I waited long on the next tee before I could play. The clouds dissipated again and the most tranquil and beautiful afternoon also left me in no desire to get done anyway. I was out on the 15-17 stretch as the sun was getting lower; and it's such a special place between the setting and the holes themselves it's very powerful and exactly when golf is all about. Played my best round of the trip that included birdies on 3 of the 4 par-5s and I finally got a drive on the fairway on 16 (my first three trips had left me on the cliffs edge right once, on the left dune once and on the hill between the split fairways once).









Had dinner at McKee's, took a shower and got into bed after another great day. Thursday morning the resort was noticeably busier as the first weekend of the reduced rates was starting; my start time was also a little later but the practice center was hopping at 7:15. I warmed up and once again headed to Pacific Dunes where I was paired with two college buddies who were making their 19th annual trip (since the resort opened). Our streak of great weather was coming to an end; it was cloudy, breezy and was expected to dump on us about the time we started the back nine. We fortunately avoided the rain until the 16th hole but it blew really good from the time we got to the 3rd tee onward. I hit my shot of the week on 17 which is great as that hole is truly spectacular. Downwind a hit it wonderfully just to the front of the green tot he back left pin and it traversed the green as intended and ended up 4' just below the hole; sank the right-center putt for 2 and proceeded to hit 3 more high quality shots on 18 to give myself a 8 footer to finish birdie birdie; no dice.

It was raining sideways at that point; so I opted to skip my replay at Trails and call it a trip. I would have then needed to pack my clubs for ShipSticks home when everything was soaked (as opposed to just wet coming of Pac) and I was able to play all 4 courses, shoot 4 good rounds and had a blast.

Ate lunch at the Puffin (the steak sandwich is so good; definitely have that for lunch sometime) and then got my clubs dropped off for shipping home. The end purpose of the trip was to drive back to Colorado with my brother as his season was over - so I spent the last night in his apartment as he finished packing his car and cleaning out the place. We left before dawn the next morning and started the day-and-a-half trip home - the best part about a 19 hour drive after Bandon is all of the time you get to spend reliving the shots, the rounds, the routing and discussing the age old Bandon debate, how do you rank the courses. Having played 4+ rounds on each course now I can say definitively that my ranking is:

1. Trails
2. Bandon
3. Pacific
4. Old Mac

Trails has the most shot value for me; hole 6 is my favorite hole ever and I really don't have any holes I dislike on the entire routing. It's a great finisher and I like that it's a little set away from everything else on property. Bandon is a fantastic routing that allows for a lot of fun. Pacific is super solid; but tougher and I think 14 is really tough in the winter wind (all I've played it in). And as I said about Old Mac earlier; it's a great layout and I like a lot of the holes but it for mostly inexplicable reasons sits in 4th. This ranking is saying that if I had 5 rounds to play I'd do all 4 once and have an extra round on trails.

The best way to break it down is the 10-round trip hypothetical. I'd do 3 at Trails and Bandon and 2 each at OM and Pacific. I didn't get around to playing the Preserve this trip but it still sits highly on my list of most fun things in golf; so I'd also work the preserve into just about any trip that was longer than this one (3 days on property). Same goes for the Punch Bowl.

I really do want to get out and try a few of the other North American links style resorts; Sand Valley, Streamsong and Cabot are all on my agenda for the coming years.

Great TR.

Leaving tomorrow for Bandon, 1st round is noon Sunday on trails, praying for decent weather =/

glgl

don't forget the ziploc baggies for your phone if it's dumping - even my titleist StaDry bag doesn't really keep all of the water out in those times - and if they don't offer them up ask for the waterproof scorecards

Malice - after the effort by KJ you have absolutely no excuse to not post a trip report .

by saying that, i also promise to post a TR with pics sometime in mid January after our group of 24 takes its annual trip. be ready to see 16 people staggering towards a green on Shortys while still drinking.

I'll post more later.

Played really well today and still shot 87 at trails (4 hc), my +1 buddy shot 87 as well! It was tough out there today with the wind whipping quite a bit and we weren't even on the coast.

18 tee


Best view on trails probably


Just played some pool and had beers in the bunker bar.

Onward to pacific grill.

nice! Can't wait for your thoughts on the courses and property!

I know I could look it up but for conversation's sake, how much does this trip run? Want to make this trip at least once in my life. Do a Myrtle Beach trip with the boys maybe I can convince them to make this one instead one of these years.

Great pics and great TR's

Just finished our 745 preserve round, it poured and the wind was killer, but if it's going to do that for any round it may as well be at the preserve.

It was still a blast, but 13 holes was enough. We had a couple good looks at Aces, but not sure how I'd feel about a hole in one on some of those holes!

Only got 1 picture before everything was getting soaked.

Got everything drying now for a couple hours until our noon tee time at old Mac.

I think we'll be around $1,200 or so per person playing every course once, 3 nights at the inn + food/drinks.

Depends how crazy you go on food and drinks I guess, I got our first tab at pacific grill and it was $205 for 3 people with 1 drink each, 2 apps and 3 entrées.

Yup - huge discrepancy between winter, spring and summer.

Peak is going to be $1k/day for lodging (splitting a $450/night room), 36 holes ($415), caddies (optional - $220 for 36) and food ($100-$150). $750 for just 18 holes/day I'd guess.

In the winter you're looking at splitting a room for $200/night; $150 greens fees, $80 replays and caddies if you want them. So $300/day is doable probably.