[Tom_Doak]

Pat:  I would say the Trails is maybe 65-75% as windy as the other two courses, excepting the holes right along the cliff which are even more windy.  The trees are opened up in fairly broad corridors some of which run parallel to the prevailing winds, and the elevations are about the same as the other two courses.  I'm sure that the 14th at Bandon Trails is the highest point on any of the three courses.

[Ron Corbin]

I also returned from a trip to Bandon last week one round on each of the courses.  I've gone there with a bunch of buddies every year since it opened during January.  I dont get the feeling that the atmosphere has changed all that significantly since it has opened.  It is still a much more laid back atmosphere than either Pebble or Kohler.  While it may be more crowded than in the past it doesnt have the pretension you find at Pebble or the stuffiness of Kohler.  Most of the people there seemed to be true golfers and not corporate golfers, and on the hole the prices are still reasonable in the winter.

I'm surprised at the criticism of the flow of BT.  With only one round I dont feel like I'm ready to talk much about specific holes or stategy, I did feel that the course flowed really well.  If I hadnt read all of the comments about the three phases of the course (dunes, meadows, and forrest) I dont think I would have even noticed the transitions in the first round.  I think that speaks highly of C&C's work in routing and blending the three environments.  

I was also very unpleaseantly surprised with the changes to BD #1.  I think that they have ruined a very good opening hole that really set up the course.  Our caddies also stated that it was being done to protect the buildings as well as to eliminate a perceived bottleneck at 1 and 2.  The new hole plays to low ground to the south side of number 2 tee which does not look nearly as interesting as the old green site.  Our caddies were split over whether they were going to maintain the old green and offer an upper and lower option ala PD 9.

They have also been doing a very aggresive gorse abatement process on BD which we were told was for the Curtis cup.  It noticeabbly opened up some of the fairways particularly on 14.  Now cutting the corner on the dog leg has lost all of its teeth.  I'm told they will eventually replant with other vegetation to replace the gorse assuming the gorse doesnt return.

[Eric Olsen]

In addition to removing the gorse that protects the dogleg on 14 BD, they have also removed all of the gorse on the mound behind the green.  

The wind definitely remains a factor on BT, and there is a noticeable temperature change when you come out of the woods back into the dunes area, starting on the 14th tee.  

[Raphael_Larson]

What is the purpose of removing the gorse behind BD 14?  In my 15 plus rounds at BD, I have never seen it come into play.  I love playing into that green when the entire gorse-covered hill behind the green is in full bloom.  

While I understand how moving the fairway and green on BD #1 will reduce the risk of hitting the pub, I don't see how it will eliminate the bottleneck at #2.  The problem to me is not the walk from #1 to #2, it is the fact that #2 green is difficult to hit and often requires a blind chip from in front or right of the green.  The blind chip followed by 2 or more putts slows play to a crawl.  The best way to eliminate that problem is to space groups farther apart at #1 tee not to change #1 green and fairway.  (Another possible solution, could be to go back to the original #2 tee box ... although I've never played that tee box so I could be completely wrong about that.)

I look forward to seeing the course on my next trip in July.  Until then, I'll be skeptical about the course being "better" b/c of the changes.    

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