Bandon Tweeks

[John Kavanaugh]

After just finishing up a dream golf trip few will ever experience I felt like being a little bitch and mentioning a tweek or two. I feel that several of the green tees at Pacific are set up far too short, most notably the first.  In days of slight wind a longer course is in order to reveal most stategic elements.

I would also like to see an attempt to promote the Oregon wine industry with a more affordable selection.  I did not ask if they have a corking fee because if so a run into town could have solved this problem.

The transportation cart on the 14th at Trails need to go as  it is an audible and visual mess.  I gave up carts for lent so took a pass myself.

I'll have more when I get back home...Any ideas from you?

[Garland Bayley]

What Oregon wine were you offered that you found so unaffordable?

Edit: Amazing this internet thing. I was able to go to their website and look at their wine list. It would appear that you saw about as affordable as it gets. I believe my club would be charging more for the same wines. The Erath Pinot Noir is a value Oregon Pinot Noir, and it was offered at a very reasonable price for a restaurant. You should have jumped for the Argyle Brut if you are into that kind of thing. Sorry, but we don't make no ripple here in Oregon.

[John Kirk]

I'm glad you had a good time.  The weather cooperated as predicted.

I agree with you that some of the green tee locations can be too short.  However, the back (370 yard) tee at PD #1 is a tough opening drive.  It would be nice if there was a 330 yard box, but it's not that important.  You can always use the Ballyneal philosophy of playing whatever tee box moves you.

I think they put the 13-14 Trails cart ride in because somebody had a heart attack walking up the hill.  It's not that steep, but it is a long steady climb.

[Sean_A]

How come house wines (a selection a few for say $12-$20 a bottle) in the States are rarely on offer?  I have always found the selection of wines in most American joints to be terribly expensive.  Additionally, I would have thought there has to be a huge market for $30-$50 (what I think of as where the bulk of the choices should be unless one is at a fairly upscale place) wines that seems to often go untapped.  Is Bandon upscale?  The clubhouse etc doesn't look all that fancy.  I guess I will have to make my way there someday. 

Ciao 

[John Kavanaugh]

 The wine list is terribly upscale with the cheapest glass of Oregon pinot at $12 and bottles of wine typically at 4 times retail.  The golf and lodging was a  great bargain and the beer was only 25% high.

Our first night we went in town and had mega pizza and beer for only $10 per man so that is alays an option.  I also got by cheaply on food due to a chipped tooth and a diet of soup which is very good at $6 a bowl.

One item I do find curiuos is that they now allow you to bring personal pull carts...I find it to throw the aesthetic out of scew.

[John Kavanaugh]

A must stay on the way is the $70 per night beach front room at the Chinook Winds casino followed by a drive down the Oregon Coast Highway.  It is so beautiful that I almost wish my wife was here.  Does Bandon have a Honeymoon Suite...because it would be sweet if you had a friend packing cooch.

[tlavin]

The wine is expensive at Bandon, but that's a forgivable sin, since everything else strikes me as very fair, especially when compared with the felonious charges at Pebble Beach.

The comments about the Oregon coast are understated, to tell you the truth.  I would argue that the Oregon coastline is the most scenic in the United States.  Those of you who fly into North Bend without ever driving the coastal highway are really shorting yourselves.

[Tom Huckaby]

A must stay on the way is the $70 per night beach front room at the Chinook Winds casino followed by a drive down the Oregon Coast Highway.  It is so beautiful that I almost wish my wife was here.  Does Bandon have a Honeymoon Suite...because it would be sweet if you had a friend packing cooch.

That simply must be saved for posterity.   

Terry, agreed re Oregon coast - thankfully I've made that drive on non-golf trips.  I will say it should be done at least once.  But one tends to want to get to Bandon to play golf... and if so, well... it's hard to argue over the time savings one gets flying into North Bend.

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

I would also replace the weight room near the bunker bar with a tournament standard ping pong arena.

[Jeff Doerr]

John,

Here are a few observations after our trip:

1) Not sure why they don't drain the swamp in front of 7 tee on BT.  It reminds me of the trend a number of years ago of having bunkers that transition into a lake. It just does not fit the course to me and the trees in standing water look more like a swamp in the south than a forest in the Northwest.

2) The cart issue between 13 and 14 is also an issue for me. I did the Forest Walk also. I know it would be $$$, but some kind of train/tram (think Swiss Alps) could make a difference in perception.  I like the "Trails" aspect of BT, but the road and cart detract from that.

3) BT has a really cool Asian/Nothwest clubhouse. It would be nice if the outbuilding at the backside junction carried more of the theme. The clubhouse is uncrowded and a good place for a quiet attentive meal.

4) They are working on the left hillside of 14 to allow more shots to roll down to the fairway that are missed left.

4b) BT is really a LOT of fun and should not be missed. Very open for replays in the afternoon. I wish my knee was a bit better for this trip.

5) BD continues to go through a radical gorse removal program. Most striking on this trip was all the gorse and brush removed at holes 4 and 5. A tee shot pushed right at #4 and now sometimes be found and played. The islands in the middle of 5 fairway are now just lumps with grass, gone are the stubby pines. Holes 15 and 16 had a severe scalping with a lot of hydroseeding. It should look great by summer and keep a lot of the high cappers in play.

6) BD also gave up on the alternate 1st green with beach grass planted all over it.

7) Beyond the new clubhouse going in, PD did not have many tweeks. The new clubhouse will be a two story affair with a view restaurant/bar on top.

8) More than the other two courses, the collection areas at Pacific Dunes are a bit ragged.

9) At PD, 3 and 12 green sites have had more gorse removed on the back side of the greens.

9b) The par 3 course at the range (designed by DMK) is great fun and a perfect way to spend an afternoon if you don't have enough time or energy for a 2nd 18. There are some very very  cool greens and bunkers out there.

10) I agree with John on the wine list. We'll have to find out what the corkage fee is.

11) The swim trunks for the spa (main lodge gift shop) are $42 or $46 - a little steep. The spa is a perfect way to end a long day of golf. Here is a best practice for travelers. Before you pile into the car and head off to your flight or long drive - head downstairs in the main lodge, take in the spa, take a hot shower, and put on some clean/comfortable clothes, take 3 Vitamin I's, and enjoy your trip home.

[Garland Bayley]

The wine list is terribly upscale with the cheapest glass of Oregon pinot at $12 and bottles of wine typically at 4 times retail.  ...

I'm sorry, but I looked at the Oregon pinots on their wine list. They are only about 2 times retail. Where I saw their wine list lacking is in good quality value Cabs and Merlots.

[John Kirk]

I would also replace the weight room near the bunker bar with a tournament standard ping pong arena.

I would replace the Bunker Bar near the weight room with a ping pong area.  I'm not unbeatable, but give me a spongy paddle and I can bring it.

[Jeff Doerr]

Garland, The list I saw at the table looked a lot steeper than the one posted on the web...

[Craig Sweet]

The wine thing is getting out of hand....I have noticed that in our finer restaurants (in Montana) a glass of ok red starts around $7-$9.... that's pretty steep when you can buy a bottle of the same wine at the wine shop for $9-$17 dollars....fortunately we have several real good restaurants in Missoula with no liquor licenses and they allow you to BYOB, and they have no cork fee

[Garland Bayley]

Garland, The list I saw at the table looked a lot steeper than the one posted on the web...

Ok Mr. Mucci. I guess I have to go there to be credible.
 

[Tom Jefferson]

Jeff;
Interesting comments about my home here.....thanks!
My only comment would be to explain why the "swamp" on the front/right of #7 BT is NOT drained.

It is a naturally occurring wetland!  One of the distinctive environmental features of the Bandon Dunes property are the numerous forested wetlands that exist and are located mostly in the southern portion of the resort.

So we could "drain" it, except that it is a necessary part of that forest ecosystem.  While perhaps unusual, the bunker there is designed to accept winter runoff, then slowly release that water across in front of the tee, into a grassy retention pond just left of the tee, and from there to slowly enter as clean water into Round Lake, adjacent to the tee.

Glad you guys had a good trip here.....sorry I wasn't able to meet, host, and visit with you.

Best,
Tom

[Kalen Braley]

I would also replace the weight room near the bunker bar with a tournament standard ping pong arena.

I would replace the Bunker Bar near the weight room with a ping pong area.  I'm not unbeatable, but give me a spongy paddle and I can bring it.

John Kirk,

We need to meet up...give me the same spongy paddle and you'll be eating ping pong balls for lunch...that is if you can see em.   

[Tom Jefferson]

Kalen and John;

There is a secret table here at the Dunes......insiders only!
That includes the two of you!
Just remember that I am the true champion here!
We use mango balls here....practice with them before your next arrival.

Best,
Tom

[Mark Smolens]

Never having been to Bandon, when the Illinois PGA announced a pro-am in late October I signed up a team.  We play tournament rounds on each course, so I figure we'll show up a couple of days early and play at least one practice round on each course.  I have a few questions for those who have experienced Bandon in the past:

I was told that although it's a nice drive from Portland, on our first trip we should get there as quickly as possible (also seems odd to rent a car for a week if you're just going to get to the resort and play golf for 5 or six days, which is undoubtedly what we'll do). If we leave from Chicago on Friday morning, the Horizon Air flight gets in at 3:45 p.m.  Question #1: will that leave us enough time/daylight/open golf course to get in a round that day, or should we just figure on a couple of hours of practice and the par-3 course mentioned below?

2:  the flight back to Portland leaves at 11 something in the am?  Does that give us enough time to get in one last round in the am? (I guess this is a pace of play question -- we're fast but if somebody's in front of us are we going to risk missing this little flight?).

#3:  Assuming we play 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday (the event starts on Monday), which course should we play twice?

#4:  Since we haven't been there before, I'm assuming that caddies will be of assistance?

[Mike Benham]

We use mango balls here....

The above is not a reference to ingredients used by the chef ...

But I got to love the trash talking for ping pong ... it really is a great post-round activity amongst the boys ...

[Tom Huckaby]

Hey Mark - here's my take - others can likely give more or better info - but I've flown in there twice, driven up once (from SF Bay Area)

Question #1: will that leave us enough time/daylight/open golf course to get in a round that day, or should we just figure on a couple of hours of practice and the par-3 course mentioned below?
3:45 arrival into North Bend, I assume?  It's a tiny airport and the shuttles are well-managed (btw, if you are flying, just do the shuttle - you will have little reason to leave the resort and thus won't need a car - that is unless you need or want to go to local casino or town of Bandon).  In any case either way, best case scenario is you get to the resort at 4:45-5pm, I'd say.  I'd guess it gets dark around 6:30pm at thje latest in October?  So judge accordingly.


2:  the flight back to Portland leaves at 11 something in the am?  Does that give us enough time to get in one last round in the am? (I guess this is a pace of play question -- we're fast but if somebody's in front of us are we going to risk missing this little flight?).
you're really going to need to leave the resort by 9:30am to safely make that flight.  It's possible you could fly around very early and get the round in, but you'd have to have everything break perfectly.  Still, if you are early risers, why not try?


#3:  Assuming we play 36 holes on Saturday and Sunday (the event starts on Monday), which course should we play twice?
ah, there's the great question, lots of disagreement there.  But if you do have only the four rounds, it's hard not to do Pacific Dunes twice.  It is the best of the three.  Just how MUCH better it is than the other two is what we debate about here.

#4:  Since we haven't been there before, I'm assuming that caddies will be of assistance?
I've found that it's hit and miss - some are great, some are not.  I don't think a caddie is MANDATORY for scoring purposes... but if you do want to take no chances, then of course take one.  They do add to the expense, but perhaps that won't be an issue for you.

[Michael Dugger]

hey guys.

14th green at Trails?  What's the skinny, was it in play?

[Mark Smolens]

Mr. H, thanks for the input.  The caddy fee is included for the tournament rounds (tip's on us), but since it's the first trip I would say that we'll probably go with them for the practice rounds as well.  It's certainly easier to play 36 with somebody else carrying the bag!

[Tom Huckaby]

Mr. H, thanks for the input.  The caddy fee is included for the tournament rounds (tip's on us), but since it's the first trip I would say that we'll probably go with them for the practice rounds as well.  It's certainly easier to play 36 with somebody else carrying the bag!

Makes perfect sense.  You will need to conserve energy and they sure can't hurt!

[Scott Weersing]

hey guys.

14th green at Trails?  What's the skinny, was it in play?

Yes the green was in play with the modifications. The green was extended and the drop off area filled in or raised up. It looked like a quilt with the different rectangular sections of turf. It played fast and firm. The hole was not in the new area when we played it on Saturday, February 9.