My group consists of one golfer in the 4-5 handicap range, and three golfers that have probably ranged from 8-14 while we were on our various trips out there. We have played both courses in relatively calm and extremely windy conditions. No rain. Always in the summer. If anything, I'd say over the course of our three trips the wind has been slightly tougher at Bandon Dunes because I recall the windiest round being there, and I recal the calmest round being at Pacific early one morning.
Overall average group score at Bandon Dunes (21 rounds): 90.29
Overall average group score at Pacific Dunes (30 rounds): 91.53
So, Pacific Dunes play slightly tougher to par (+20.53) vs. Bandon Dunes (+18.29) for our group over a reasonable sample size.
On our first trip, the two course played almost identical in average strokes. The 2nd trip out there, Bandon played 3 strokes easier. The 3rd trip out, we managed an average under 90 for both courses and Bandon played a little less than a stroke easier.
Our consolidated best ball is 4 strokes better at Bandon (59) than at Pacific (63) in fewer rounds. We've birdied every hole but 6,7,12, 16,17, and 18 at Bandon. We've put up an eagle on #9. At Pacific we have failed to birdie 1-4 and 7,8 as a group on the front nine. On the back nine, we are missing 11,13,16, and 17.
Our consolidated worst ball is 3 strokes worse at Bandon than at Pacific. At Bandon, the only hole where we have never posted a score worse than 5 is #6. We have posted 10 or worse at 5,8, and 18. At Pacific, the only hole where no one has made worse than 5 is #10. We have posted at least one score of 10 or worse at #4 and #18.
Individual results:
Golfer #1 (Lowest handicapper): Pacific (83.33) vs. Bandon (84.25.)
This includes two rounds of 79 at Bandon and one at Pacific. He has failed to break 90 once on each course. His "best ball" 18 and "worst ball" 18 is within one stroke at each course, so there isn't a difference in tendancy to birdie or blow up on a larger number of holes at one course vs. the other.
Golfer #2: Pacific (94.33) vs. Bandon (87.75)
He has never broken 90 at Pacific Dunes, and he has broken 90 3 of 4 tries at Bandon (including an 80.) His best ball is within one stroke on either course, but his worst ball is 20 strokes higher at Pacific Dunes. He has only made worse than 7 on one hole at Bandon, and he has done it on 5 different holes at Pacific.
Golfer #3 (Alan Gard): Pacific (92.67) vs. Bandon (94.57)
Alan is the only one of us that tends to be much more volatile on a hole-by-hole basis at Bandon. His best score at Pacific is 86. He is the only one in our group that hasn't broken 90 at Bandon. Despite his scoring average difference, Alan's best ball at Bandon is 3 shots better than at Pacific (despite playing fewer rounds.) He is more likely to birdie holes at Bandon, but he's also a good bet to throw up a big number somewhere along the way (#5 comes to mind - in 7 rounds he has made double bogey or worse 6 times here.)
Golfer #4 (me): Pacific (94.00) vs. Bandon (92.33)
I have never broken 90 at Pacific Dunes (despite numerous personal sob stories where I blew it due to one or two particular hole.) I've broken 90 twice at Bandon (86 is my best score), and I shot 90 on the number a third time in probably the most difficult wind conditions we played at either course. Bandon Dunes remains the only course I've ever played - EVER - where I hit both par 5s on the same side in 2 shots during the same round (#3 and #9.) I tend to make more pars at Pacific than I do at Bandon, but I mix in more birdies at Bandon and more blow-ups at Pacific Dunes.