Kyle,
Did you play all three courses?
If so, what were your thoughts and how would you break out 10 rounds across BD/PD/BT?
I always figured that on my first trip I would try to do 3 days with 36 in total on each, which will have to become 4 days x 36 when OM opens.
That would be really tough this time of year though unless you got some smashing weather and got off as the first or second group of the day. Looks like you may have been able to do that?
Rob,
I played PD twice the 1st day.
BT and BD on Day 2.
The 3rd day just BD (my mom was tuckered out, the clearance sale was calling, and I had a twilight tour of Old MacDonald to squeeze in
).
Thoughts:
PD is superb. I especially enjoyed the recovery shots around the greens. It wasn't as much of a clear favorite as I was expecting. As a set, par 3s don't get better than these. PD is the only course on property with a strong finishing hole relative to the preceding tests. The course logo features seals circling one another – a better metaphor for my local muni than anything near Bandon.
BT was my favorite driving course. Most holes offer an interesting set of options off the tee, thanks to the massive width and contours. The greens rolled a few feet faster than the other two courses. A nice contrast to its sisters and an aesthetically superior layout (not even Monterey's Del Monte Forest is quite this majestic). Also, like PD, a lot of fun options for greenside recoveries. They had a small shuttle between the 13th green and 14th tee, due to the long, steep walk. 16 is also built on thorny terrain. Still, I like the routing and I’m glad they stuck with it, despite the relatively difficult (for my maternal unit, at any rate) walk it produced. Watch out for deer poop.
BD had plenty of compelling holes. My only major gripe reflects the finish work, which is not as refined as at BT or PD (tough competition). Many areas between holes were bare dirt from recent gorse clearing or brownish, trimmed fescue from previous gorse clearing. Hence, the course had a bit of an manicured, country club look to it in spots, and an under-maintained municipal look in other places. The shaping around some greens (especially 3,4,6,9,12,18) seemed strangely artificial. Still, the 16th is perhaps the best hole on property, thanks in part to Kidd’s remarkably naturalistic diagonal ridge construction and placement. The 5th is a world-class original, even if the natural mounding in the fairways isn’t perfectly placed. 7, 8, 10 and 14 are compelling inland holes. If the 1st, 9th and 18th can be spruced up a bit, this course will be one of the elite.
All of the courses reward drive placement as much as power. Strategic golf at its best.
The lack of housing and carts, quick pace of play, excellent food and service, comfortable lodgings, and golf-centric atmosphere make for the most sublime experience in public golf.
10 round split:
Pacific Dunes: 4
Bandon Trails: 4
Bandon Dunes 2