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[Joe Bentham]

Read what I think and a couple of more pictures here http://pacduneslooper.blogspot.com

[JC Jones]

My favorite quote, Joe:

"I never played 18 greens that were that much fun."

Thanks

[Jim Franklin]

Have you played Lost Dunes or Ballyneal (as a comparison of 18 fun greens to putt)?

[Mark Smolens]

I've only played the preview at Old Mac, but the sheer majesty and size of the greens there take them above and beyond either Ballyneal or Lost Dunes (which are, imo, as good as it can get).  They certainly won't/couldn't be as fast as the greens at Lost Dunes, but I'm looking forward to getting back to the left coast to tackle the full course at Old McDonald. . .

[Rob Rigg]

Very cool that you got to play the full course before looping for someone on it.

Looks like you only had one round there thus far - but how would you - personally - split 10 on the property now?

[George_Bahto]

Joe B - glad you had such a good experience


the bowling ball  .................  good story                 - see Jim Urbina

It sits on top of the Alps hill - during construction, I wanted to roll it off there and down towards the green to see if it wold get there

glad to see itz still there


which route did you take on the 17th hole

[Joe Bentham]

George--
I hit it down the right hand side of the hole and then hit a haphazard lay up too far left.  Of the holes that I saw for the first time on Sunday 17 is the one I want to see again the most.  I just didn't feel like I got 'it' on that hole and I'm sure it was because I missed something.  The green site is very cool, feels like its perched there on that ledge. 

Rob--
I've always seen that question posed on here and have never given it much thought.  I live in Bandon.  I don't have to decide.  Sorry.

Jim--
Nope.   

[Duane Sharpe]

I too just played it last week and was "very" impressed. It was like no other course I have ever played!
Greens were enormous and extremely undulating. We played a scramble on it one day and I like it so much, we went back and played our own ball. It was even better the second time around. There was so much variety in the 10 holes that we played.
Great job Tom and Jim! What a thrill 
I honestly can't wait to get back to Bandon to play all four courses again.
Sharpee

[Rob Rigg]

Joe,

That is not very helpful info for those planning annual trips

I guess at the end of the day it is to each his own - I wish I was down there long enough to play 10 rounds on any given trip - more likely it would be 6.

Before-OM - it was a pretty easy decision for me - 4 PD, 4 BT and 2 BD

After-OM - it is going to be much tougher - potentially 4 OM, 3 PD, 2 BT, 1 BD or maybe 3 OM, 3 PD, 3 BT, 1 BD

What an incredible assortment of courses Mr Keiser has created - and if you think about how long BDGR has been in existence it is even more amazing - 4 world class courses that have been opened in over 10ish years. Unbelievable.

[Bill_McBride]

Joe B - glad you had such a good experience


the bowling ball  .................  good story                 - see Jim Urbina

It sits on top of the Alps hill - during construction, I wanted to roll it off there and down towards the green to see if it wold get there

glad to see itz still there


which route did you take on the 17th hole

George, which template is #17?

Is there a bell behind the Alps green?

[Jud Tigerman]

Rob,

I'm having the same problem with 8 rounds, thinking 3 OM, 3 PD, 2 BT, 1 BD?

[Rob Rigg]

Jud,

That is where I would be as well.

Of course this is always "to each his own" but it is fun to here how people are splitting up their rounds.

The cool thing about OM is that it will really appeal to the GCA nut and the "average" golf nut because it is so much damn fun.

Previously, I knew a lot of people who given 6 rounds would probably play 3 on BD, 2 on PD and 1 on BT. I think they will probably be leaning towards 2 OM, 2 BD, 2 PD now.

Which leads me to believe that OM is going to be a busy course and it is going to be pretty easy to get tee times on BT which I would certainly welcome.

[JC Jones]

Rob,

I'm having the same problem with 8 rounds, thinking 3 OM, 3 PD, 2 BT, 1 BD?

Im thinking you are playing more than 8 rounds.

[Jud Tigerman]

JC,
hey maybe that was my problem!!!!

[Ross Waldorf]

A Bandon thread always gets me posting, what can I say?

Just really looking forward to playing up there again. I'm booked for September of next year, and I'll be doing 4 rounds on OM, 2 on PD and BT and 1 on BD. Can't wait to see what these newest Old Macdonald holes look like.

Thanks for the update, Joe.

[Ben Sims]

I liken it to asking a 10 year old this question. If you had 10 tickets at the Disney World down in Kissimmee, FL, how would you divide them?

Epcot = Old Mac
Magic Kingdom = Pac Dunes
Animal Kingdom = Bandon Trails
Hollywood Studios = Bandon Dunes

[David Kelly]

I have a feeling that I will find it very easy to leave the Bandon Dunes course off of all my future Bandon itineraries.

[Ash Towe]

Having made my first visit to Bandon this year and played the preview I would do a 10 play split as follows-

Old Mac 4

Pacific 3

Trails 2

Bandon 1

I played Trails only once and Bandon twice on my visit, this as you can see would be reversed.

[Scott Weersing]

Read what I think and a couple of more pictures here http://pacduneslooper.blogspot.com

What part of the course did you not understand?
What is one weakness of the course? (No course is perfect as many think No. 12 at Pacific Dunes is just a connector hole.)

[Garland Bayley]

So Joe's a Duck. Guess that 'bout 'splains everything.

[Anthony Gray]

  Golf should be fun PERIOD. It is refreshing to see a course designed for fun and not for a "Major". I can't wait to three put.


  Anthony

[Bill_McBride]

I have a feeling that I will find it very easy to leave the Bandon Dunes course off of all my future Bandon itineraries.

I know what you mean, but there are some holes there I would hate to miss --- #16  , #15  , #4 and #5.  My Oregon brother and other Oregonians are the ones who are most loyal to the original.

[Duane Sharpe]

Don't forget to include 9 holes on the practice loop!  It was alot of fun as well.
Incredible practice facilities!

[Ross Waldorf]

Well here I go again. Playing zero rounds on Bandon Dunes is just flat out nuts, in my opinion. But to each his own. However, as far as giving advice to a first time visitor, you absolutely HAVE to play it. It's a fantastic golf course. I tend to find myself defending BD all the time on threads here, just because I often feel like a voice in the wilderness on GCA, where the generally held position is that it is far inferior to the other two (soon to be three). I just don't see it.

I'll second all of Bill McBride's picks. I mean you simply HAVE to see and play 16 on Bandon Dunes. It's a one-of-a-kind hole and absolutely spectacular. And in the summer wind it's one of the more thrilling tee shots at the resort to try and decide just how aggressive you want to be.

Anyway, in addition to the aforementioned 4, 5, 15, and 16, I would call 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, and 12 all terrific holes. Bandon Dunes will absolutely beat the pants off of most of the golf courses that most people play their entire lives. The amazing thing is that the other two (soon to be three) courses at the resort are better, and in some cases (PD for sure) WAY better. That's why the place is so damned great.

OK, that's my defense of Bandon Dunes for today. Don't wanna be a broken record.

[Cory Brown]

Yes, please skip Bandon Dunes...More for me!

[Joe Bentham]

Why does every Bandon thread devolve into the 10 round split 'discussion'?  It is annoying.  10 rounds in one trip isn't even a realistic number to begin with.  And Ross is right, coming to Bandon and not playing Bandon Dunes is silly. 

[Jud Tigerman]

i think 8 rounds is realistic....5 days- 36/18/36/18/36....fit in a massage on the 18 hole days! 

[Kalen Braley]

Joe its just an easier way to let people know how much you like/prefer the courses.

Would it be better to you if people said:

Old Mac - OMG! Luv it 4 ever!!
Pac Dunes - Not to be missed, epic golf!!
Bandon Trails - Terrific golf, a must play!!
Bandon Dunes - Awesome golf course, gotta see it!!

[JC Jones]

i think 8 rounds is realistic....5 days- 36/18/36/18/36....fit in a massage on the 18 hole days! 

I agree, only you would then be staying 6 nights with no golf on your day of arrival or day of departure.

Ideally, I'd get there in the morning then go 18/36/36/36/18 and depart in the afternoon of the 5th day.  You save yourself 2 nights lodging.

[Jud Tigerman]

JC- i agree, except for 2 things.  Making connections to and from chicago and pacing ourselves...back to back 36 is too much for some of us old guys...especially without one of melvyn's conveyances: 

[Bill_McBride]

Well here I go again. Playing zero rounds on Bandon Dunes is just flat out nuts, in my opinion. But to each his own. However, as far as giving advice to a first time visitor, you absolutely HAVE to play it. It's a fantastic golf course. I tend to find myself defending BD all the time on threads here, just because I often feel like a voice in the wilderness on GCA, where the generally held position is that it is far inferior to the other two (soon to be three). I just don't see it.

I'll second all of Bill McBride's picks. I mean you simply HAVE to see and play 16 on Bandon Dunes. It's a one-of-a-kind hole and absolutely spectacular. And in the summer wind it's one of the more thrilling tee shots at the resort to try and decide just how aggressive you want to be.

Anyway, in addition to the aforementioned 4, 5, 15, and 16, I would call 1, 2, 6, 10, 11, and 12 all terrific holes. Bandon Dunes will absolutely beat the pants off of most of the golf courses that most people play their entire lives. The amazing thing is that the other two (soon to be three) courses at the resort are better, and in some cases (PD for sure) WAY better. That's why the place is so damned great.

OK, that's my defense of Bandon Dunes for today. Don't wanna be a broken record.

Ross, agreed on #10.  It's amazing to me how few see how much easier that hole is with a tee shot way left.

[Garland Bayley]

Why does every Bandon thread devolve into the 10 round split 'discussion'?  It is annoying.  10 rounds in one trip isn't even a realistic number to begin with.  And Ross is right, coming to Bandon and not playing Bandon Dunes is silly. 

Joe,

Haven't you been reading this site? There are guys here that could/would do
Arrive, evening 18
Day 1 54
Day 2 54
Day 3 54
Leave day 4

Some of them won't even stop after 54 in a day.

[Joe Bentham]

Joe its just an easier way to let people know how much you like/prefer the courses.

Would it be better to you if people said:

Old Mac - OMG! Luv it 4 ever!!
Pac Dunes - Not to be missed, epic golf!!
Bandon Trails - Terrific golf, a must play!!
Bandon Dunes - Awesome golf course, gotta see it!!

No, I would prefer if we could stay on topic and discuss the new pictures of Old Mac I posted on my blog, or Old Mac in general.  Go back and look at what percentage of Bandon Threads die out because they are hijacked by the 10 round discussion.

Joe,

Haven't you been reading this site? There are guys here that could/would do
Arrive, evening 18
Day 1 54
Day 2 54
Day 3 54
Leave day 4

Some of them won't even stop after 54 in a day.

Garland

Whats with the personal attacks?  I've been reading this site for several years.  But I think the fact that I've been looping year round at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort for even longer gives my comments some credibility.  People don't play 54 holes two days in a row, let alone three.  In fact so few guests play more then 36 holes in a day that the resort gives away the third round.
Furthermore I'd suggest that your boot camp itinerary would leave little room for enjoyment of one's vacation or any true understanding or appreciation of the golf courses being played.  Of course to each his own.  But have you played such a schedule here?  Or where you just interested in arguing? 
Also the only thing my being a Duck explains is that I root for the best team in the PAC-10, maybe one of the best teams in the nation and certainty one of the funnest teams in college football to watch.  Who do you root for?

[Rob Rigg]

Joe,

My intent was not to jack the thread - just get some "context" from others who have played there (at least the preview round).

Honestly, one of the most challenging things about planning a Bandon trip, even before OM, was how to split rounds because the courses are all SO good.

In terms of the course - what are your favorite holes on the full loop? which ones will your clients have the most fun with, or the most challenge? Is there any type of client that will NOT enjoy OM?

Go Ducks! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

(I am Duck by marriage)

[Pete_Pittock]

I have played the preview course and walked the remaining holes, on OM at least four times. Taken 160+ photos, won't upload them until May at the earliest. Don't want to pop their bubble. Been going down there before Bandon Dunes even opened. Will be there  11/20-23 for 4 rounds.
10:  PD-3, OM-3; BD-2, BT-2
8:    PD-3, OM-3; BD-1  BT-1.

Will four courses + C&C mean groups will spend more time at Bandon or just try and cram in more golf into the same time slot?