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[Kalen Braley]

I've been sitting back watching this go back and forth...and I must say I agree with Ben on this one.

To be critical of BD and say its not even worth a play is downright crazy.  Is it likely the "worst" course at the resort?  Probably... I can go along with that. But to say you won't play it because of that, is like saying you would turn down Heidi Klum just because there were a couple of even hotter women in the room.

Bandon Dunes is a top notch course that just happens to be surrounded by a couple of "higher" top notch courses, but just because that is so, doesn't make it dog-meat.  When visitors look in on threads like this one...thats when I gotta believe they are shaking thier heads and thinking wtf?

Just my two cents!!   

[Michael Dugger]

Concur with the esteemed Mr. Braley. 

And I would add that to boast Old Macdonald is better than Pacific Dunes, and to do so before the course is even OPEN, is equally egregious.

[Jud Tigerman]

Kalen,

While I agree that Bandon Dunes is a very good course that gets knocked a bit because of the C & C, Doak bias of many on this site, including myself (at least in the Doak camp), the point is the following: There are a wealth of courses on this property and a limited # of rounds per trip. So why not play the most rounds on the best courses when you are there? There are also considerations like the fact that on summer afternoons the oceanside courses can get REALLY F*CKING WINDY!!!  So frankly when we go back I'll probably fit in 1 round on BD and 1 or 2 on BT, mainly to appease the rest of my sordid contingent, but will play 2-3 times each on PD and OM....

[Jed Peters]

Probably... I can go along with that. But to say you won't play it because of that, is like saying you would turn down Heidi Klum just because there were a couple of even hotter women in the room.

I'd definitely include Heidi on the mix-in.

And I play BD once per trip.

[Kalen Braley]

Jud and Jed,

Good to hear!! 

And to clarify, I'm by no means advocating that one should spend the majority of thier rounds at BD during a trip there.  Was only saying that if you made the effort to get there and had time for 6+ rounds, it would be borderline nuts not to get in at least 1 on each course.

[Michael Dugger]

I don't really buy the argument that BT is less windy.

Get up on the tee at #11 and tell me that.....or #14......or #7......or the dunes holes.

[David Botimer]

14 at BT really does need to be on a members course.  You MUST know what is going on and the danger or it will bite you.

I just caddied in the BD Club Championship a few weeks ago (for the 50 local business people who are the "members" of Bandon Dunes).  One lady in my pairing PICKED UP on 14 at BT after (drumroll please).......19 strokes.  The next time on 14, my player was a 14 handicap.  He hit his tee shot to the front edge (the EXACT spot I instructed him too, from 280 yards!!), 2 putted for birdie, and watched the carnage of another in his group play his version of army golf (left, right, etc.).

This is not a "members" hole, it is a "good golfers" hole.  You either approach the green from the front, or you need an incredibly delicate short game to have the touch to hold the green from the left.  Too many players get sucked into playing approach shots to the left, when the "bogey play" is to get the approach shot to the front edge and 3 tap their way to bogey.

[Jud Tigerman]

ok david,

point taken. i guess we need to hire you next time around since i didn't hear that advise on either round last time at BT....