David Fay on Old Mac and Bandon Dunes Resort

[Pete_Pittock]

Maybe David Fay doesn't like the cart paths on the MP and is a walker at heart.

[Mike Hendren]

I'm betting Old Macdonald will be fantastic.  Until I have the good fortune of playing it, I'll continue my contrary trend by opining that:

Pebble Beach is better than Pacific Dunes
Cypress Point Club is better than Bandon Trails
Spyglass Hill is better than Bandon Dunes

That's a tri-fecta for the Peninsula.

Bogey

[Ben Sims]

I'm betting Old Macdonald will be fantastic.  Until I have the good fortune of playing it, I'll continue my contrary trend by opining that:

Pebble Beach is better than Pacific Dunes
Cypress Point Club is better than Bandon Trails
Spyglass Hill is better than Bandon Dunes

That's a tri-fecta for the Peninsula.

Bogey

Bogey,

I'm sure it's fun to be contrarian, but it CAN be futile and downright funny.  How about we take the view that Cypress and Pac are the best at their respective joints.  Then we compare the two most like each other from their respective joints.

So then we have:

Cypress v. Pac (some would argue this a draw)
Pebble v. B Dunes (Pebble)
Spyglass v. Trails (hmm...Trails)

So there it's a draw, even before we ad Old Mac.  My opinion is that then Bandon might win when you have

Cypress v. Old Mac (Cypress? probably)
Pebble v. Pac (Pac)
Spyglass v. Trails (Trails)
Shore/Dunes v. B Dunes (draw)

So Bandon wins 2-1-1?  That's before you even talk about conditions, ambiance, lodging, etc.  Though the Peninsula is NO slouch.  It's all contained and wonderful in Bandon.  And like I said earlier, that's before you add in an afternoon with buddies at Sheep Ranch.

But take it ALL with a grain, because I've yet to play any of the courses mentioned on the Monterrey list.

[Tim Nugent]

OR maybe a 4 course rotatinal tourney like the AT&T?  They have the beach for the clambake.

That would be awesome....not sure where all the fans would come from though.....

Don't need that many, just alot of TV cameras.

[Wade Schueneman]

This is an interesting quote, and I am a bit surprised at the responses.  I have not made it to Bandon yet (although I am pinching my pennies to make it happen in 2011), but after reading the quote I expected that almost everyone would disagree with Mr. Fay.  I mean no disrespect to Mr. Doak or C&C, but are there really two courses at Bandon that can top the unique experiences at Cypress Point and Pebble Beach?  Moreover, I have been told that Bandon Dunes is not a truly great golf course.  Does it really just boil down to the firm/fast conditions and purist atmosphere at Bandon?

In truth I was planning on making an eight day trip in 2011 to play Pasatiempo, Pebble, Spyglass and to spend a few days playing at Bandon.  From the responses that I have seen so far I am wondering if I should just go to Bandon.  What say you? 

[Mike Wagner]

Wade,

Go see both areas.  You'll then know for yourself.  It's the same thing that's been said here many times before.  They are all the hottest chicks you've ever seen....no right answer. 

[Rob Miller]

This thread makes me feel fortunate that Mike Keiser and those involved built a little paradise in bandon for anyone that wants to play and is willing to make the trip. 

I'm making my first golf trip to the peninsula in two weeks so looking forward to playing and thinking about the comparison.  Have a little marathon to run but hopefully that won't get in the way too much.

[Adam Clayman]

Wade, The quote appears to highlight Mr. Fay's preference for a certain style of golf. My assumption is that he prefers links golf versus the plop and gouge set ups that the Monterey Peninsula courses currently present.

Assuming the panels that make up the different lists, prefer the same as Mr. Fay, he will end up being correct. However, after hearing some of the criticisms of some of the links style courses from some of the panelists, the lists might not end up reflecting his opinion.

[Jud_T]

Wade,

If you are pinching pennies:  Once you throw cost into the equation, there's no contest-just head to Bandon and play as many rounds as possible....

[Terry Lavin]

I'm betting Old Macdonald will be fantastic.  Until I have the good fortune of playing it, I'll continue my contrary trend by opining that:

Pebble Beach is better than Pacific Dunes
Cypress Point Club is better than Bandon Trails
Spyglass Hill is better than Bandon Dunes

That's a tri-fecta for the Peninsula.

Bogey

I love a great contrarian and Bogey, you're one of the best.

I'd rate it this way: 

Pebble Beach
Pacific Dunes
Cypress Point
Bandon Dunes
Bandon Trails
Spyglass Hill

[Brent Hutto]

If you are pinching pennies:  Once you throw cost into the equation, there's no contest-just head to Bandon and play as many rounds as possible....

Or for those of us living here on the east coast, just head to any number of places in England or Scotland and play as many rounds as possible. And if you go to the Highlands in mid-to-late June that could be a truly phenomenal number of holes per dollar at a place like Brora or Golspie.

At the former, approximately US$300 will buy you a weekly pass for unlimited golf and there's enough daylight near the Solstice to easily get in three rounds a day with two hours between each for a meal and a nap. Maybe even a fourth bonus round if you're willing to start early enough. Factor in another US$300 for a B&B and you're talking 10-20 rounds of golf for the cost of a 36-hole day, night of lodging and caddy fees at Bandon. And in my case, about the same total travel time to get there...

[Terry Lavin]

This is an interesting quote, and I am a bit surprised at the responses.  I have not made it to Bandon yet (although I am pinching my pennies to make it happen in 2011), but after reading the quote I expected that almost everyone would disagree with Mr. Fay.  I mean no disrespect to Mr. Doak or C&C, but are there really two courses at Bandon that can top the unique experiences at Cypress Point and Pebble Beach?  Moreover, I have been told that Bandon Dunes is not a truly great golf course.  Does it really just boil down to the firm/fast conditions and purist atmosphere at Bandon?

In truth I was planning on making an eight day trip in 2011 to play Pasatiempo, Pebble, Spyglass and to spend a few days playing at Bandon.  From the responses that I have seen so far I am wondering if I should just go to Bandon.  What say you? 

Serious golfers need to go to Monterey and Bandon, but my guess is that most serious golfers would prefer the experience at Bandon.

[Ian Andrew]

I’ve made multiple trips to both areas and played every course on that list he mentions twice except Old Macdonald.

I really love what Bill, Tom and David have done, but I’ll still stay on the Peninsula given the choice between both. As much as I really love Pacific Dunes – I’d choose Cypress, as much as I enjoyed Old Mac or Trails – they are not Pebble Beach. I happen to really like the Shore Course a lot and find that compares well with whichever third you choose. No matter what the match-up is I don’t care for Spyglass so the last course is the only time where I wish I was in Oregon.

I’ll be frank – I’d take one round at Cypress over 4 rounds at Bandon Dunes – it’s not intended as a slight for those courses – but an expression of my admiration for Cypress Point.