Bandon is absolutely a public golf facility and they should be given way more credit for keeping the doors open then they are right now on this thread.
Can you show up, pay a greens fee, and play the golf course? Yes.
Do they sell tee times to players not staying at the resort? Yes.
Do they offer discounted rates for locals? Yes.
Do they have a staggered fee sheet taking to effect weather and daylight? Yes.
Do they offer daily discounted and free 2nd and 3rd rounds? Yes.
Is the player forced to take a caddy? No.
Are housing options reasonable ($100-$150/man/night)? Yes.
Are the dining options expensive? Heck no ($20 for meatloaf and a beer? That’s cheap).
In my view, Bandon has done everything they can to remain as accessible to the public, ranging from blue collar “Joe-the-plumber” types all the way to guys flying in on their private jets. Sure, the first round of the day in peak season is expensive at $250+ and if every round all year were that expensive (like it is at the Pebble Beach Company) the golf there would be out of reach for 99% of golfers. However, look at all the ways above that Bandon makes itself more flexible for the average golfer…this is clearly a place that values the way that great golf brings golfers from all walks of life together.
Bandon could clearly DOUBLE their entire fee schedule and still get enough players showing up to play, and probably run a much higher profit margin level, but they don’t.
The facility now has 4 of the top 100 golf courses in the world, they have built a great product that people want and have filled a specific niche golfer’s demand perfectly, why the hell should they give it away for less so that XYZ golfer can visit twice as often and crowd the courses? I can’t imagine that Bandon was ever intended or designed to be a golf “factory” the way some on this thread are wishing it had. It’s a special occasion golf trip, save up and go only every so often, it’ll make you appreciate it more!