Lou,
Most folk who are going to Bandon aren't looking for a low cost option. Folks who are aren't going to the middle of Nowhere, Oregon to find it. So the real road to success is to build one of the best courses in the world. Bandon has 4 of the best courses built in our lifetime. Even if they can pull it off it's going to have to be pretty spectacular or end up having some type of tie in with the resort to pry lazy middle aged guys away from their replay rounds and massages at the resort. I hope it's a success, I just don't understand the business plan.
Jud- It appears that we travel in different circles. I've been to Bandon three times in different months before the summer, primarily to avoid the high season premium prices. The weather ranged from passable to terrible each time (during my last visit, my partner demonstrated the ancient function of a natural bunker as we hunkered down by BD's 17th green to partially escape a ferocious sleet storm); the golf (not necessarily course conditions) always sublime.
Like some others, I've talked to a fairly good number of travelers to Bandon outside of this august group (GCA.com) and the vast majority look fondly upon the experience as a "once-in-a-lifetime". When I ask why- I know a lot of fair weather golfers, so I expect Bandon's well-known foul weather to be one of the main objections- I am surprised to hear that cost and the walking policy are the two hugely major objections, with logistics a distant third.
For me it is an issue of value, and I am hardly alone- I've seen guys bring food to save on breakfast and lunch, and played with regional golfers who made their maiden voyage on two-day/one-night weekday package deals that knocked the costs down by over 50%. Each time I go and spend $$$$ to play in foul weather and experience what for me is very spotty service (and I am not a high maintenance guy), I swear that "'I've been there and done that". Of course, a year later, I am thinking that I need to get back for another couple times around each of the four world-class courses. Get me on Pacific Gales for $100-$150 for a full day of golf, and I'm there, and at Bandon Dunes as well; maybe Crossings too.
Don M-
Your comments about Bandon Dunes resonate, as do your hopes PGales. I've never met Mike Keiser, though I attended one of the "friends of Mike" Bandon Trails pre-opening outings and got the sense from some of the guys who do know him that there are very good reasons why he is so well thought off on this site. His accomplishments at BD are truly extraordinary.
However, the resort, as you note, is quite large, very busy at times, and not without flaws. Between clubs not arriving at the designated course for your tee time (and the starter getting exasperated that you're not on the tee, though the tee sheet is mostly empty behind you), marshals admonishing you to pick up the pace as you stand on the tee while the group in front of you is barely 100 yards from where he stands (and the players in front of them are still on the green), a waitress in near tears because the customer who has been waiting for the bill for quite sometime and is about to miss his tee time finally leaves (presumably assuming that they would eventually charge it to his room), and the inescapable logistical issues of a central practice/warm-up location, poor weather, and four starting holes widely dispersed, it can be quite hectic out there. Corporate may not be the right word, but there is something to be said for the simplicity of one great course at one location sans all the supporting infrastructure on site. I've played Black Sheep, and provided that they can raise the money and the site is as good as it sounds, my bet is that PGales will be a memorable course.