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Ira Fishman

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Bandon Order of Play
« on: March 12, 2017, 03:51:55 PM »
My wife and I are making our first trip to Bandon and will play all four courses. I searched for a thread debating the best order to play them but couldn't find one. Could someone point us in the right direction or does it not matter in what order? Thanks.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2017, 03:53:55 PM by Ira Fishman »

David Schofield

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2017, 03:59:15 PM »
My wife and I played them in chronological order (Dunes, Pacific, Trails, Old Mac).

Steve Lang

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2017, 04:04:44 PM »
 8) Shorty's first! or even Bandon Crossings if you need to knock the rust off...


Real issue is once you've played all, where do you repeat?
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Wade Whitehead

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #3 on: March 12, 2017, 04:06:52 PM »
Every person I've ever asked says to play Bandon Dunes first.  After that, order doesn't matter as much.

WW

Matt MacIver

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #4 on: March 12, 2017, 05:26:05 PM »
Think there are some thoughts around morning vs afternoon rounds given the prevailing winds.

BHoover

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #5 on: March 12, 2017, 05:35:55 PM »
I would just play the courses instead of giving much thought to the order in which I play them.

Jim Tang

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2017, 05:37:35 PM »
The hardest walk on the property is probably Bandon Trails, so, I suggest playing Trails for one of your morning rounds.


Playing a sunset 18 on either Bandon Dunes or Pacific Dunes is also pretty special.

Jay Mickle

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #7 on: March 12, 2017, 06:17:28 PM »
No wrong order of play. As has been said, the real question is how many rounds on each. I found that tee time availability was in some cases the determining factor.
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Pete_Pittock

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2017, 06:42:57 PM »
The courses need to breathe and daily closures are in effect each week. Even is there is a preferred order of play, it may not match up with your trip.

Matthew Essig

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2017, 07:22:19 PM »
Aren't there days when one of the courses is closed? That has an influence. Other than that, order doesn't matter much.
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Terry Lavin

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2017, 08:10:33 PM »
Pacific Dunes in the morning and  the Trails in the afternoon is usually a felicitous combo. 
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Dan Gallaway

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2017, 08:29:03 PM »
Could you play Trails #1-6 as a short loop (similar to Streamsong) at the end of your day?  Third rounds free!

Steve Lang

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2017, 11:17:58 PM »
 8)  Its said that Old Mac + Trails is "he Caddy Killer"  so watch out.
Inverness (Toledo, OH) cathedral clock inscription: "God measures men by what they are. Not what they in wealth possess.  That vibrant message chimes afar.
The voice of Inverness"

Peter Pallotta

Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #13 on: March 13, 2017, 02:02:47 AM »
Ira -- I don't know as I've never been there; but I think I'd take the advice of someone who uses the word 'felicitous' in his post!

Jeff Doerr

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #14 on: March 13, 2017, 09:40:19 AM »
Could you play Trails #1-6 as a short loop (similar to Streamsong) at the end of your day?  Third rounds free!


On one trip we played Trails late in the day with no one out there. Played 1 and 2, played 3 tee to 4 green, played 5, then 17 & 18. Really nice close to the day.
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William_G

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2017, 10:28:51 AM »
Shorty's, Preserve, Bandon, Pacific, Trails, Old Mac, Punch Bowl, Sheep Ranch   8) 8)
It's all about the golf!

William_G

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2017, 11:36:07 AM »
Could you play Trails #1-6 as a short loop (similar to Streamsong) at the end of your day?  Third rounds free!


On one trip we played Trails late in the day with no one out there. Played 1 and 2, played 3 tee to 4 green, played 5, then 17 & 18. Really nice close to the day.

that is fun
It's all about the golf!

Doug Wright

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2017, 11:36:26 AM »
My wife and I are making our first trip to Bandon and will play all four courses. I searched for a thread debating the best order to play them but couldn't find one. Could someone point us in the right direction or does it not matter in what order? Thanks.

Ira, Although as others have said there is no correct order, I think starting with Bandon Dunes is a great introduction to a first timer. Beginning with the opening tee shot in front of the lodge and a couple of good but not overly challenging holes, you come to the dogleg fourth. Turning the corner there at the fourth hole is the best intro to Bandon I can think of. Then the fifth and sixth along the cliff. Enjoy.
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JLahrman

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2017, 12:13:38 PM »
Could you play Trails #1-6 as a short loop (similar to Streamsong) at the end of your day?  Third rounds free!


On one trip we played Trails late in the day with no one out there. Played 1 and 2, played 3 tee to 4 green, played 5, then 17 & 18. Really nice close to the day.

Yeah I did 1-5, 17, 18 once. It was really nice.

Also could go to BD, play 10, make a par-3 to 13 green, then play 14-18.

Joe Hellrung

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2017, 01:27:02 PM »
Given the Links format, I'd say Old Mac is the best to play first if you expect to be jet-lagged or out of practice.  Lots of forgiveness if you haven't quite dialed it in yet.  I'd finish your weekend with Pacific or Bandon just to put a great end-cap on the trip.  We did trails in the morning one of our days, followed by the preserve (which we couldn't finish due to weather). 

I agree with the posters that there is no right or wrong way to do it - just have fun!


Garland Bayley

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2017, 02:33:32 PM »
I usually reserve late so have to take what they give me. I found Bandon Dunes to be a bit of a disappointment when played last after experiencing the the other three. I would suggest building up to the best with Bandon Dunes first, and Old Mac last.
"I enjoy a course where the challenges are contained WITHIN it, and recovery is part of the game  not a course where the challenge is to stay ON it." Jeff Warne

Jason Thurman

  • Karma: +1/-0
Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2017, 03:45:37 PM »
I would just play the courses instead of giving much thought to the order in which I play them.


So what topic would you start in order to subtly let us all know that you're going to Bandon?
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Mark Johnson

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2017, 11:42:33 AM »
Also, if you are playing two per days, some courses play better in morning vs. afternoon.


Personally, I'd rather play both Dunes courses in the AM and Trails and Old mac in the PM.

Sven Nilsen

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2017, 11:55:02 AM »
Pacs greens are usually a bit more fun in the morning.  With the closing stretch away from the water, you don't miss much of the sunset effect if you don't play in the afternoon.


Old Mac is another good morning course, especially if its going to be windy.  You can play a good bit of the course before the winds really kick up, and in the afternoon it is the most exposed of the four.


Trails can give you a nice break from the wind if you schedule it for the afternoon, and you might luck out and get to 15 tee by the time its died down a bit (assuming you're out here for the summer wind).


There is something pretty special about hitting 16 at Bandon late in the day on a summer afternoon.  Definitely the prettiest course at that time of day.


If you're going to replay, keep in mind that the pins are on a 3 day rotation, so if you play the same course on days 1 and 4, you'll probably end up seeing similar spots.  Upper/Lower 9 at Pac switches every two days, so if you hit days 1 and 3 there you're pretty much guaranteed to see both versions.


That being said, some people like playing them in the order they were built, and you really can't go wrong with any combination.  If you have the time, play the Preserve and the Punchbowl before any of the big courses, they're great warmups for the types of shots you'll need to play.  Shorty's, if open, is another great option. 
"As much as we have learned about the history of golf architecture in the last ten plus years, I'm convinced we have only scratched the surface."  A GCA Poster

"There's the golf hole; play it any way you please." Donald Ross

William_G

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Re: Bandon Order of Play
« Reply #24 on: March 17, 2017, 10:48:50 AM »
well put Sven
It's all about the golf!