Bandon Dunes Decision?

[Jim_Coleman]

   If I can only play 4 rounds on a Bandon trip, I guess I have 2 options:
   If I play 4 different courses, which one should I skip?
   If I play Pacific Dunes twice, which two should I skip?
   Which of those 2 options is the better choice?
   Thanks.

[Sven Nilsen]

Have you been here before?

[Garland Bayley]

Consider two on Old MacDonald.

[Pete_Pittock]

Don't worry about it unless it will be your only trip to Bandon.  You will probably find that any suggestion will be biased towards the players strengths. Another consideration would be your playing companions and their predilictions.

[Bill Gayne]

My 100% completely subjective answer based on my tastes:


If going to skip one course for me it would be Sheep Ranch.


If going to skip two course for me it would be Sheep Ranch and Bandon Trails.


If it was the only time I ever expected to visit Bandon it would be to skip only one course.


Without getting into your business but traveling all the way from Philadelphia and only having two days?

[Tim Passalacqua]

I would skip the Sheep Ranch.  It might be the most enjoyable round for a group of high handicappers because you’re on the ocean the whole time and it’s the easiest course.   For me, it’s way behind the rest of the pack.  Don’t skip anything else.  I’m sure you have seen the debates of which course is the favorite at Bandon……and every answer is different.  Which is a beautiful thing!  My opinion has changed after every trip.  Pac Dunes is probably the best.  Rugged beauty, wonderful angles.  But you can get into some really rough spots that could be nasty for some golfers.  I think that’s why a lot of guys prefer Bandon.  It’s really enjoyable, challenging, unique holes, and it’s hard to lose ball.  Trails became my favorite after the last trip and it had always been my least favorite.  Old Mac is one of the most entertaining rounds you’ll play in an afternoon wind and I have always considered the front 9 to be one of my favorite 9s in golf.  Play as many courses as you can!

[Brock Lynch]

A previous thread on this...

https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,69347.msg1665240.html#msg1665240


IMO, Don't leave out Sheep Ranch or Pacific Dunes

[William_G]

   If I can only play 4 rounds on a Bandon trip, I guess I have 2 options:
   If I play 4 different courses, which one should I skip?
   If I play Pacific Dunes twice, which two should I skip?
   Which of those 2 options is the better choice?
   Thanks.

just plan to go back
is this a real question

[Joe Hancock]

   If I can only play 4 rounds on a Bandon trip, I guess I have 2 options:
   If I play 4 different courses, which one should I skip?
   If I play Pacific Dunes twice, which two should I skip?
   Which of those 2 options is the better choice?
   Thanks.

just plan to go back
is this a real question

No doubt. I mean, who can’t afford a few thousand a pop once in awhile just you don’t have to ask a question like this in public….

[Ronald Montesano]

Here is what I think I know:


People restrict their rounds at Bandon for one of two reasons: time or money. If it is due to time, play four different courses. You can go seaside Four and skip Trails. You are going to play two courses by one architect, no matter what. C & C have two of the five, as does Tom Doak, so you can't come up with a four unique architects package.


I think that Bandon Trails is the most unique course of the five, as it has no ocean views, but it has everything that you could ever want in a course. However, I think that it is the most difficult of the five. I could never ask someone to skip Pacific Dunes; it is one of the most important courses to come along in my lifetime, and I am 55. That would leave you with Sheep Ranch, Old MacDonald, and Bandon Dunes. Old Mac offers template holes/hole interpretations that are often discussed on this site. Bandon Dunes is the first course at the resort, and Sheep Ranch is the last one.


My verdict for this scenario? Skip Sheep Ranch.


If it comes down to money, and you are up for it, try to do the three-in-one-day and play Bandon Dunes (full price) Pacific Dunes (half price) and Sheep Ranch (free) in the same day. Those are your three easiest walks. Old Mac and Trails are tough and fun walks.


Good luck. PM me if you have questions.

[John Kavanaugh]

Skip Pacific Dunes. It is the course least likely to exceed your expectations. It will also make booking your second trip that much easier.

[Terry Lavin]

I’d say don’t go to Bandon and plan on skipping anything. Especially the first time you go. Take it all in. There’s not a better golf resort destination in the USA.

[David_Elvins]

I dont see much point of going to Bandon and playing a course just once. 


If you have 4 rounds, I would pick any 2 courses and play them twice.  If I was pressed to choose, probably start with Pac Dunes and Bandon Trails, save the rest for next time.

[William_G]

   If I can only play 4 rounds on a Bandon trip, I guess I have 2 options:
   If I play 4 different courses, which one should I skip?
   If I play Pacific Dunes twice, which two should I skip?
   Which of those 2 options is the better choice?
   Thanks.

just plan to go back
is this a real question

No doubt. I mean, who can’t afford a few thousand a pop once in awhile just you don’t have to ask a question like this in public….

why ask a question like this at all? this is not a product but golf is an experience
the enjoyment of travel is 33% planning, 33% doing, 33% talking about going back
all the courses, all the holes icluding Shortys, The Preserve, Punchbowl offer a great golf experience
for sure, many folks are looking to visit for the first time, so there is some trepidation, but.......
any iphone purchase guestions? LOL

[Charles Lund]

I haven't been there for close to ten years.  Old Macdonald was open then.  On my last trip, I played two rounds on Pacific Dunes and one on Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, and Bandon Trails.


I'm going in October for two nights and three days of play.  Having not played Sheep Ranch, it was my first choice.  I'm fine with Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes and they happened to have early times so maybe I can play a second round on one of the days, depending on the weather.


Given that I was able to get two consecutive nights of lodging, I feel fortunate to find lodging. I would have been fine playing any three of the five courses.  Getting in replays might be nice, depending on weather and how much daylight time is available for a second round.  Hard to go wrong at Bandon.




Charles Lund

[Jeff Schley]

People have budgets and while we can altruistically state "don't skip anything/play them all", it may not be realistic budget wise for some of us. My first trip there we had to work around budgets for the group, 2 rounds a day and minimize nights required to stay no property. It is a great experience and as they have added courses over the years it calls you back, for you know what a great time all will have.


So if you can only afford 2 or 3 courses now, welcome to the club as I was there myself.  I'd recommend playing those now as opposed to saving up for a couple more years or whatever and go in the offseason which is the real key for budget conscious golfers. Yes there is weather risk, but the cost savings is significant.  Enjoy as I'm sure you will!

[Jim_Coleman]

   Thanks to all. I was there many years ago when only Bandon and Pacific were built. Loved both, but remember being more blown away by Pacific.
   I suspect this may be my last trip. Not that I’m sick or anything. But I am 72, and not as thin as I used to be.

[Ronald Montesano]

Well, there goes my other suggestion: do an evening walkabout on a course that you don't get to play. Alas ...

[Rob Marshall]

A guy I went to Ireland with is trying to book a trip staying off site. Is it possible to stay off site and even get tee times?

[Joe_Tucholski]

A guy I went to Ireland with is trying to book a trip staying off site. Is it possible to stay off site and even get tee times?

I believe it's 21 day advance tee times if not staying on resort.  Guy I play with stayed offsite 2 weeks ago.  He was able to get times at around 11.  Makes it tough to play 2 rounds a day if that's the goal.  If a single there really shouldn't be a problem.


To answer the question on which course to skip, put me in the trails camp.  If you are able to play a second round in a day trails is it, as it's a bit protected from the wind.


If skipping 2 courses I skip Old Mac and Trails.  Old Mac was one of my favorites but I haven't played Sheep Ranch.

[MLevesque]

I’ve played all of the courses except for Sheep Ranch.  With all due respect to C & C, I’d skip Trails and that’s not a difficult choice for me.

[Garland Bayley]

A guy I went to Ireland with is trying to book a trip staying off site. Is it possible to stay off site and even get tee times?

I stayed off site last week. Was able to call 4 or 5 days ahead and get a tee time for each of two days. Available times begin about noon.

Did not appreciate bunkers with bare dirt bottoms. How can you charge that much, and not keep sand in the binkers?

[MCirba]

I haven't played the new Sheep Ranch but after playing the old Sheep Ranch I'm shocked that it seems to be the one to skip percentage-wise to date. 

[Jason Thurman]

Can you pick the fourth course the day of? There are three other courses you need to sample first before you can make an informed decision.


If you can't, play the other three and book a time at Pacific since you loved it. You can try to change it if you find you love another course even more. Like Trails.

[David Ober]

I’ve played all of the courses except for Sheep Ranch.  With all due respect to C & C, I’d skip Trails and that’s not a difficult choice for me.

And Trails is my favorite or second favorite.


I'd skip Sheep Ranch. Loved it, but it's at the bottom of my list.


That's what makes Bandon so amazing: Something for everyone.