[Robert Thompson]

Let me start by saying that I found Bandon Dunes Resort to be the best I've ever been at -- it is all about the golf, and everything seems to revolve around the game, a pleasant change from other so-called golf resorts.
I found both Bandon and Pacific to be thrilling - great golf at its best. However, after leaving Bandon after two rounds on each course, I found myself picking the two courses apart.

At Bandon, I found the 17th to be quite odd, especially considering the changes and bunkering made to the left side of the fairway.
As for Pacific, I only found the 9th to be off a bit, and largely because of the two green approach. We played to the lower green both days, which I understand is the better of the two. I liked the fairway contour, but I thought the approach shot was a bit awkward to either green.
That said, I also found Pacific much easier than Bandon, especially off the tee. Howwever, the wide fairways at Pacific Dunes made it easy off the tee, which I thought helped pace of play. All our rounds were about 4 hours, and that was largely because we followed slow foursomes.

Thoughts? As I mentioned, the experience at Bandon is, in my estimation, unparalled, just a couple of concerns....

Robert

[Patrick_Mucci]

Robert,

I found Pacific Dunes harder then Bandon, and just the opposite with respect to fairway width.  I found Bandon far more generous, but perhaps our different games integrate differently with each golf course.

[Robert Thompson]

Patrick -- In my four games, I shot 79 and 74 at Bandon, and 76 and 68 at Pacific. I only missed two fairways at Pacific over two games. That said, perhaps Pacific set up better for the little cut I was hitting. Bandon's slope is significantly higher....

R

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Let me make a guess that the wind wasn't blowing!

[RE Blanks]

trying out for BIG BREAK III

[Robert Thompson]

Naw -- there's more money in writing about golf than there is on the Canadian Tour. So, thoughts on the 17th at Bandon?

R

[W.H. Cosgrove]

If Bandon has a weakness it is #17 & 18.  The reason for this may also be a reason for the overall success of the resort.  When Keiser and Kidd made the decision to place the hotel/Inn back from the coast and leave the stunning views to the golf course, the fates of 17 and 18 may have been sealed.  The golf course had to return to shelter.

I was joking before in my wind comment but will say that the variability of wind conditions could be said to be a cause for the design of the golf course.  When the prevailing winds (from the south in winter and the north in summer) blow as they can, Pacific and Bandon can be unplayable.  On a visit last year, I played Bandon in winds gusting over 60 MPH.  I shot a smooth 100.  The following day the wind was calm and I played Pacific in 71 strokes.  As badly as I scored at Bandon, Pacific was apparently unplayable on certain holes in the same high winds.  

Overall,I believe the strength of the resort is that Bandon is a power course and Pacific is a finesse course.  I can't wait to see what Crenshaw and Coore have come up with to complement the other two.  Could it simply be a prkland course providing relief from the winds?

[Lou_Duran]

For the most part, the winds account for the difficulties at Pacific.

I sensed that day-in and day-out, Bandon is a much more testing course, and par is protected even on relatively calm days.

[Michael Dugger]

I have always felt much the same way as Mr. Thompson about Bandon's 17th hole.  For the most part, I do not really like the routing of the back nine.  

There certainly is no arguing with the tee shot and spectaular nature of the 16th, but I think it would be hard to screw up any hole too severly on that parcel of the property.  

I think #17 could go for a facelift of some nature.  It's basically a straight, relatively featureless hole with OB on the whole right side.  Great of my slice.  If Tillie was still alive he would say that it needs a little bit of dignity slapped into it, so that it may stand up proudly with the rest of the golf course.  

[John Foley]

Robert,

Totally agree that 17 & 18 are a downer compared to the rest of bandon. 18 itself is not a stinker and actually some like the ease of the finish rather than the brute of the finish.

Now for the real question, I know any treehouse member worth his salt (such as yourself) could not resist wandering around to see what Bill Coore was upto while you were there.

Any news to report on that front?

[Robert Thompson]

Actually saw a couple of the holes and the caddie in our group was working as part of the construction team. Several holes are seeded and grass is growing -- you can see them from Pacific Dunes. Apparently about six are finished, which makes a late 2004 opening unlikely.
In other news, it appears the much-discussed "other" course that was written up in SI is now allowing outside play. At least that's what our caddie said....

R

[Craig Van Egmond]

I found Bandon to be the tougher test. It can play very long in the wind.  They have softened the course over the years, the fairways are wider, there has been work done on 6, 16 and 17.   There are a couple of awkward walks on the front nine also. That being said, I still love the course.

However, I prefer Pacific Dunes. It too has an awkward walk or two,but its just damn fun to play. I never shot very well on the front nine and hole #1 seems to play much harder than it should.  I think Pacific has  more outstanding holes than Bandon.

I'm looking forward to seeing the C&C course next year.  

[Danno]

I would also throw #9 on BD as somewhat a bore, compared to the other holes.. to me #9 and #18 are the two holes I would work on.

[Evan_Green]

I remember when I was there the slope rating for Bandons senior tees was the same as Pacific's championship tees! That just doesnt make sense!!!!

Both of those courses are impossible if the wind really gets up

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