Bandon, good golf but bad....

[Tom Huckaby]

Steve:

Of course compared to those, it is cheap.  And the golf is just as good, or better.

BUT... us old-timers still clamor for the old days, when it was cheap compared to normal SF Bay Area golf.

The grass is always greener.

 

As for the rest, well... odds are amenities continue to get nicer and prices continue to rise.  The clientele is simply no longer just us golf nuts who just need a place to sleep and to get a hamburger and a beer.

Big sigh....

TH

[Tim Pitner]

This is an interesting thread... some might recall my complaint, shared by a few others, that Bandon is becoming TOO hoity-toity, populated by those there for a resort first, golf second, with such people being catered to; which contrasts distinctly from the feel and vibe there initially.  I guess this thread proves the point.  

I think it also proves that you just can't satisfy everyone.  It's too posh for some, not posh enough for others.  Jeez, it's a pretty amazing place--great golf, incredibly scenic part of the world.  The food and accommodation are pretty good, sometimes better than that.  I really don't see what there is to complain about.  

[Tom Huckaby]

Tim - concur - that's why I said this is an interesting thread!

But you too know the direction it's going, right?  My preference is gone forever.

It's not any huge big deal - I'm sure I'll get up there again and love it again... this is all just whimsical wistful thinking.

TH

[Steve_Roths]

You know the other thing is that the market always corrects itself.  Always.  

If Bandon becomes Carmel then someone will eventually build a stripped down version somewhere that will cater to the mass of people that want a great course and simple amenities.  

Perhaps its the Praire Club?  

[Tom Huckaby]

You know the other thing is that the market always corrects itself.  Always.  

If Bandon becomes Carmel then someone will eventually build a stripped down version somewhere that will cater to the mass of people that want a great course and simple amenities.  

Perhaps its the Praire Club?  

Very good point - very good indeed.

Wild Horse to me is all one needs in golf....

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Huck,

If Wild Horse is all you need the why don't you and your buds go there on a trip and just play there.  If it is all you need why care and grovel to play Sand Hills and soon Ballyneal.  There you go blowing smoke again..

I think you want more than a nice course and cornhusker company..

[Tim Pitner]

Tom H,

Oh, I definitely agree with you--Bandon has more of a resort feel to it and less of a golf focus.  In June, I walked through the dining room, passing from the parking lot to the Bunker Bar, and, from the size and character of the crowd, it looked like a cruise ship had docked in Bandon.  It was really shocking.  To a large extent, though, I think you can make a trip there what you want of it; you can avoid the other scene.  Heck, I'll admit to liking the change of pace offered by the restaurant at Bandon Trails--fish tacos, etc. instead of burgers and meatloaf.

P.S. you can hang-dry your clothes--it works, even in humid Oregon.  

[Tom Huckaby]

John:

Touche.  I just don't have the quantities of time available to make a trip all the way to Nebraska and just play Wildhorse.  Unfortunately if I'm going to go that far, it will be to play Sand Hills, which I have made very clear is my favorite golf course on this planet.

If I lived anywhere near NE, I'd play Wild Horse all the time and be completely content, hoping to be able to visit Sand Hills nirvana from time to time.

As for Ballyneal, well... I just do like to see new courses, and do prefer to play many courses rather than the same one all the time.

So sure my statement was a bit of hyperbole - it just wasn't intended to be any manifesto on how I handle golf travel or what my personal preferences are, but rather just a statement as to how great Wild Horse is, and all I need in terms of amenities.

Because that part is 100% gospel truth.  For me it's golf 95%, amenities 5%.

TH
ps - many of my college buds with whom I do these trips are quite opposite from me.

[Tom Huckaby]

Tom H,

Oh, I definitely agree with you--Bandon has more of a resort feel to it and less of a golf focus.  In June, I walked through the dining room, passing from the parking lot to the Bunker Bar, and, from the size and character of the crowd, it looked like a cruise ship had docked in Bandon.  It was really shocking.  To a large extent, though, I think you can make a trip there what you want of it; you can avoid the other scene.  Heck, I'll admit to liking the change of pace offered by the restaurant at Bandon Trails--fish tacos, etc. instead of burgers and meatloaf.

P.S. you can hang-dry your clothes--it works, even in humid Oregon.  

Great point - it still can be whatever you want it to be - it's just a little tougher these days.

TH

[Dan Herrmann]

Amen to that.  Last time I was there (last year) some guy had an extremely expensive roadster that he was having photographed near the first tee of Bandon Dunes.  

I couldn't believe that Kemper allowed him to drive his car onto the course, but his $$$ must have spoken.

C'est la vie...  After all, Kemper is a for-profit company trying to make Mike K a nice profit.  

But it's definitely NOT a posh hoddy-toddy resort by any means.  Heck - Hershey (PA) is more glamourous than Bandon in areas other than golf.

---------------------------------
Plusses on the Bandon side:
1.  There's still a nice discount area in the pro shop where you can pick up stuff for half price.

2.  The pro shop at Pacific Dunes is very simple and geared to golf, golf, golf, and nothing but golf.

3.  The sheep ranch continues to exist.

4.  There is virtually no night life because golfers are pretty darn fatigued after a day on the links.

5.  The cool weather and windy conditions will keep the finicky spa lovers away.

6.  Doak.  Kidd.  C&C.  Damn good threesome!

7.  A walking only policy.

8.  The shuttles are certainly not fancy.  In fact, the intra-campus shuttle at Nike is much nicer than what you see at Bandon.

9.  No tennis courts.

It's a helluva place, and I can't wait to get back.  

[John Kavanaugh]

I just don't understand why that if Wild Horse is soooo great and soooo cheap more people don't go there as a destination.  Which has the crappier club house..Wild Horse or Kingsley..This is relevant to the Bandon thread as one thing I hate about Pacific Dunes is the clubhouse while one of my favorites ever is at Bandon Trails..From the pics WH and K look like they are a mess..

[Dan Herrmann]

John,
Interesting opinion.  Personally, I couldn't care less about PT's clubhouse.  Let's be real - it's set up to be a cash register with some shirts for sale.  If you want, they'll get you a (free) shuttle to the main clubhouse or anywhere else on the property.

[John Kavanaugh]

Dan,

My problem with Pacific Dunes was it lacking in a place to prepare for the round.  I think the facility is a one shotter if you get my drift.

[Tom Huckaby]

I just don't understand why that if Wild Horse is soooo great and soooo cheap more people don't go there as a destination.  Which has the crappier club house..Wild Horse or Kingsley..This is relevant to the Bandon thread as one thing I hate about Pacific Dunes is the clubhouse while one of my favorites ever is at Bandon Trails..From the pics WH and K look like they are a mess..

Why don't people go to Wild Horse as a destination?

Well how do you know they don't?  Sure not many from HERE do - but don't tell that to Dick Daley.  Regulars here typically do get the Sand Hills invite and then throw in Wild Horse.  But this is a unique group.  Are you sure folks from various closer-in states don't go and just play Wild Horse?  I'd be VERY surprised if that's not the case.  It is a great golf course which has received quite a bit of good publicity.

As for it's clubhouse, it is pretty damn cool I think - here I go name-dropping again only partially to piss you off, but it reminds me of Shinnecock.  Stately old-looking building up on a hill.  A mess?  No way.  The burgers are great, the beer is cold, the porch is a cool place to sit.

In any case, of course the bottom line here is Wild Horse is not a resort - it has no on-site lodging, nor should it.  It works great exactly how it is.  And I still think it gets a lot of play from people not living in Gothenburg.

BTW I the porch looking at 18 green at Pacific Dunes, but my version of golf course dining/drinking heaven does remain Ben's Porch at Sand Hills.  I swear when it comes to clubhouses, a little goes a long way for me.

TH

[John Kavanaugh]

Another thing I hate about Pacific Dunes is the big piece of plexiglass protecting you from getting hurt when on the porch.  The entire facilty looks like a huge afterthought...misplaced or something by the need for infrastructure.

[Tom Huckaby]

You really are particular, John.

 

I never even really noticed that plexiglass.  I was happy to have a good sandwhich and some damn good beer and still be able to heckle my friends coming up 18.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

John, Wild Horse is not that great. It is not in the same league with Bandon dunes period. Good try but not apples and apples.

[Tom Huckaby]

John, Wild Horse is not that great. It is not in the same league with Bandon dunes period. Good try but not apples and apples.

Hmmmm.... I'd say it's apples and pears at the very least, that is if you are speaking simply about the golf course.

Sure Wild Horse likely isn't as great as any of the three courses at Bandon, although I'd bet you get an argument from many here that it surpasses the Bandon Dunes course... In any case, I think it's at least in the same ballpark.

Which is pretty damn high praise....

I swear if I lived in Denver, I'd go there 5 times for every one trip to Bandon - logistically way easier, cheaper, close enough on the golf front.  But I remain a man with relatively little money and more importantly, VERY little time to devote to such things.

TH

[Steve_Roths]

Two things:

The plexiglass at Pacific is an after thought to some degree.  Pac Dunes Clubhouse is temporary and will eventually be replaced by something that will tie in the Practice facilities and Pacific Dunes.  

As for Wildhorse, the reason that Huck is not going there or anybody else as a destination trip is because Wildhorse is not at the levels of Bandon.  Don't get me wrong its a great course but its not going to inspire people to travel there to play just that course.  Well, except for Mr. Daley.

[Michael Robin]

John -

As of the first week of June, the plexiglass was gone.

[Tom Huckaby]

Steve - cool re what's what at PD.  I just have a feeling I'm gonna miss that old deck.  But I am weird about these things.

Re Wildhorse, hmmm... maybe I'm crazy here also, but I think it IS good enough to support a destination trip, and likely DOES for people closer in to some extent.  The reasons it wouldn't on a national basis are:

1. Only one course.  I suppose Bayside would be a fine add-on, but it's an hour away.

2. Nowhere to stay, at least not right there next to the course.

So of course it's not at the levels of Bandon when one compares the overall... but just in terms of the golf, well... refer to my last post to JB.

It's also gonna be about 1/4 the price when all is said and done - if not less.

TH

[John_Cullum]

I have done a bit of research since my last posting. The town of Bandon looks pretty nice. There are beach front homes, and it indicates it is just 2 miles south of Bandon Dunes. Is that correct?

Why would I not want to rent a beach front home with a full kitchen and washer/dryer near the fish and chip joints and just drive the 2 miles for my golf. Hell, I drive almost 11 miles every day from the course to my house. 2 miles is like being on vacation.

[Steve Hyden]

There are some decent restaurants in Old Bandon, and the Wild Rose is very good.

[Tom Huckaby]

John, that sounds like a decent plan to me.  But here's why you might not want to do that:

1. Cost-wise, are you really gonna save that much?  Factor in increased green fees + necessity for car rental.

2. It is pretty darn fun to be there on-site and just roll out of bed and walk to golf.  Oh, that is a long distance depending on exactly where you stay and which course you are going to, but still, at worst its an easy shuttle ride.  For us drinkers, not having to worry about driving is a nice thing as well.

BUT, those are not the most solid of reasons.  I could see renting a beach home especially if the financials work out in my favor.

Apparently there also is some small inn that's been built and/or updgraded recently that's very close and offers constant shuttles, thereby obviating the rental car issue... I forget the name but it's been discussed in here.  That place looked pretty cool and actively tried to solve these issues - that is, they have their own bar, offer the to and from shuttles, etc.

Note some regulars here have also stayed in nearby "yurts" - tent-camping.  Those must be cost-effective for sure.


TH

[rjsimper]

Guests at the resort get free range balls - not sure how many balls you do or don't like to hit, but 10 bucks a bucket adds up.

Also, correct me if I'm wrong, someone, but don't guests get preferred tee times?

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