I played Bandon Crossings only once, on its soft opening day. It is not up to the standards of the resort courses, but remember they set a very high standard. It will meet its business plan, which is to provide good affordable golf for residents of the south coast. Excluding the resort course, it is easily the best course within 90 minutes of Bandon.
If I was on a three-four day blitz trip to Bandon, I doubt that I would play it. If there for a week Crossings would be a good diversion to play golf and rest the legs. EDIT: I am a 18-a-day kinda guy, if you play 36 you might swing by on a blitz tour.
It is about 25-20 minutes south of the resort. If you can locate the Bandon beach loop road, it is about 1 mile south of the loop's south meeting with US 101, and located on the east side of 101.
Drainage should not be an issue. There is enough natural slope on the site, natural drainage through the middle of the course, and it sits on sand and gravel. Very little clay. They are going to have some problems with cartage unless they constantly upgrade (or pave) cart path areas. I have known the superintendent, Brant Hathorn, for a number of years and have a lot of confidence in him.
It will be less windy than the resort because it is inland, but wind is still a factor.
I played Myrtle Creek the day after I played Crossings, and IMO Myrtle Creek comes in a poor second. In the Oregon non-resort category I would rate Crossings definitely behind Eagle Point (Medford) and Juniper (Redmond) but I can;t honestly rate any other course ahead of it. For the record I am a native Oregon with 50 yrs playing in state.
There were a couple of things at the Crossings I was not pleased with, especially if I walked the course. First was the aforementioned hills/walk from 5-6 and 14-15. Given the sitey this is unavoidable. The property is disected by a 250 yard wide, forty-fifty foot deep valley and you need to play on both sides of it. In the pictures you will see sort of a corral.
Next to it is an alternate green for #5 to play as a four par.
If you play to this green you would continue to the 15th tee, allowing you to walk a level nine holes and avoid the long walk. The scorecard is creased for this option.
The second 'fault' were two blind hazards, on #5 and #18, both in the way of the second shot. A proactive warning to survey the holes would be helpful.
What did I like about the course. Great par threes. #6 is a downhill hybrid beauty. #9 has a bunker obstructing the view of the right hand pin. #11 has a kickplate at the right front which can channel your shot long left. #14 is a long drop shot.
Most of the fives are reachable. I liked #4 the best although you do have to aim at major power line tower. If you cut the corner you can reach a tightly guarded green in 2.
On the fours, #3 and #10 still stand in my memory. #3 for its bunkering directing the line of play and #10 for its counter-intuitive split fairway. The green stands at the end of the right lobe, but a drive down the left option will both cath a downslope and provide a beter angle for the green.
Sorry for the delay in posting but I have been travelling and getting my photos in order. Now I just need a PDX local to lead me one-on-one through the steps of getting my pictures onto GCA.