Bandon Dunes in December?

[Ian_L]

Attracted by the reasonable winter rates at Bandon Dunes, I am wondering if anyone has played in December or January.  What were your experiences like?  I assume the courses all drain well?  How windy and rainy was it?

Thanks,

Ian

[Ari Techner]

Ian,

I live in Oregon and have been to Bandon numerous times during the winter.  You can get any kind of weather from 65* and perfect to 40*, 40+ mph wind and rain.  It is more than worth playing that time of year.  Just bring your rain gear and the right mind set and you will have an amazing time. 

[Jed Peters]

I've been to the resort 6 times, every in december and january.

Like ari said, could be good, could be bad.

Really depends, but doesn't keep me from going!

[W.H. Cosgrove]

Last January, I spent 4 days on the coast.  2 were awful, two were delightful.  I think that is pretty ususal for November 15 through Feb 15.  Ther worst months in the Pac NW

[Ian_L]

Thanks all, hopefully I'll be able to make it.  Two more questions:

How far in advance do I need to book lodging and golf?  If I want to play two rounds in a day, should I book both or just find a spot for my second round?

If I have 6 rounds to play, how would you distribute them among the three courses?

[rjsimper]

Thanks all, hopefully I'll be able to make it.  Two more questions:

How far in advance do I need to book lodging and golf?  If I want to play two rounds in a day, should I book both or just find a spot for my second round?

If I have 6 rounds to play, how would you distribute them among the three courses?

Depends on how many players, but for February rounds we had to book a solid 6 months plus in advance to get times that would allow us to play 36 with the short days. 

If you have a foursome, then you absolutely need a 2nd time for your nightcap.

6 rounds...if it's your first time, I'd play 2-2-2.  If youve been before, I guess you wouldn't be asking the question.  This is not to say I think the courses are equals to one another, but I don't think there's any reason to get too tricky to play Pac Dunes more just because everyone says it's the best.  They are all excellent and all worth multiple plays on your first visit.

If I was going back tomorrow and had 6 rounds, I'd do 3 pacific, 2 trails, 1 b. dunes...but I've played each of the courses multiple times.

[Tom Huckaby]

Listen to Ryan - he be very wise in these matters.

There is difference of opinion about the courses, however.  I've gone a few times up there and I'd still do it 2-2-2.  I concur Pacific is the best of the three, but not by so much (for me) as to merit playing it more than the others.  I'd want more than one crack at each course for sure.

TH

[Reef Wilson]

Ari is right, anything can happen at that time of year.

I've been twice in January. One time I was able to wear shorts for a round. The other time there was 3 inches of snow on most of the resort and I didn't get to play any golf.

To be fair, the snow was truly a freak occurrence, I guess it hadn't snowed on that part of the coast in 20 years.

[Kalen Braley]

To me its all about what you want.

Go in the winter months, face possible miserable conditions, could be tough to get in 2 rounds per day....but the golf and lodging can be had for a third of the price.

Or go in the middle of summer with the long days, great weather, get in two rounds easily, maybe even 3, but pay full freight.

[Dan Herrmann]

Ian - where will you be traveling from?  If it involves non-refundable airfare, you may benefit from waiting till summer.  December can be pretty bleak in Oregon (at least it was bleak in Portland when I lived there)

[Mike Erdmann]

Remember that with Bandon being on sand (for the most part), even when it's wet and rainy the course still plays plenty firm and fast.  It's not at all like an inland course where you're slopping through the mud in the winter months.

[rjsimper]

It ALL depends on mindset.

If your mindset is that you will enjoy yourself regardless of weather, play regardless of precipitation or cold, and consider it worthwhile regardless of what you shoot, I say definitely go with winter

If you are choosing winter and pinning the success of your trip on the hopes of catching one of those good weeks, and if you miss and it pours, freezes, or snows, you will request rain checks, get drunk, and curse your bad luck, then do not mess with Bandon in winter.  (Really, do not mess with Bandon period, but if you do certainly maximize your odds of good weather).

On my two trips to Bandon, in both cases I have been one of the more gung-ho guys out there, tossing on the rain gloves when needed, braving the snow and hail, etc - and that's fine.  Sure Id rather have had bluebird skies, but would I have spent 1000-2000 more for those?  Probably not.

[Kalen Braley]

I priced out a trip to potentially go to Bandon in feburary earlier this year.

For two of us, I priced out 4 rounds each, with 2 nights lodging and it came out to $370 each.  To go in primetime season, the same schedule would cost $910 each.  (Food and travel not included in either calculation)

If one decides on a longer stay of say 8 rounds this works out to $740 each in the off-season as compared to $1820 each in primetime.

[PThomas]

bring your gotchkies! (that means long underwear in Polish)

[Ian_L]

Wow! Thank you all for your advice.  I grew up playing golf in a rainy climate.  The course didn't drain, so there were puddles in the middle of the fairways.  We golfed in rubber boots so our feet wouldn't get wet and we could fetch our balls from the standing water, and we came back soaked. In other words, I can definitely live with windy and rainy.  Are there any days when they actually won't let you out on the course?

I will be with one playing partner, but I don't think he'll go out for a second 18 in a day (I plan to).  Would two months in advance be too late for a twosome in mid-December?   I'd like to get the earliest time possible so I can fit in 36 holes.

It looks like most would go with playing each course twice (this would be my first time).  My only problem with that is that from what I've heard it really is great to play PD or BT several times, while Bandon Dunes seems fairly straightforward, and might be OK to play just once.  However, if most of you think otherwise, I'll defer to your expertise.

Dan: I'd be driving up US 101 from Northern California, so at least I won't need to deal with flying.

Thanks again.

[Mike Erdmann]

Ian, the earlier you book your reservations, the greater the opportunity to get 36 holes in per day.  I don't know when the tee sheets start to fill up for that time of year, but I actually called last week for a stay in late December, and there were no tee times reserved yet for any of the days I was looking at.  Book now, and you'll have a much better chance of getting the early tee times that'll allow you to get 36 in.

[Jon Nolan]

I've played the first weekend in December four straight years with #5 coming up soon.  I've had fabulous weather for the most part.  At least 6-7 rounds in shorts.

Last year though we caught the Pineapple Express when half of Oregon was under water.  Only 45 holes in three days and really had to persevere to get that.  We were told it was a 25 year storm though so I'll keep on taking my chances.

If you have three rounds play all three courses.  If you have four play Pacific twice.  If you have five play Pacific three times... rinse and repeat.   

[cary lichtenstein]

Why pick the worst month of the year for weather? Makes no sense to me.

[Bill_McBride]

Ian, the earlier you book your reservations, the greater the opportunity to get 36 holes in per day.  I don't know when the tee sheets start to fill up for that time of year, but I actually called last week for a stay in late December, and there were no tee times reserved yet for any of the days I was looking at.  Book now, and you'll have a much better chance of getting the early tee times that'll allow you to get 36 in.

Mike, that was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, right? 

[Ian_L]

Why pick the worst month of the year for weather? Makes no sense to me.

Because I'd rather pay $75 with a $40 replay than $210 a round with $105 replay. And I'd rather spend $140 a night for a room rather than $280.

3 nights and 6 rounds in December: $560 per person
In summer: $1365 (I think!)

[Mike Boehm]

I played Thanksgiving week last year at Bandon, which was the first week of Winter rates.  I got a bit lucky weather-wise.  Each day was about 50-58 degrees and mostly sunny, and somewhat windy, but probably no more than what is normal at Bandon.  Only one brief period of rain, for about a hole on Pacific.  We had an early morning time at Bandon Dunes one morning and it was upper-30s at the start with some frost that burned off fairly quickly.  To play two rounds in a day, you'll need to play as early as possible due to lack of light.

I believe if we had gone the three days prior we would have had nothing but rain.  The weather is a crapshoot, but for the winter rates they charge that time of year, absolutely worth the risk.

One other thing - they shut down one course per day the week I was there to rest the turf.  I don't know if they do that all Winter, but if they do, I'd play the two open courses each day to see a variety of pins and conditions on each course.

[Dan Smoot]

I have played in January, February (2X), March, April, July and December.  I had fair to very good conditions in every month.  My December experience was high 50's to mid 60's with more people on site than any other time.  It was unbelievable how crowded the practice area was.  Except for a wild January experience, the most difficult conditions was July which I know isn't usual.  I have been told by Jim Wakeman that the best time at the resort was  the last half of November for a combination of weather and lower costs.

[rjsimper]

I don't think they will even take a time for a single, so you will be on your own for the replay rounds anyhow.

Listen not to Cary and his pontifications on why someone would go in December - he knows not what it is like to want to go to Bandon on a sub 1k budget.

I say go for it - so long as your fun is not contingent upon decent weather, go for it.  I played in snow, 30mph wind, and fog, and had a blast.  Sure it would have been nicer to be 70 degrees and sunny, but I would not have paid 1000-2000 more for it.

[Tom_Doak]

Ian:

The potential for good weather in December is enough that we are hosting a lot of our consulting clients for an event there in early December of 2008.

Or, it could be another example of how frugal I am.

[Andy Troeger]

I priced out a trip to potentially go to Bandon in feburary earlier this year.

For two of us, I priced out 4 rounds each, with 2 nights lodging and it came out to $370 each.  To go in primetime season, the same schedule would cost $910 each.  (Food and travel not included in either calculation)

Its certainly a substantial difference. Using your numbers for the shorter trip my dilemma is that once you add in travel costs its going to be a question of whether its worth paying $1000 (approximating based on me being able to fly Southwest from Albuquerque) to take your chances on the weather and have short amounts of daylight, or $1550 for a much better chance of decent weather and the opportunity for more golf each day.