To & From Bandon via Portland - Where to play on the Way?

[Steve Lang]

   we're flying into Portland, with a week or so to get to Bandon in mid-may for a couple of days, then a day or so to get back to Portland.. where to play is the question..

I have friends in Portland, Hood River, Seattle, to visit with, but they don't play golf..  seen most every tourista stops between Vancover and San Diego, so objective is pure golf, good food & lodging May 9-17th..

simple plan is to first drive north to play Chambers Bay, then where else?

thanks in advance

 

[Ryan Admussen]

 we're flying into Portland, with a week or so to get to Bandon in mid-may for a couple of days, then a day or so to get back to Portland.. where to play is the question..

I have friends in Portland, Hood River, Seattle, to visit with, but they don't play golf..  seen most every tourista stops between Vancover and San Diego, so objective is pure golf, good food & lodging May 9-17th..

simple plan is to first drive north to play Chambers Bay, then where else?

thanks in advance

 

I was told not to waste my time and head straight to Bandon, which was great advice.

[jim_lewis]

Consider Royal Oaks CC in Vancouver, Washington (just over the state line from Portland). Designed by Fred Frederspiel in 1947. Lots of big trees, but also lots of fun. I've never heard it mentioned here, but definitely worth your time. If you are into quirk, you can overdose at Astoria CC.

[Steve Lang]

 
Ryan, how long did you stay or play at Bandon?

thanks for venue names jim, we've got nothing against trees.. we live in The Woodlands, TX.., also, quirk can work..

[Sean Leary]

Eugene CC if you can get access.

[Pete_Pittock]

Since you might have five days left after Seattle I'd take the 'scenic' route through Bend, then Eugene. You have your choice of Aspen Lakes, Broken Top, Juniper, the Pronghorns, Tetherow, Sunriver's courses, Tokatee, Emerald Valley and Eugene CC. Indian Creek in Hood River is quirky. I'll leave it to the Seattle contingent for other venues up there. Wine Valley would be a full day trip.
(Steve, I didn't see your quirk reference, Astoria would also be in there)

And who is we?

[Mike Erdmann]

Steve,

Between Portland and Bandon, I'd suggest the following:

Private - Portland GC (Portland), Waverley CC (Portland), Columbia Edgewater CC (Portland), Pumpkin Ridge - Witch Hollow (Portland), Astoria G&CC (Astoria), Eugene CC (Eugene).  You'll find that the private clubs in this part of the country are generally more accessible than many other parts of the country, with the exception of perhaps Portland GC and Waverley CC.

Public - Pumpkin Ridge - Ghost Creek (Portland), Tokatee (45 min. east of Eugene), Bandon Crossings (Bandon).

As Peter mentioned, plenty of good courses in Central Oregon (Pronghorn, Tetherow, Crosswater, Juniper) but it's a bit out of the way for a trip from Portland to/from Bandon.

[Pete_Pittock]

Mike,
I figured he could get a head start from Hood River. It would add 4 hours drive time, but he has 4-5 days. Notice I didn't suggest Running Y or Eagle Point.

[Jason Topp]

I recommend you get to Bandon early, stay in town and get on as a single.  I did it for four days when a trial ended early and had my pick of courses at high season because many groups consist of less than four.

I really enjoyed it.  The groups at Bandon tend to be much more golf savvy than at your typical resort course (the walking requirement nd remote location weed out many potential customers) so 95% of the people I played with were interesting people welll acquainted with the game with ability ranging from club pro to 20 handicap.  It was very interesting to see different people play the courses and see how differently the courses play for players of varying ability levels.  I had a fair amount of time to hang out in town in a bar that was a tin shed which had its share of colorful characters, many of whom were caddies finishing a long day.  Also - it would allow you to justify a day at the Sheep's Ranch and spend time on the short course/practice area.

[Ryan Admussen]

Ryan, how long did you stay or play at Bandon?

thanks for venue names jim, we've got nothing against trees.. we live in The Woodlands, TX.., also, quirk can work..

5 days, booked our return trip before we left, going to go for 7 days this year.

As others mentioned Bend is also a great place, me and my fiancee really enjoyed it.

[Steve Lang]

  Thanks Guys,

Seems no one has questioned Chambers Bay.. as a must play in our NW loop..  I'll put those suggested course names into planning for OR..

Pete's right.. we (Ms Sheila & I) have a handful of days to venture around, as we've been all over the NW, but never played golf in OR or WA..  We can get our pros to help with access at the privates and drive at night to conserve daylight for golf..  but we don't have to burn out playing 2x per day.. unless it fits and there's a good place to eat and rest.

Bandon is special, so we may spend an extra day there, but it has to be put into perspective like Ballyneal vs Wild Horse or TOC vs Ganton, etc.... and seems like I could spend a month in Pinehurst for what it'll cost there.. why is that?  

2 months out.. tick, tick, tick

[Sean Leary]

Steve,

CB is a must play if you are heading north anyway. I would not go there over another day at Bandon.

[Pete_Pittock]

Steve,
I think no one questioned Chambers Bay because you said you were going there and had people in Seattle you were going to visit. It was a given.

[Steve Lang]

  What if I nix the visit to Hood River?.. or is there something up/off the gorge to take in

[Mike Erdmann]

What if I nix the visit to Hood River?.. or is there something up/off the gorge to take in

Hood River from Portland is a beautiful 1-hour drive through the Columbia River Gorge with plenty of sightseeing opportunities, but there's really no interesting golf.

[Rob Rigg]

Steve,

If you have time, and are interested in visiting a gorgeous location with some pretty good golf, then I would drive from Portland to Bend and then Bend to Bandon. It is definitely out of your way, although you could get a flight from PDX to Redmond and venture forth from there.

Wicked Pony isn't done yet, but Juniper, Tetherow, Pronghorn and Tokatee are good courses (not Bandon quality but good) and the setting is spectacular. I think Cental Oregon would be a wonderful place to bring your wife to enjoy the high desert (if you haven't been there before).

If it was purely a golf trip, then I would just hit Bandon. If you have to play somewhere in Portland then Pumpkin Ridge is a good option - both Witch and Ghost. After Waverley finish the reno then that would probably become my first choice in PDX.

Chambers is a fun track to play if you are in the area, if you fly into Sea-Tac, play Chambers, then head south it would probably be worth the effort. CB is no BDGR golf experience but it is still very good (IMO of course).

Let me know if you want to tee it somewhere in PDX!

[Garland Bayley]

What if I nix the visit to Hood River?.. or is there something up/off the gorge to take in

Hood River from Portland is a beautiful 1-hour drive through the Columbia River Gorge with plenty of sightseeing opportunities, but there's really no interesting golf.

And, the last place you would want to be caught playing golf is anywhere around Salem!

[Steve Lang]

  Seattle first, so Chambers and then maybe one other up there..

 Salem.. what's there to play?  I think i got gas there once..

50 - 100 miles in any direction is not out of the way for us.. especially if the weather pushes us .. we're not on a golf burn trip, we play year round, and will llikely come back someday..

Bend area seems like its going to be on the itinerary..  

Bob, we'll drop you a line as time approaches, we may get together with Peter depending on circumstances.. will play it by ear..

did you know there's an Oregon, Ohio?  the beginning of the trail..  

[Richard Choi]

Steve, if you are in Seattle, Chambers is a must. After that, you have several choices of varying quality. The best public course (outside of CB) in Seattle area in my opinion is the Olympic Course at Gold Mountain which is on the other side of the peninsula and about 1 hour away from Seattle. For private, Sahalee and Aldarra are your best bet. Sahalee may be an interesting choice as it is diametrically opposite of Chambers Bay when it comes to golf architecture.

If you want some company, let me know, I am always game for playing with GCA members.

[Mike Erdmann]

 Salem.. what's there to play?  I think i got gas there once..

Steve, if you do come through Salem on the way down to Bandon, I'd be more than happy to have you out at Illahe Hills CC.  Just send me an IM.  Also in Salem is Salem Golf Club, which is [IMHO] a quite underrated public course.

[Steve Lang]

   Great Feedback guys, I've got to do some homework.. 

Richard, Mike, Bob, you guys work on Sundays or Mondays??

Schedule.. gotta have a schedule:

May 8 Arrive Portland late Sat night
May 9  CB or Seattle 
May 10 Seattle or CB
May 11 ? Astoria, OR or Vancover, WA or Portland / Hood River
May 12 SAlem or Bend or Salem & Bend
May 13 Bend & Bandon
May 14 Bandon
May 15 Bandon
May 16 Bandon
May 17 Salem/Portlandf? .. late departure Portland

[Mike Erdmann]

Steve, sent you a PM.

[Bill_McBride]

Steve, I'll talk to you in Houston in a couple of weeks, don't let me forget! 

Columbia Edgewater is a really good course to play either arriving or departing Portland, it's near the river just west of the airport.  Excellent (if heavily wooded  ) A. V. Macan 1925 course with marvelous greens.

[Dan Herrmann]

Steve - you do realize the trip from Bend to Bandon is a LOOONG one, right?  

I'd really consider flying into SEA and leaving from PDX.  That'd get you up to Tacoma for Chambers Bay and your friends.  Then drive down to Longview WA and cross over to Oregon (US30).  Head over to Astoria and play Astoria.  From there, it's US101 south to Bandon.  There are courses on the way, but the coast is great just for the coast.

Do Bandon and then head over to the I-5 corridor.  I'd go north on 101 to OR 126 and shoot to Eugene (Eugene CC) and then onto Bend.  From there, US97 to US26 to Portland, or you could take 97 right up to US30 and do the gorge to Portland.

Lots of great golf on the way, or you can plan a rain day or two and take it easy.  

Have fun!

PS - Bell Bouy just south of Seaside, OR has the best fish and chips I've ever had.  Follow it up with Tillamook ice cream at their factory in Tillamook, OR.   Oh yeah, Cannon Beach, OR is a wonderful town that I bet you guys would love.  All these towns are located on US101.    Yachats is a great place to stay on your way down to Bandon

[Jason Topp]

.  Follow it up with Tillamook ice cream at their factory in Tillamook, OR.   Oh yeah, Cannon Beach, OR is a wonderful town that I bet you guys would love. 

If you go this route, you need to download this song for the trip  http://popup.lala.com/popup/1657606146833908024