Bandon Dunes thoughts

[Carson Pilcher]

Gentlemen,


I know the thoughts and opinions can span wide on this topic, but is there an overall consensus on which courses to prioritize on a first trip to Bandon?  I am taking my first trip out there in April, and I am excited beyond belief.  I have some tee times secured, but am willing to entertain shifting some around and adding to it.  I would like to hear your thoughts.

Day 1:  Bandon Trails 8:00 – Pacific Dunes 1:50
Day 2 – Pacific Dunes 12:40
Day 3 – 8:00 on Bandon Trails and 2:00 on Old MacDonald
Day 4 – 8:40 Bandon Dunes


I am thinking of adding The Preserve on the morning of Day 2 so I can make the 12:40 tee time.  What do I add the last day? Another Bandon Dunes since I will only see it once?  Or, I could change Day 1 Trails to Dunes and then add Trails to my second 18 on Day 4.

[Jud_T]

Carson,


There's quite a bit of previous discussion of this.  If it's your first time I'd try to see everything on the property and decide for yourself.  Personally I prioritize them as Old Mac, Pac Dunes, Bandon Trails and Bandon Dunes, but others might have the exact opposite ranking.  I find Bandon Dunes a bit less forgiving but some say the same thing about Bandon Trails.  Some feel Old Mac has too much rub of the green if the winds are up, but that quirk is exactly what makes it so much fun for others.  It's the best golf resort in the world IMO.  It all depends on your ablity, interest, how long you're there and physical stamina.  I'd also make time for the Par 3 and the putting course.  Simply explore and enjoy.

[Jason Topp]

The think I liked best about the place was that it had three (now four) fantastic courses all in the same spot.  I liked different aspects of each course and believe the best experience is to play them all.

[Jon Cavalier]

Here are my thoughts (and photos) on Bandon: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60754.0.html

[Mike Bowen]

If I were to split ten rounds between the full courses I would play Old Mac, Trails, and Pac all three times and Bandon once.  I wouldn't play Bandon a second time unless I was playing more than ten rounds.  Not a knock on Bandon but thats how much I love the other three courses.


Trails in the afternoon is amazing because it tends to be a little more quite and the greens tend to be among the best.  The greens at Pac can get a little bumpy in the afternoon.

[Ben Baldwin]

Here are my thoughts (and photos) on Bandon: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60754.0.html

To say your thoughts/pics thread is comprehensive would be an understatement.  Wow!

[Tom Allen]

I agree with the above.  Make sure to play all of the courses.  Importantly, that includes the par three course, Shorty's at the range, and the Punchbowl.

[Greg Taylor]

Play each course once and then YOU can decide...!


Personally I would put Bandon Dunes at the bottom of the pack, and Old Mac and Pacific at the top. But, to each his own.


You can't go wrong either way. Spend a little time on ensuring you have the right attire. It can be a very up/down the weather... so have every based covered, and in your bag!

[Mike Wagner]

Carson,


The only guarantee is that if you go back, your opinion will change.  If it's me, I'm playing them in chronological order to absorb the history.  I think it's hard for some to absorb just how good the first course is because of what's happened since. 

[Eric Smith]

Carson,


I see you have Trails on the first morning you are there. I played Trails my first morning as well and wouldn't wish for the experience to be any different. It is an enchanted forest, Trails. I suspect there's a sword in a stone somewhere in there. Fare the well, my good sir!

[Kalen Braley]

My only input would be, you probably can't go wrong with any of them.  I've been there a couple of times, only played Pac Dunes, but its certainly one of the most "magical" golf destinations I've ever been to.  Golf Nirvana!!

[Aaron Marks]

Don't miss Shorty's, especially if you can get over there when it's empty.  Playing a course with 9 greens and your imagination for the routing is just a blast.   

[Ian Mackenzie]

I have been to Bandon three times and have loved every minute I have spent there.
Have even had the chance to play all four courses on the same day in the "Summer Solstice" event. Started on Bandon Trails at 5:40 am and finished on Pac Dunes at 7:45 pm.


Whenever someone ranks the 4 courses, and someone looks at the ranking, they see the 4th ranked course and are like, " What! You didn't like _____!!?"


Make your own opinion. Mine...?...:


1. Pac Dunes
2. Old Mac
3. Bandon Trails
4. Bandon Dunes

[Howard Riefs]

Looks like the end of Carson's post shrunk to miniscule size due to cut/paste. 

Fixed it below:

Gentlemen,

I know the thoughts and opinions can span wide on this topic, but is there an overall consensus on which courses to prioritize on a first trip to Bandon?  I am taking my first trip out there in April, and I am excited beyond belief.  I have some tee times secured, but am willing to entertain shifting some around and adding to it.  I would like to hear your thoughts.


Day 1:  Bandon Trails 8:00 – Pacific Dunes 1:50
Day 2 – Pacific Dunes 12:40
April 4^th – 8:00 on Bandon Trails and 2:00 on Old MacDonald
April 5^th – 8:40 Bandon Dunes


I am thinking of adding The Preserve on the morning of Day 2 so I can make the 12:40 tee time.  What do I add the last day?  Another Bandon Dunes since I will only see it once?  Or, I could change Day 1 Trails to Dunes and then add Trails to my second 18 on Day 4.

[Wade Whitehead]

I haven't been, but many people seem to say "The order doesn't matter as long as you play Bandon Dunes first."

WW

[Ronald Montesano]

I suspect there's a sword in a stone somewhere in there. Fare the well, my good sir!

Sword in a bench, I believe. On a bluff. Adjacent to the 14th tee. Epiphany.

[George Freeman]

Carson -

Play them all once before doubling up on any one course.  And DO NOT miss The Preserve.  It has some of the best holes on the property.

[Ronald Montesano]

Unless you play each course twice, you'll wake up one morning in a cold sweat, saying "I wish I could have played that one a second time."


If you love the notion of template holes, you'll want to get on Old Mac twice.


If you love the ocean, you'll want to get on both Dunes courses twice.


If you love quirk and diversity, you'll want to get on Trails twice.


If you can play a big course in the morning, followed by The Preserve in the afternoon, it's better on the soul, I think.


I've not played Shorty's, but I have gone round half of Punchbowl. If you have an hour in the evening, do one of those two.

[Michael George]

Some suggestions:


Play all 4 courses and all par 3 courses and the punchbowl.  This is beyond discussion.  All are great and deserve to be played.
Don't eat at The Gallery.  Eat at Tufted Puffin, Pacific Grille and McKee's.
Play Old Macdonald in the morning when there is less wind (as the wind is crazy on that course). 
Play Bandon Trails in the afternoon when there is more wind (as it is somewhat more sheltered from the wind than the other courses)
Play Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes whenever, but at least one afternoon as they are great at sunset.
Take caddies.  I had Harry Lusk on each of my loops and he was very good.
Enjoy every minute as it is heaven on earth. 

[Jerry Kluger]

What I found interesting was that all of the non-gca geeks I have spoken to put Trails as #1 or #2.

[Daryl David]

Some suggestions:
Don't eat at The Gallery.  Eat at Tufted Puffin, Pacific Grille and McKee's.

Be sure to go into town and eat at least once if not twice. Spend some money and spread some golfer goodwill. The resort gets enough business.

[Jon Cavalier]

Here are my thoughts (and photos) on Bandon: http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,60754.0.html

To say your thoughts/pics thread is comprehensive would be an understatement.  Wow!

Thanks Ben. As I'm pretty sure my thread makes clear, Bandon moved me in a way that very few golf experiences have. And as the many responses in this thread make clear, there is no right or wrong way to experience it. It's a fantastic place.

My only recommendations to Carson beyond my long tour would be to suggest playing each of the four courses once before doubling up on anything (you may be surprised what you want to see again), and to make absolutely sure that you make time to play Preserve at least once -- I would go so far as to say that Preserve is worth playing before a second round on any of the full courses. It's an incredible design and it has perhaps the best views on the property.

The best piece of advice I got is to be flexible in all respects - schedule, courses, scoring (match play is best), weather, food, etc. Just roll with it and have fun, and you'll have an experience you'll remember for a lifetime.

[Terry Lavin]

I have been to Bandon three times and have loved every minute I have spent there.
Have even had the chance to play all four courses on the same day in the "Summer Solstice" event. Started on Bandon Trails at 5:40 am and finished on Pac Dunes at 7:45 pm.


Whenever someone ranks the 4 courses, and someone looks at the ranking, they see the 4th ranked course and are like, " What! You didn't like _____!!?"


Make your own opinion. Mine...?...:


1. Pac Dunes
2. Old Mac
3. Bandon Trails
4. Bandon Dunes

Agreed on all counts.

[Will MacEwen]

I have been about 15 times. I always play each course twice, the Preserve twice and maybe some extra 9s on BD. I enjoy them all.

[Alex Miller]

What I found interesting was that all of the non-gca geeks I have spoken to put Trails as #1 or #2.

A good number of GCA geeks do as well. At the KP up there I believe there were as many that had Trails as their favorite as PD.