Bandon Trip - February Itinerary

I said before going to Bandon in December of 2018 that it would probably be a once in a lifetime trip. Fifteen months later and I am returning with the same buddy that I went with last time, seems to be a common theme. This time we are flying into North Bend in place of Eugene(not thrilled flying United over Delta but it allows us to shuttle to and from the resort and avoid the 2.5 hr drive each way so I'll take it). Here is our current itinerary, looking for feedback on anything you'd change:Wednesday - Land in North Bend, Aviation Transportation shuttle to the resort(will they stop at a liquor store or is that out of the question?), shipsticks clubs to resort

Play the Preserve if we can get on, current tee time is about an hour after we land so not holding my breath on that oneThursday -

Pacific Dunes AM

Bandon Trails PM

Possibly Preserve here, should have a bout an hour of daylight leftFriday

Bandon Dunes AM

Pacific Dunes PM

PunchbowlSaturday

Old Mac AM

Bandon Dunes PM

Shorty'sSunday

Old Mac AM

Fly out of North Bend

Staying at the Double Room at The Inn so liking our location relative to The Preserve. We didn't play it last time so hoping it would be possible to jump on around dusk to play a couple holes with a wedge and putter if that's acceptable. This was our routine at Sand Valley last May but not sure if that would fly here.

Feb 10th-14th here, enjoy!

Thanks, you as well! Feb 26- March1 for me

Looks like a good itinerary. The only issue I see is that arrival day round at the Preserve. An hour from landing to golfing is pretty tight, might want to call try to push that back a little if possible.

Hey Eboettne, my group is going the exact same days! A couple flying in from Chicago to Portland to make the drive, I’m coming form Jackson, Ms (JAN-DFW-PDX).

To the guys flying into PDX, you driving straight down?

I would nix the Preserve, Get to the Bandon when you get there and go to the driving range instead, Enjoy a nice warmup, get used to the tighter lies, and then go play Shortys for $20/person. It doesn't have the views of the Preserve, but to get a good feel for playing the courses at Bandon, it is a quick and cheap way to play some golf and get used to the conditions.

I thought shortys didnt open until thursday?

The donation for Shorty's is $20/person? I figured I'd put $5 or $10 in the box.

Donations benefit the Evans Scholarship program. The son of one of my good friends got a Evans Scholarship. I just look at it as a way to support a good cause. There is no "minimum" donation/fee to play Shorty's, it is whatever you are willing to do. Didn't mean to imply a minimum.

Oops. You are correct and I didn't realize the OP arrived on Weds. Shorty's is only open Thurs to Sun. I guess that won't work for the OP

Always wanted to go to Bandon...have a good time, and I hope your weather is good. :-)

We played it for the first time in Nov. and they didn't have the box out. Maybe in the winter/weather dependent times, they take it in? That said, they also only had a couple beat up scorecards too.

Do you know if they keep a donation box in the coffee shack at the range too?

Actually never played shorty's without the donation box being there. Don't know what to tell you. If you check in at any of the main pro shops, they can probably tell you where you can donate if the box isn't at the first tee.

I was there last fall, no box. We hunted around and no one seemed to know what to do. We paid the check in guy at Trails the next morning, he said hed take care of it.

This a sweet set up, pretty similar to how we do it, were 8 years in. Preserve is always worth it, regardless of cost. Grab one their light bags from the shack, 3 or 4 clubs and go for it. Its one of the best parts of the resort.

I will be there from Feb 9-11 as a single. This will be my 4th trip, but first since 2016. Always go the second week of Feb. Weather on past trips has been amazing and crossing fingers that we get a good stretch this year as well.

weather on past trips:

2014 - - 54/54/57

2015 - - 54/55/57

2016 - - 72/61/63

8th Flying to PDX late and driving to Eugene.

9th Preserve and BD

10th BD and BT

11th PD and OM

Hey Kansas_golfer my buddy and I play BT @12:30 on 2/10 maybe we'll be paired together, have a blast!

Yeah I'll go ahead and take that 2016 weather, wow!

2/28 arriving...start play 2/29-3/3. Any restaurants that are a must eat on site?

No. LOL. Seriously, they're fine and provide fuel for golf, but I don't ever go there thinking - yeah I get to have such and such. With those level expectations you'll be grand :-)

That said, I am a big fan of Bandon Coffee Cafe in town for bagel and coffee breakfasts and their breakfast cookies for mid-round snack and do look forward to going there.

I'm on a Keto diet right now which sucks lol. I've heard mixed things about the restautants on site with what they charge. We might do it one night, but definitely plan to go into town for local eats. Thanks, Duffer.

I'm there Feb 9-13. Anyone fly the United flight from SFO to North Bend?

I've heard of some troubles with checking a golf bag on that flight, so thinking of shipping my clubs to the resort instead.

Both times I've gone to Bandon I've taken this flight. I always recommend shipping your clubs. This plane is small. There is not a lot of room for luggage, and additionally there are no overhead compartments for carry ons, so anything larger than a backpack goes below in the standard cargo area. Additionally a large percentage of the people on this flight are going to Bandon, with full luggage and some with clubs. If you get the wrong combination of people who are flying their clubs with them, have a big suitcase and a fullsize carry on, you can run into the scenario where they don't have room and items get bumped. And if your items get bumped, there's no afternoon plane coming later, it waits until the next day as there's pretty much only 1 flight in and out of this airport daily. You could get lucky and everything works out, but there's a chance you get to Bandon without your clubs. I don't know how often that happens, but it can happen. For me it's too big of a trip to risk it on that, just me though.

Yeah you might want to suspend that for a weekend. :) I'm on that as well right now, there's probably not a lot that's going to work all that well for you. Like everything else I'm sure you can find something that works, you'll just really limit the menu. There are pdfs for each course's snack shop/smaller restaurant online so you can get an idea ahead of time what's available. I always liked Trails' setting and food options, Pacific is good as well and overlooks the Punchbowl. McKee's is my preference. The meatloaf is good if you like that kind of thing. I really enjoyed the pot pie, and the Reuben Fritters are phenomenal. Regarding price, it's a little up there compared to a typical restaurant but in my opinion vs other places I've been the pricing is quite reasonable for what you get.

I'm also taking that flight for the 1st time and not even risking it or giving myself a chance to stress about it. If my clubs didn't make it or were even a day late it would ruin my trip(or part of it). I can't play with rentals and have the same experience, especially at a place like Bandon when knowing how you hit(see: flight) your clubs is crucial.

Thanks for the insight. I kinda figured I would have to limit my food options. Afraid once I get a taste of carbs or sugar again I'll just basically start acting like a dope fiend around food. I heard about the meat loaf, but doesn't meatloaf usually contain bread crumbs? Stupid diet lol.

Pretty sure that's an ingredient of it. Otherwise the Pork Chop or Ribs might be good options even though they're probably covered in sauce and items you might want to avoid.

Yea...I was looking at the chops. Probably will ask for meat, fat, and veggies.

Thanks for the insight and agreed. I'm not gonna risk it. Scheduling my club pickup now!