Which Destination this summer?

[newg33b]

It's still very much winter and the golf season isn't in full-swing, but I've got the itch and looking at places to take a trip this summer. It'll likely be myself, maybe a couple other buddies too, but I've been thinking about the following destinations and wanted to get people's opinions on them. I would probably use credit card miles to pay for flights to any of them, so it's more on a quality of golf and similar-ish cost basis once the travel is netted out. Edit: Not sure if it would matter, but I'm a mid single digits player, maybe a 7 these days. I'm in the Eastern US near a big airport, for reference:

 

1. Bandon Dunes: I've been to Bandon but it's been 5 years since I was last there. I was able to play all the big courses but didn't get a chance to play the Preserve.

 

2. Wisconsin: Lots of options here, but I was thinking Kohler and Sand Valley and potentially adding in Erin Hills.

 

3. Cabot: Lots of stuff I've read/heard has said Cabot is awesome. But it would only be two new courses. I could potentially add in a stop in Boston as I have some buddies up there.

 

 

I was thinking about going to each of these in the summer, probably July or August.

 

My questions are really:

1. For people that have taken any/all of these trips, what were your thoughts/opinions? How would you compare them?

2. I really loved Bandon when I went, but would it be worth going to Bandon a second time before going to another place like Wisconsin or Cabot?

 

Thanks!

[jvincent]

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of those.

 

I've been to Bandon twice and would go again in a heartbeat. Nothing bad to say about it other than it is a PITA to get to.

 

The Kohler/Erin Hills/Sand Valley (haven't been to SV yet) is a different kind of golf than Bandon but equally good. Location wise it's a very different vibe and there is more driving if you are going to hit all three locations. Erin Hills is one of my favourite courses.

 

I haven't been to Cabot yet but it has been described by guys I know as Bandon "East". It's on my list of places to get to. One thing to be aware of is that because of the short season availability fills up quickly.

 

If you haven't done Wisconsin yet, I would go for that. All four courses at Kohler are great. You can do an easy day trip to Erin Hills from there. Sand Valley is further away if you want to include it but you won't be disappointed even if you just do Kohler and Erin Hills.

[puttnforthe8]

All good choices...

 

If truly Summer, then it can get a bit hot/muggy/etc than some other choices. But great destination for all those courses: Don't leave out The Bull or Lawsonia.

 

Cabot is awesome...and you don't just get 2 courses for that trip. You can play Highland on the other side of the island, plus there are some other courses to. But you can do what I did and add PEI which was great.

 

This year we are doing Bend...which is a great summer destination. And if you are really motivated only a few hours from Bandon. Or of course, just Bandon...making my 7th trip in May.

 

But other options to consider: Whistler, Idaho, Colorado, of course Pebble.

[newg33b]

All good choices...

 

If truly Summer, then it can get a bit hot/muggy/etc than some other choices. But great destination for all those courses: Don't leave out The Bull or Lawsonia.

 

Cabot is awesome...and you don't just get 2 courses for that trip. You can play Highland on the other side of the island, plus there are some other courses to. But you can do what I did and add PEI which was great.

 

This year we are doing Bend...which is a great summer destination. And if you are really motivated only a few hours from Bandon. Or of course, just Bandon...making my 7th trip in May.

 

But other options to consider: Whistler, Idaho, Colorado, of course Pebble.

 

Thanks for the advice! I definitely appreciate the other options too. I'll just say I didn't include Colorado because I lived there for a couple years, so I've played a number of the good public tracks around Denver. And I actually did Pebble with my dad last year which was awesome, so it'll be a while before I go back there.

[johnnylongball]

We really like the Wisconsin trip. Haven't played Sand Valley yet but have done the Kohler/Erin Hills trip a few times. We love Bandon but it's hard to get to. Kohler is much easier. About an hour from the Milwaukee airport.

[DandyDon]

If you do trips pretty much every year I would hold off on Bandon. Bandon is in early stages of doing another course which is supposed to be epic. I love Bandon (have been 3 times) and I am holding off going until the next course is done.

 

I did the Kohler courses along with Erin Hills and the Bull at Pinehurst Farms a couple of years back, awesome courses (although I enjoyed Bandon experience more). I would do the Kohler and Sand Valley trip now and wait for Bandon to finish the new course before you go.

 

I do want to do Cabot, but it's hellish getting there from Cali

[Tim_Gavrich]

Kohler is about 2 1/2 hours from Sand Valley so while you certainly could wedge both, plus Erin Hills/SentryWorld/Lawsonia into a single trip, I'd be inclined to break it up into two discrete trips:

 

1) Kohler + Erin Hills

 

2) Sand Valley + SentryWorld

 

The x-factor is Lawsonia Links, which is about an hour from both trips and would be bolted onto either. It's just as well, too, because I would consider it *the* essential Wisconsin golf course, especially for the money.

[Roadking2003]

I would choose Wisconsin and at least play Whistling Straits and Erin Hills. If you have time add The Bull, Blackwolf Run River, Whistling Straits Irish and Sand Valley.

[tiderider]

each spot in wisconsin is roughly 1 1/2 hrs from another spot ... not each other, but from at least one spot, if not two ... so the driving thing isn't that big of a deal ... kohler has 4 courses, sv has 2, and you have erin hills/lawsonia/bull/sentry to choose from as go betweens ... i'd do straits & river at kohler for sure, along with sv, and probably erin hills ... that's 5 ... i'd throw in lawsonia, personally, over the other two, but bull & sentry are very good courses ...

[Cmoney710]

If you want a relitivey cheap hotel and golf. I recommend Traverse City, MI. You can stay at the Grand Traverse Resort. They do a great job.