QMany's Bandon Recap (Nov. 2014)

[QMany]

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1422423255' post='10833005']
Ya well there's a long weekend coming up in a few weeks, so I'm going to Bandon again
[/quote]
I wish I lived that close, I would try to make it 3-4 times per year. It is basically an entire day of travelling each direction for me. Airfare and rental car really eat up half of the trip budget.

[duffer987]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1422456165' post='10834125']
[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1422423255' post='10833005']
Ya well there's a long weekend coming up in a few weeks, so I'm going to Bandon again
[/quote]
I wish I lived that close, I would try to make it 3-4 times per year. It is basically an entire day of travelling each direction for me. Airfare and rental car really eat up half of the trip budget.
[/quote]

Oh jeez ya, when the three of us went in Nov, I came from here in California, one from Vancouver, and one from Maine... guess who made the better part of a day of it? ha. When we went to Scotland last year, he could get there as easily and quickly as Bandon. It's still a PITA from here, but being able to just throw everything in the car and go (allbeit a long drive) really eliminates any need to plan/commit to far in advance.

The green fees get bumped up a bit in Feb, but there's now an extra hour of sunlight from Thanksgiving. Hopefully the weather is half-way decent and I can get a quality pic or two

[QMany]

Just a rough ball park comparison between driving from the Bay Area and flying from KC:[list]
[*]Kansas City: $500 flight to Portland, $300 rental car, $50 gas (500 miles), all-day commute each way.
[*]Bay Area: $100 gas (1000 miles), 8-hour commute each way.
[/list]
I'm sad just thinking about it.

[cbbaron]

[quote name='duffer987' timestamp='1422423255' post='10833005']
Ya well there's a long weekend coming up in a few weeks, so I'm going to Bandon again
Pacific | Bandon
Old Mac | Trails
Trails | Start the drive south if the weather is rubbish, another 18 if it isn't

First time staying off property in town - as the resort was out of rooms, which isn't surprising this close to the day. So the cheaper accommodations offset the higher greenfees. But hey if you're going to drop a grand over a 3 day weekend, for this boring guy it's a heckuva lot better choice than Vegas. Get to try out my new Srixons there too! Win-win.
[/quote]What days in April you going will be there 1st to 4th

[JLo_73]

Great write up and giving me goose bumps thinking that our trip with 12 guys is 34 days away! Always good to read up on others experience, always find a couple of pearls. Thanks for sharing!

[duffer987]

I'm heading up in 2 days
Was initially not going to go up until Friday, play Sat-Mon, but with a fantastic forecast I cannot pass up the chance to get an extra days play in on the Friday.

Really like the drive up!
Really do not like the drive down.

[QMany]

If you guys haven't read Ashworth's GolfMan chronicle of Bandon, it is worth your time!
http://golfman.ashworthgolf.com/bandon/chronicle

[Edaw68]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1430753264' post='11495249']
If you guys haven't read Ashworth's GolfMan chronicle of Bandon, it is worth your time!
[url="http://golfman.ashworthgolf.com/bandon/chronicle"]http://golfman.ashwo...andon/chronicle[/url]
[/quote]
Cool, thanks for the tip.

[The Pearl]

Seriously, other than losing your virginity (from a guy's perspective) is there any other experience for us golfer's that exceeds expectations before, during, and after than Bandon? I have hardly had the desire to play my local tracks since I have been back and when I do, I get pissed because I can't putt from 30 yds off the green.

In an odd way, it has almost ruined golf for me.

[cbbaron]

[quote name='The Pearl' timestamp='1430771879' post='11497453']
Seriously, other than losing your virginity (from a guy's perspective) is there any other experience for us golfer's that exceeds expectations before, during, and after than Bandon? I have hardly had the desire to play my local tracks since I have been back and when I do, I get pissed because I can't putt from 30 yds off the green.

In an odd way, it has almost ruined golf for me.
[/quote]Agree I go to Arizona a lot and don't know if it will be the same I call it the new girlfriend syndrome you know she is much better than your ex

[spud3]

[quote name='The Pearl' timestamp='1430771879' post='11497453']
Seriously, other than losing your virginity (from a guy's perspective) is there any other experience for us golfer's that exceeds expectations before, during, and after than Bandon? I have hardly had the desire to play my local tracks since I have been back and when I do, I get pissed because I can't putt from 30 yds off the green.

In an odd way, it has almost ruined golf for me.
[/quote]

+1

I look forward to really windy days now, just so I can hit knockdowns...

[Edaw68]

[quote name='The Pearl' timestamp='1430771879' post='11497453']
Seriously, other than losing your virginity (from a guy's perspective) is there any other experience for us golfer's that exceeds expectations before, during, and after than Bandon? I have hardly had the desire to play my local tracks since I have been back and when I do, I get pissed because I can't putt from 30 yds off the green.

In an odd way, it has almost ruined golf for me.
[/quote]
Bandon has the advantage of lasting a few days....

[QMany]

I have my Pacific Dunes yardage guide out watching the US Women's Four Ball on Fox Sports 1!

I can't wait to get back to Bandon.

[QMany]

Matt Ginella ‏@MattGinellaGC 8m8 minutes ago

The 2020 U.S. Am at @BandonDunesGolf will be played at Old Mac (stroke play) & Trails (stroke play & match play).

 

Matt Ginella ‏@MattGinellaGC 5m5 minutes ago

Bandon owner, Mike Keiser, hopes to time the opening of Bandon Muni (now Chick Evans Park, 27 holes by Hanse) around the U.S. Am in 2020.

[QMany]

That's somewhat unfortunate, I'd rather see the men play OM, BD, or PD for match play.

[oregongolf]

The more exciting news is the Bandon Dunes muni has a real date now. Haven't heard much about it lately.

[duffer987]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1431483445' post='11549460']
I have my Pacific Dunes yardage guide out watching the US Women's Four Ball on Fox Sports 1!

I can't wait to get back to Bandon.
[/quote]

Had DVR'd it and just got around to it last night. Really cool to see it on the tele... ooh I've been there! LOL

Did they almost patronize the competitors with some of the teeboxes though?
They wrecked the spectacle that could have been for one of the best par 4s on the property, by having the 13th play 330 yards. All they did was drive it into the same collection area on the right and bunt wedges and 9Is onto the green.
Looks like they shortened up the fantastic 7th as well.

[QMany]

I just booked by return to Bandon Dunes for March 2016. I can't wait!

[spud3]

Any issues getting the dates/rooms you wanted? I've noticed more and more folks booking for more than a year out.

[QMany]

They are very limited with rooms even nine months out, but I was able to get something very close to what I preferred. Tee times were much easier than lodging.

Travel looks like it will be easier with more flights into North Bend.

[spud3]

Thanks Q - just trying to gauge when to call and book my stay for 2017. I'm set for 2016, but there were already conflicts when I made that reservation, and that was 1 year out as a solo!

[duffer987]

I would say earlier is better than later. We just booked a trip for three over Thanksgiving this year two weeks ago and the availability of rooms and tee times was less than when we booked at the end of August for last year's trip.
People are really copping on to what an excellent deal (if you are OK with the roll-the-dice weather) the offseason is at Bandon. Interestingly they now have a 30 day limit instead of a 21 day limit.

TBH, the more popular they get, they'll need to probably tighten up their booking process. The impression I got from their reservations person was you could book single night stays over the weekend, which is pretty unheard up for popular resorts and it screwed with our reservations as folks had just booked a Fri or a Sat. So we ended up with three single rooms for three nights, LOL. That means there is no first round match for who avoids the cot this year

[QMany]

[quote name='QMany' timestamp='1419867753' post='10655137']
I just found out that my Huskers play @ Oregon in September 2017. Needless to say, I'll be making the trip and taking my clubs.
[/quote]
I was getting around to planning this trip and noticed that September is peak season and rates are insane. I'm now forced with deciding between going to the Husker game in September or to Bandon next winter. I make it to plenty of Husker games...

[TheDailyDuffer]

September is peak season, but $400 a day for unlimited golf is far from insane when you're playing some of the best courses in the world.

[Chris_NH]

[quote name='TheDailyDuffer' timestamp='1447798507' post='12612084']
September is peak season, but $400 a day for unlimited golf is far from insane when you're playing some of the best courses in the world.
[/quote]

True, but when you can play them at < $200/day in March (for example), it does give one pause.

[QMany]

[quote name='TheDailyDuffer' timestamp='1447798507' post='12612084']
September is peak season, but $400 a day for unlimited golf is far from insane when you're playing some of the best courses in the world.
[/quote]
I guess I would also figure in the room rates which are also considerably more expensive.

Peak season: $405 unlimited golf + $260 for the cheapest room. $665/day.
Off season: $115 unlimited golf + $120 for the same room. $235/day.

I thinking about going next December.

[ninothing]

[quote name='Chris_NH' timestamp='1417562126' post='10533285']
[quote name='Bottlenosedolphin' timestamp='1417560935' post='10533177']
I would classify trails as being criminally underrated. If trails had a fence around it, a 500k initiation fee, and didn't allow women to play people would be ranking it with augusta and pine valley.
[/quote]

All together now: Thank you, Mike Keiser.
[/quote]

I would agree with this comment on Trails. In my Bandon group, we all agree that Trails is the best course and I consider it the closest to Pine Valley that I might ever play.

[YoungJedi]

Everyone has me just shaking of excitement to plan/book my trip. Feel like a little school girl.

[spud3]

[quote name='tjchamp' timestamp='1448942898' post='12665884']
Everyone has me just shaking of excitement to plan/book my trip. Feel like a little school girl.
[/quote]

It gets worse when you actually get there.

In a good way...

[YoungJedi]

[quote name='spud3' timestamp='1448947840' post='12666046']
[quote name='tjchamp' timestamp='1448942898' post='12665884']
Everyone has me just shaking of excitement to plan/book my trip. Feel like a little school girl.
[/quote]

It gets worse when you actually get there.

In a good way...
[/quote]

February 2017 is what we are aiming for. Anyone else in? Love to meet some fellow WRXers!