bandon and pacific dunes

[joe perry]

pics and thoughts

1. first off if it is sunny,windy and in the summer - make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen
you probably won't feel warm as the wind cools things down quite a bit but the sun is still strong

2. practice - make us of the awesome practice facilities - downwind and into the wind driving ranges

3. stay at the resort if at all financially possible

4. make dinner reservations if you like to eat around 8:30 pm after a long day of golf

5. get a caddie - they can read the greens very well and help with a few blind shots

6. revel in the fact that downwind you can putt a ball off the green very easily

7. into a strong summer wind par 4's become 3 shot holes for most

8. check out the town of bandon and the rock formations along the beach

9. if you like golf apparel - bring money - polo,burberry,carnoustie,bobby jones,sun ice etc. etc.

10. pray that you hit the ball solid - 10 yard draws or fades can turn into 60 yard hooks or slices
best option is to draw or fade your ball into the wind

11. slice wind + slice drive = death

12. bunkers use beach sand and the lips are high at pacific - be prepared to hit backwards
nothing worse than hitting the lip to watch your ball roll back into a 10 inch deep footprint

13. pars are not that hard to come by - i am about a 16 or 17 handicap and i had 7 pars on pacific dunes for 14 holes of play - on the remaining four par 5's - i was 10,8,10,10

[joe perry]

pacific pics

[joe perry]

bandon pics

[joe perry]

if you are going to stay in the town of bandon - i can recommend the new wing/rooms at table rock motel

 

these pics are just a 30 second walk from the hotel

[joe perry]

pic #2

[animalistic]

looks like an irish links!! nice! famous course in the US?

[dubbie]

I played 36 a day three days in a row in mid-May. Best golf trip I've ever been on.

[Geo]

Great post, and very nice pics Joe. I love the point-by-point breakdown. :beach: The courses up there are the courses I want to play. Anyone even marginally interested in Bandon must read Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes, or even if you simply want a good book to read. I'm no historian, and have virtually zero interest in golf course architecture, but this book was very good.

 

Anyway, thanks for posting.

[oregongolf]

you forgot one of the points.

 

bring like 15 shag balls with you and pound them down onto the beach on the holes running along the cliff there.

 

and another:

 

be sure to drop a deuce before your round. there really aren't that many bathrooms on the course.

[pschurr]

Hmmm, there's a place down in Tasmania called Barnbougle Dunes, which is also Doak.

Very much along the same lines as Bandon. Remote, coastal, rugged.

Looks very similar, but ours is highly overrated. But when it blows, hoo-boy it blows.

 

I'd love to get up there (Bandon, Pacific) to play.

 

peter

[MTM]

I've posted this before but I like to brag about it whenever I can-my daughter and son-in-law both caddy at Bandon.

Sadly, I've only played Bandon Dunes once when we were there for the wedding last summer.

Another trip is in order for me.

[joe perry]

Hmmm, there's a place down in Tasmania called Barnbougle Dunes, which is also Doak.

Very much along the same lines as Bandon. Remote, coastal, rugged.

Looks very similar, but ours is highly overrated. But when it blows, hoo-boy it blows.

 

I'd love to get up there (Bandon, Pacific) to play.

 

peter

 

 

i am off to barnbougle in early december - looking forward to my 2 rounds there

 

probably will also play a couple of rounds in the melbourne area or i might play cape

kidnappers in new zealand instead with my limited time

 

northwest ireland is next in septemeber - 5 classic links courses

[TIMMEH24]

I played Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes last November. It is an incredible place.

[dubbie]

I had a female caddy. Her name was Faith. Very good.

[golfer_junior]

Pacific is a great course, but I think that the new course south of Bandon called Bandon Crossings is better than all three courses at Bandon Dunes. If you guys want some advice on what caddy's to ask for, that way you don't get stuck with a bad one, shoot me a pm I know alot of them so I'll tell you who to ask for.

[freddiec]

Nice pics. That's golf at it's best.

[Xiphos]

Pacific is a great course, but I think that the new course south of Bandon called Bandon Crossings is better than all three courses at Bandon Dunes. If you guys want some advice on what caddy's to ask for, that way you don't get stuck with a bad one, shoot me a pm I know alot of them so I'll tell you who to ask for.

 

I work at Bandon Crossings and I caddied out at the Dunes for about 4 years so I know a little bit about both. I would never say Crossings is better than Pac. or Bandon, but it may be better than the trails. We had a Golf Digest rater out two days ago and he said that he thinks that Crossings might rate higher than any of the Dunes courses. It is really reaaly unique. With that said the Dunes is a completly different experience and I think that they are way better than Crossings. I know most caddies and most people that work at both places so if there are any question pm me.

[pitbull808]

Great post, and very nice pics Joe. I love the point-by-point breakdown. :good: The courses up there are the courses I want to play. Anyone even marginally interested in Bandon must read Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes, or even if you simply want a good book to read. I'm no historian, and have virtually zero interest in golf course architecture, but this book was very good.

 

Anyway, thanks for posting.

 

 

I agree great post Joe and great link to Dream Golf beruo. Ever since I read that book I've been wanting to make a trip out there for a few days as well. :beach:

[MHLY01]

Man, I was just there this weekend!!! It was beautiful. Saturday was perfect weather for golf, played Bandon Dunes and Pacific. Played Trails on Sunday morning in the drizzle. I actually like Trails the best I think, it is very unique, Shot 80, 80,76 so was not a bad weekend.

 

Definitely check out downtown Bandon. The food by the pier is great and Wheelhouse is great as well. I will post some pics and review later.

[Crazy_Yankees]

Anyone out there played these tracks in the winter?! Was planning a trip somewhere around Xmas of this year and wondering whether or not the weather on the Bandon coast makes the course unplayable enough that I should look elsewhere?!

 

Should a guy wait till the summer to golf these ones, or is the cold/wind/rain manageable?! Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance..

[oregongolf]

Anyone out there played these tracks in the winter?! Was planning a trip somewhere around Xmas of this year and wondering whether or not the weather on the Bandon coast makes the course unplayable enough that I should look elsewhere?!

 

Should a guy wait till the summer to golf these ones, or is the cold/wind/rain manageable?! Any input would be appreciated. Thanks in advance..

it's do-able. most of the locals from in-state play it during the off season because of lack of you foreigners.

 

if looking to come out in the winter, i would suggest february. it's a very odd month out on the coast... far less rain and the temperatures can actually be fairly nice. nonetheless, it's important to have good wind/rain gear.

[swanry30]

"11. slice wind + slice drive = death"

 

fantastic... my favorite comment! i have reservations for november - thanks for the tips.

[artfulgolfer]

Another thumbs up for "Dream Golf"... great book that has me drooling about my 1st trip in 2 weeks! Thanks for the photos and tip Joe... and Jon for the deuce tip!