Random Bandon Thread

[Chilidog]

8 hours ago, spud3 said:

@Chilidog In a couple days, you'll get a survey from the resort emailed to you asking about your trip.  Please take the time to complete it and let them know about the things that were sub-par for you.  I know for fact that the directors read all of those and take them seriously.  Nothing will change if they don't get honest feedback.

Just received the survey. 

[jrg75]

27 minutes ago, DLiver said:

I had no idea the problems with service at BD are because so many a-holes go there. Good to know.

Just my opinion but I don't think the level of service has declined, everyone there continues to be super friendly and I feel like they still go out of their way to make sure you have a good time.  It's probably a little slower in some cases because of staffing shortages but that is true with every place at the current moment in time.

 

It's probably extreme to call what I view as the new client base as a-holes.  Like I said, I've met some really cool guys but it's obvious to me that the majority of people there now tend to party a lot harder and act a little more foolish than the people I saw there in 2017.  Not judging and completely up to them.  It does detract from my experience but not enough to keep me away.  I also don't blame Bandon for this shift, it's not up to them to screen guests by asking them how many fireball shots they plan to consume during the week or if the plan to strip down to their undies and try to take a swim in the pond off Trails 11 (true story from a caddy).

Edited March 17, 2023 by jrg75

[Chilidog]

After really thinking about it, I looked back through my caddie bill from the week and I spent $1350 on caddies. I saw lots of guys using electric push carts. If I could do it all again, I would have just bought one and shipped it out and back like the V2. Afterwards, I would still have an electric push cart instead of an underwhelming caddie experience. 
 

I’ve also been thinking about why I was underwhelmed by Bandon this time vs times in the past. I remember when Bandon first came on the scene with Dunes and Pac. I actually enjoyed the excitement of going so far out of the way to get there. Reminds me of something like Barnbougle today. But Keiser and others have now made so many good destinations that are much more easily accessible to get to that the allure of the harshness of the travel has faded dramatically. It took me 26 hours to get home from this trip. I could get to Streamsong in the morning and be playing in the afternoon. And the courses are similar. 

[jerebear21]

4 minutes ago, Chilidog said:

After really thinking about it, I looked back through my caddie bill from the week and I spent $1350 on caddies. I saw lots of guys using electric push carts. If I could do it all again, I would have just bought one and shipped it out and back like the V2. Afterwards, I would still have an electric push cart instead of an underwhelming caddie experience. 
 

I’ve also been thinking about why I was underwhelmed by Bandon this time vs times in the past. I remember when Bandon first came on the scene with Dunes and Pac. I actually enjoyed the excitement of going so far out of the way to get there. Reminds me of something like Barnbougle today. But Keiser and others have now made so many good destinations that are much more easily accessible to get to that the allure of the harshness of the travel has faded dramatically. It took me 26 hours to get home from this trip. I could get to Streamsong in the morning and be playing in the afternoon. And the courses are similar. 

 

 

that's what I been saying in the streamsong thread.  If I was a northeast guy, it's so much better to fly into tampa and play streamsong in 80 degrees temperature in february/march than to head out to bandon and deal with unpredictable weather.

 

Granted, I'll be in bandon in May, but my preference will always be shortest travel time possible.  And there's absolutely nothing wrong with wingman and a few cocktails.  Lighten up boys. 

 

They need to hurry up and build cabot citrus farm.  Too much demand during winter months in florida right now.

[ND2005]

27 minutes ago, jerebear21 said:

 

 

that's what I been saying in the streamsong thread.  If I was a northeast guy, it's so much better to fly into tampa and play streamsong in 80 degrees temperature in february/march than to head out to bandon and deal with unpredictable weather.

 

Granted, I'll be in bandon in May, but my preference will always be shortest travel time possible.  And there's absolutely nothing wrong with wingman and a few cocktails.  Lighten up boys. 

 

They need to hurry up and build cabot citrus farm.  Too much demand during winter months in florida right now.

I really love the golf courses at Streamsong, and like you’re saying I could hop on an AM flight and make an afternoon tee time. 
 

but you want to talk service issues?

 

Im on a timeout with Streamsong after the last trip. Even have a massive discount coupon good through the end of this year as an apology from them and I’m not particularly tempted to try my luck again. 

[Chilidog]

1 minute ago, ND2005 said:

I really love the golf courses at Streamsong, and like you’re saying I could hop on an AM flight and make an afternoon tee time. 
 

but you want to talk service issues?

 

Im on a timeout with Streamsong after the last trip. Even have a massive discount coupon good through the end of this year as an apology from them and I’m not particularly tempted to try my luck again. 

I haven’t been to Streamsong in a while but I could imagine with how remote that they are that they would have lots of problems. I would think the same for Sand Valley. 

[jerebear21]

36 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

I really love the golf courses at Streamsong, and like you’re saying I could hop on an AM flight and make an afternoon tee time. 
 

but you want to talk service issues?

 

Im on a timeout with Streamsong after the last trip. Even have a massive discount coupon good through the end of this year as an apology from them and I’m not particularly tempted to try my luck again. 

From reading this thread the bandon service is on par with streamsong now. And yes both phone service suck. 

[jerebear21]

31 minutes ago, Chilidog said:

I haven’t been to Streamsong in a while but I could imagine with how remote that they are that they would have lots of problems. I would think the same for Sand Valley. 

the Florida real estate boom is unreal between tampa and streamsong. It’s not as remote as it was 10 years ago. 

[ND2005]

34 minutes ago, Chilidog said:

I haven’t been to Streamsong in a while but I could imagine with how remote that they are that they would have lots of problems. I would think the same for Sand Valley. 

sand valley much less so than Streamsong. I think SV has done a much better job embracing/being embraced by the local community. 
 

The junior caddie/scholarship program was a great idea 

[ND2005]

11 minutes ago, jerebear21 said:

From reading this thread the bandon service is on par with streamsong now. And yes both phone service suck. 

I was at streamsong this time a year ago and at Bandon last fall. Completely different stratospheres. No comparison at all service wise.

[jerebear21]

It was a tongue in cheek comment bud. 

[BG5]

Heres the deal....the entire service industry is in rough shape, hotel staff, restuarant workers, you name it cannot find people who want to work.  Nobody wants to work these days so its not just the golf industry.  I just want the stinking golf courses to be open.  With the way things are going we will probably get an email soon from Bandon Dunes or Streamsong saying they are sorry but they had to close down the course today because lack of staff.  I am not joking

 

With the amount of money Bandon and Streamsong, Sand Valley etc are making they should be paying people a heck of alot more than they are.  When you charge $400 a round at Bandon in primetime they can afford to pay their workers a lot more than they do and they should.  Would that make a difference.....prob not since nobody wants to work but I am amazed that golf resorts and paying some people $15 a hour when they can go to Target or Walmart and get $20.  

[me05501]

As others have mentioned it's good to give accurate feedback so resorts know what's up.

 

That feedback might be even more important when you receive excellent service. Management needs to know that their efforts aren't lost on their customer base. 

[Chilidog]

I’ve got a wild idea on how to keep consistent staffing:

 

1) Build a neighborhood with affordable housing. Put in 1600-1800 sq ft homes and only charge them a reduced rate for month. Make sure they have a pool for entertainment when they aren’t working in places like Streamsong. 
2) Let them eat at the resort for the food cost. 
3) Hire a part time on call phone doc that diagnose and prescribe meds for sickness. 
 

You cover a lot of people’s housing, food and medical needs and you won’t have any issues staffing the place. 
 

When I was talking with the folks at Bandon, each had a minimum 30 min drive. There is property where you could buy and put up some affordable housing. 
 

Will this take money out of the owners pockets? Yes. But it will also solve their biggest issue. 

[spud3]

I would think Keiser's response to those suggestions would be something along the lines of:

 

"Dude, I just build golf courses.  I'm not interested in becoming Henry Kaiser."

 

As noted, the service industry as a whole has been turned upside down since the pandemic.  The fact that there is such a limited pool of locals (Bandon is a pretty small town in a remote area), and many  that are not even interested in working at the resort, makes it even more difficult.  I am certain that greater minds than ours have been thinking about this issue for a long time now.  In the meantime, I'm willing to cut them quite a bit of slack as far as my own expectations of service levels go.

 

Personally, I'd like to see the resort re-focus on the Retail Golfer (as defined in Dream Golf), and move away from the corporate accommodations that have only increased over the past seven or eight years.  That alone would remedy most of what I see as problems there.

 

Bottom line for me, though:  if the golf's good, I'm good.

[Seamus_MacDuff]

4 hours ago, Chilidog said:

I’ve got a wild idea on how to keep consistent staffing:

 

1) Build a neighborhood with affordable housing. Put in 1600-1800 sq ft homes and only charge them a reduced rate for month. Make sure they have a pool for entertainment when they aren’t working in places like Streamsong. 
2) Let them eat at the resort for the food cost. 
3) Hire a part time on call phone doc that diagnose and prescribe meds for sickness. 
 

You cover a lot of people’s housing, food and medical needs and you won’t have any issues staffing the place. 
 

When I was talking with the folks at Bandon, each had a minimum 30 min drive. There is property where you could buy and put up some affordable housing. 
 

Will this take money out of the owners pockets? Yes. But it will also solve their biggest issue. 

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort already does this. There’s a bunch of staff housing off Seven Devils Rd, between BT and Hwy 101. 

[mci711]

1 minute ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort already does this. There’s a bunch of staff housing off Seven Devils Rd, between BT and Hwy 101. 

 

Haven't heard Seven Devils Rd in years. My first trip to Bandon was via bicycle from Seattle about 10 years ago. The seven devils got me! 7 hills, that are actually 8 I believe (1 more after you think you are done). Brings back great memories! 

[st1800e]

57 minutes ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort already does this. There’s a bunch of staff housing off Seven Devils Rd, between BT and Hwy 101. 

Clearly, they need to do it “better”.  

[Chilidog]

13 hours ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort already does this. There’s a bunch of staff housing off Seven Devils Rd, between BT and Hwy 101. 

I brought this idea to a shuttle driver and he mentioned this. He said that they were run down and no one really wanted to live in them. He also said they were expensive for what you got.  Maybe if they refresh those and offer more at a reduced cost. 

[italianstallion]

On 3/17/2023 at 8:46 AM, jrg75 said:

@Ronnie Mundt nailed it, biggest change I've seen really has nothing to do with how Bandon operates, it's mostly that a completely different group of clients are now the main guests.  My first trip 6 years ago, it was all golf nerds and those that were there for the spiritual experience. When I got paired up, the talk with complete strangers would be mostly golf, much of it from Dream Golf. "Oh, this must be Shoe's bunker, or, here are the railroad ties that DMK installed on 17 to shore up the right side of the fairway, etc etc"

 

Fast forward to post pandemic where everyone took up golf and the main guests are no longer golf nerds but instead the golfbros.  On course experience is mostly now about watching your playing partners do fireball shots, slam IPAs, play the wrong tee boxes (usually the tips), blast music on their wingman, talk smack and generally act like it's a course on the Vegas strip.  I exaggerate a little bit and I've also met some really cool guys in my last few trips but I've had a few rounds much like described above.

 

I definitely miss Bandon from 5 or more years ago but I think those days are gone.  It won't keep me away as I love the place. I just have to mentally prepare myself each time I go now, it's just different.

 

I and three of my friends are paying near top dollar for a June trip and would hate to encounter a lot of what you and chilidog mentioned. The recent frequency with which I’m seeing these kinds of reports has me worried. I’m no stranger to golf resorts and paying a lot for trips, but I hope I’m not being taken to the cleaners on this. 

[jrg75]

5 hours ago, italianstallion said:

I and three of my friends are paying near top dollar for a June trip and would hate to encounter a lot of what you and chilidog mentioned. The recent frequency with which I’m seeing these kinds of reports has me worried. I’m no stranger to golf resorts and paying a lot for trips, but I hope I’m not being taken to the cleaners on this. 

It's definitely got a different feel in recent years but it's still one of the greatest places on earth and I don't see my opinion of this changing any time soon.  If you have a group of 4, you get the luxury of having set playing partners so the worst you can expect is some on-course music a few holes over (I normally don't mind unless is blasting and not my style) and possibly some overly loud guys at dinner.  It still seems like most everyone shuts down pretty early, I've never really had issues with noise at night.  99% sure you will have a good time.

[ND2005]

5 hours ago, italianstallion said:

I and three of my friends are paying near top dollar for a June trip and would hate to encounter a lot of what you and chilidog mentioned. The recent frequency with which I’m seeing these kinds of reports has me worried. I’m no stranger to golf resorts and paying a lot for trips, but I hope I’m not being taken to the cleaners on this. 

IMO the reports of Bandons demise are way over the top. 
 

Was there in fall 22 and had a fantastic experience all around. 

 

Service wise I would rate the major resorts I’ve been to recently as: 

1. Sand Valley

2. Pinehurst 

3. Kiawah

4. Bandon

5. Hilton Head 

6. Big Cedar

290. Streamsong

 

For Bandon my major critiques are that the lodging is getting a bit long in the tooth and they don’t have enough dining options vs the number of guests on property. 
 

And it sounds like Sheep Ranch keeps getting worse…I am rethinking our group’s tee times for this fall will probably only hit it once for the guys who haven’t played it before…

 

for the record the complaints that Bandon is being overrun by “golf bros” and should be reserved for the purist architecture geeks reek of snobbery. The courses are amazing and I’m glad more people are realizing that and expanding their horizons. 

[jrg75]

25 minutes ago, ND2005 said:

for the record the complaints that Bandon is being overrun by “golf bros” and should be reserved for the purist architecture geeks reek of snobbery. The courses are amazing and I’m glad more people are realizing that and expanding their horizons. 

Not snobbery, I just feel like there should be some respect for others, particularly on the course.  Last trip I followed a group who were blasting Eminem on their wingman for most of the round.  As much as I love lose yourself, I really didn't want it while I was there.  Also witnessed a couple of drunk guys chasing Canadian geese on Bandon 18 late in the day as I was trying to tee off on 14, kinda distracting.

[dutz]

Just caught up on about 4 pages of content. I’m here now. Been here for 2.5 days on my 4th trip on 4 years. Even in that short period of time the customer services has fallen off tremendously. Not so much the golf staff, but everywhere else.  It’s all about making money and not the experience anymore, in my opinion.  
 

Weather has been amazing the last 2 days. Couldn’t be any better. 

[SHGolfer]

This will be trip #15 for me and I sincerely hope the appalling service leads to declining interest in the resort and its courses.

[graveydellic]

53 minutes ago, SHGolfer said:

This will be trip #15 for me and I sincerely hope the appalling service leads to declining interest in the resort and its courses.

 

Ha, in our dreams.  With the opening of NRD and the new Par 3 course, demand will continue to skyrocket in the coming years.  I just don't quite understand how they can continue to add golf without adding more lodging.  

[spud3]

Well, they have added lodging (Round Lake just opened last year) and they are actively building more (near OM), but the issue is it's not keeping up with the added tee times.  A new course could add a couple hundred tee slots, but they're not building that many rooms.  Couple that with just one large corporate group taking up virtually every room on property for large blocks of time (and they do several of those per year) and that leaves the rest of us having to scratch for a few nights in a single room.

 

There's been quite a few posts lately about dissatisfaction with the experience.  We'll be there in a week and I'll try and post some each evening.

 

In the meantime, the pre-packing rituals are in full swing...

 

 

[cg0rd0noo7]

I will be making my first trip to Bandon where I am staying on property and playing more than 1 round. I have a few questions before I go that I am sure someone can answer. 
 

We will be playing 4 rounds in 2 days in this order

 

1.  Old Mac

2. Pacific Dunes

3. Band Dunes

4. Bandon Trails

We will have a caddie for each of the rounds. 
 

We are staying in the Round Lake lodging. 
 

1. How are clubs handled between rounds? 
 

2. Do I need reservations for breakfast or lunch? I have heard for forged or the pacific grill we should get reservations if we want dinner there. 
 

3. Anything we must do on property besides the golf? 
 

4. I forget the range/warm up situation. Does each course have a range? How early do they open. 
 

thanks in advance

[dutz]

2 hours ago, cg0rd0noo7 said:

I will be making my first trip to Bandon where I am staying on property and playing more than 1 round. I have a few questions before I go that I am sure someone can answer. 
 

We will be playing 4 rounds in 2 days in this order

 

1.  Old Mac

2. Pacific Dunes

3. Band Dunes

4. Bandon Trails

We will have a caddie for each of the rounds. 
 

We are staying in the Round Lake lodging. 
 

1. How are clubs handled between rounds? 
 

2. Do I need reservations for breakfast or lunch? I have heard for forged or the pacific grill we should get reservations if we want dinner there. 
 

3. Anything we must do on property besides the golf? 
 

4. I forget the range/warm up situation. Does each course have a range? How early do they open. 
 

thanks in advance

1. you can shuttle between courses, or drive yourself.  We typically just take our clubs with us but I think, maybe, they will deliver them throughout the day if you ask.  I know they will, but depends on how much time you have. 
 

2. no.  Breakfast and lunch you will be fine anywhere.  From being there the last 4 nights you could get into forge with no reservation.  Pacific I think is harder. 
 

3. no. There’s a massage studio, the labyrinth,  and some trails but with you doing 36 and having the 2 long walks you won’t want to do much more. 
 

4. main range and sheep ranch range only.  Open before sunrise.  We hit balls in the dark most mornings. 

[samwm]

On 3/17/2023 at 3:42 PM, Chilidog said:

I’ve got a wild idea on how to keep consistent staffing:

 

1) Build a neighborhood with affordable housing. Put in 1600-1800 sq ft homes and only charge them a reduced rate for month. Make sure they have a pool for entertainment when they aren’t working in places like Streamsong. 
2) Let them eat at the resort for the food cost. 
3) Hire a part time on call phone doc that diagnose and prescribe meds for sickness. 
 

You cover a lot of people’s housing, food and medical needs and you won’t have any issues staffing the place. 
 

When I was talking with the folks at Bandon, each had a minimum 30 min drive. There is property where you could buy and put up some affordable housing. 
 

Will this take money out of the owners pockets? Yes. But it will also solve their biggest issue. 

 

Have my first trip to Bandon booked for July. My unsolicited advice and the opinion I'm coming in with is that it's easy enough to get caught up in the particulars. I'm ultimately there to enjoy the golf. I'll do so whether my caddie at the Old Course picks his nose or the guy at Royal County Down tells me the story of how he killed an Al-Qaeda leader. Bonus points: travel with a bottle of Lagavulin.

 

As an aside, I've spent a fair bit of time in Revelstoke which is where Cabot is building their next course. Should be high caliber, as are the Links/Cliffs. They're going to run into this problem and then some. Because land in Bandon is cheap and land in Revelstoke is Santa Barbara/Aspen nosebleed. Just a buyer beware for the guaranteed crossover demographic in this thread. Lagavulin again helping for this scenario