Random Bandon Thread

[EvoIX]

Headed down this Thursday through Sunday. It’ll be my 13th time (I think) and I’m just as excited for this trip as I’ve been for each of the last 12. Love that place.

[oregongolf]

In years past, I have just picked the most optimistic forecast

But truthfully, the Dark Skies app on your respective phone platform has been the most accurate for me... like literally to the hour for precipitation.

 

 

[duffer987]

Ha! Ya keep looking till you find one that puts a 50/50 rain day with 1/2 sun instead of 1/2 rain cloud :-)

I've found Weatherbug to be as accurate as any of the others and has a good radar/forecast view. But ya I like the general forecast rule of if it's under .25in don't worry about it and if it's over 1in... well don't worry about, but start your day in rain gear.

[jjr]

When I booked this years trip ( 2/10-2/14) last Sept, I used the last 5 years of percipitation data for Feb on usclimatedata.com, looked for the lowest average and we were pelted with a total of 2 holes of rain, I may have gotten lucky but I'll try it again next year.

[spud3]

To borrow a phrase from the financial industry: "past performance is no guarantee of future results."

 

This is the Oregon Coast in February...

[gambit]

Leaving this Friday (2/28) thru Tuesday (3/3) and playing 6 rounds between Saturday and Monday. Rain expected everyday lol.

[gambit]

It’s probably been asked, but is there a dress code or expectation for the restaurants on site? I only packed golf clothes and jeans. No slacks, dress shirt or dress shoes.

[SouthLand]

You're fine.

No need for anything the least bit stuffy if you don't want it. And you might feel a bit silly if you do.

[spud3]

You won't need the jeans...

[duffer987]

If you actually shower and change before dinner you're likely going to be ahead of at least 1/2 the people in McKees or Puffin Lounge.

Just put on your golf clothes for the following day and you'll be fine ;-)

[gambit]

Lmao...yea I’m definitely gonna shower lol.

[Chanceman]

Our rule after an afternoon round is a beer or three then back to the room, shower and into tomorrows golf gear, then to McKee's or wherever.

[jerebear21]

Just played 72 the last two days. Quick thought.

quick ranking

bd, bt, pd, om

trails look somewhat similar to sand valley and Would be my over all favorite if not for hole 1 and 18 not fitting in.

I don’t get the hype about pacific dunes. It’s nice and you’re along the ocean. I’ve played at better ocean side courses.

mckee food was below average. Edgewater in bandon had better food. Need lights at practice center for us 7am pace setters. Cool vibe. Can’t wait for sheep ranch.

[jerebear21]

Didn’t take that many pictures on the course. Weather so far has been amazing. 55-60 degrees with high humidity is by far my favorite weather to walk in.

 

[gambit]

2 hour frost delay this morning.

[poppyhillsguy]

Did they go split tees? Did you run into a massive back-up when making the turn?

[gambit]

Nah...that just pushed us all back 2 hours and had us tee off on 10. Finished in 4:10.

[Chanceman]

 

Is that the vaccine they have discovered to combat the virus??

[dutz]

We went off 20 minute late today due to the frost. We were scheduled for 10:40 on Bandon, went off at 11. First groups went off the back at 9:30, 10am off the front according to the starter. Split tees at 9 minute intervals. Started said there may be a delay on the turn but when we got to 10 the group in front of us was just walking off, no delay. We finished in just about 4 flat.

There was no delay on Preserve. Today was our last day so we scheduled Preserve for 7:30 and Bandon to follow. We anticipated all the courses to be delayed but Preserve was not even though it was covered in frost also. We went off on time. Started didn’t seem to happy the course was open with the amount of frost

[duffer987]

Good stuff on the weather Jere! On a short trip you never know and you sure made out well on that front :-) I'd swap around your last two and that's my order a fair bit of the time.

And you don't want lights on the range now, the natural way is really cool:

[jerebear21]

my eyes are bad and i can't see what i'm hitting at 630am, and worst when there's an over cast.

bandon is pretty darn magical. we saw a lot of ocean front pics but I personally like the inland holes just as much on BD. 1,2, 3 are such great starting holes. And 5-8 is as good as it gets. everyone knows about 4. weak finishing hole on 9 and 18 is probably my only gripe.

 

[duffer987]

Ya you see similar things at Bandon and Pacific in regards to the par 5s - they are used as yardage eaters in the case of 3/4 on each IMHO and don't off up a whole heckuva lot of interest, especially when compared to holes either side of them.

Did you get some wind to give you and extra club or two into a green? Proper storms are a pain, but it's always fun to get some wind for the full experience.

[jerebear21]

Had so much wind at pacific that every hole felt the same. Which is why I ranked it as low. I need a 2nd round. I didn’t feel like the course gave you a break like BD. I think 4-15 was wind one way up and one way down. It felt mundane. Views are awesome but after awhile I forgot what hole was what. =/

[jrg75]

Not sure what direction the winds was coming from but what I've experienced is that my preference between Bandon and Pacific changes based on wind direction. When wind is from the South (winter prevailing), Pacific is tough, all the long holes are directly into the wind and as you stated, you never get a break. Bandon in a South wind seems to me to play a lot easier, seems like that course has more cross wind holes.

In a North wind, the long Pacific holes play much shorter and Bandon as a whole plays a little tougher for me (5 is a beautiful beast in North wind).

[buzlin]

Yeah, what is it about BD 9 and 18 being kind of a letdown (relatively speaking of course). 9 is worse than 18, seems mundane. Though, I do appreciate that it seems to be one of the easier greens to get to in two. Maybe it's the lack of a greenside bunker on 9, and maybe the bunkering on 18 needs to be more severe/challenging ala 18 on PD.

On another note, has anyone whos been in high season ( or early fall) and winter,, have the course conditions been any different/better? I'm guessing that the longer/drier days could make for better conditions?

 

[Swingem]

Having returned from our annual Bandon trip last week, weather was mostly clear and cool with just a little rain on the front 9 at Pacific. We played BD on the last day and tee'd off on 10, and so finished on 9. I got to the tee at 9 and said WTF! When did they put that ugly a** bunker in the middle of the line down the right side? Looked like a totally different hole, and not in a good way. Disappointing to finish a great trip having to look at that turf terd. Just my opinion. Don't know if anyone else noticed it.

[spud3]

We noticed.

 

[beckjg135]

That bad eh? i havent been yet but that doesnt sound good, more of an eye sore or what?

[Swingem]

Yeah, very much an eye sore IMO. My caddie said it was to encourage more play down the left side for the upcoming Amateur. Not a difficult carry from the green tees, but totally changes the look of the hole.

[duffer987]

Was this done by Thanksgiving? I don't actually remember this being any more prevalent than previous, as opposed to the changes on 8, 11, 14, 17, etc....

As we talked about above, I kinda right 9 off as a bit of a meh hole anyways, so maybe I was oblivious to it?