Random Bandon Thread

[jrg75]

Wish driving was an option for my now defunct April trip, the real problem was airline travel plus my new family reality with everyone at home and school cancelled. I joke about not wanting to eat meatloaf out of a styrafoam container but truth be told, I would glady do that to play my favorite courses and escape reality for a few days.

[spud3]

I didn't get any takeout from town, but assume all establishments there are doing the same thing. I know here in PDX, most of the eateries are still open, just takeout. All the takeout meals I had from the Gallery, Pac Grill and McKee's were made to order, with the exception of the breakfast sandwiches from the Lodge turnstand in the morning. Note - the smoked steelhead w/couscous from the Gallery is my new favorite dish on site. Also, beer and wine were available to-go as well.

 

There were no on-course changes, as of yesterday (March 19). I have also read of some weird things like raised cups and no rakes, but the Bandon courses were all play-as-normal. One of the staffers mentioned that their cancellations were mainly large groups. I didn't talk with many other golfers but I think it is safe to assume those left on site did not have to travel by plane. Two of our foursome left early to help with matters at home and business, both of which were completely understandable. The courses were eerily not crowded, considering the spectacular weather.

 

Again, if you can, go. It is arguably the safest public spot in the US right now. And the courses are in great shape.

[spud3]

Here's the page on the resort website with all the info. It is being actively updated as things change:

https://www.bandondunesgolf.com/covid-19

[tad950]

Yesterday evening the Governor of Oregon issued a stay at home order. But the rules are a little vague. I hope it works out for you guys that are heading to Bandon. I cancelled my trip with the NCGA last Monday.

[poppyhillsguy]

I tried to move my week long trip from Nov. 18 to the following week, but they said they were booked.

 

[duffer987]

Nov 18 2020? The following week is Thanksgiving. That week would have been gone long before the current situation.

[wtoomey]

Closed till at least 4/6.

[spud3]

Not a surprise, once the Gov's order came down yesterday

https://www.bandondunesgolf.com/covid-19

[puttnforthe8]

The exec order did not call out golf courses. This was purely a Bandon decision.

[SouthLand]

Yah, some other courses are open. Sucks for the folks who work at the resort and guests who wanted to keep their bookings.

Hell, I was trying to figure out a way to finagle myself and maybe my two older boys (8/7) down there while I’m ‘working’ from home.

[dpark]

I got a personal call from BD this morning telling me of the closure. That was nice. Also got the email. Due to the ambiguity in the Governor's order, it seems possible that driving to Bandon to participate in outside activity was not a direct violation of her orders. Well, we won't have a chance to test that theory now. All we have to look forward to is the 2021 trip. Sigh...

[mallrat]

I think the problem is their location. It was most likely a prudent decision because you would be depending on locals and people on day trips

[tad950]

Our golf association was going to have 36 foursomes going up over the next two weekends. When the covid- 19 situation started to escalate, we were given the option to cancel. And receive a full refund. I heard last week that cancellations were at 80 percent and climbing. That’s a lot of empty rooms. And probably safer for the staff to not have interaction with Californians.

[duffer987]

Were you booked on that? Always get the emails, but since we go up anyways never looked that closely at it.

Do you get early enough teetimes in the morning to fit in 36 holes?

[tad950]

We have been getting first out. I think this year it was 7:30. The younger guys do 36 every day. A couple maniacs have done 54. The trips have one scheduled 36 hole day. The other days I play it by ear. The foursomes are split between courses each day. So 9 foursomes max on any given course A lot depends what tee time you get and wh you are behind. Last year at Bandon, we were first off. I can’t remember which hole, but the head greens keeper came over to my caddy, and told him we had to slow down. But we were a threesome. And had plenty of time before our second round. We even went into town for ice cream.

[philsRHman]

about two weeks ago when I realized my April Scotland trip was in jeopardy I called Bandon. Their reservations dept was slammed with cancelations and changed. Could have made it work but when I mentioned it to my wife (who never says no to anything golf related and was on board with Scotland until the Govt stepped) told me I had to be f’ing kidding. Glad I didn’t push it since it looks like that wouldn’t have worked out anyway. Can’t even imagine the guilt I’d have leaving her home with an out of school second grader.

 

the one thing I don’t get is what they accomplish closing for a week.

[duffer987]

Cool! Ya that makes sense if the SCGA/NCGA had the first 9 times of the day, then even that 9th time is still getting 36 in come April, all things being equal.

[spud3]

Last week we had first round tee times just before 9AM and had plenty of daylight to get 36 in, even with a stop for lunch. The courses were not crowded, and even though we were a two-ball on Wednesday and moved along smartly, we could have gotten another 9 in easily. I think we finished PD in just over 4 hrs., and the second round at BD was right at 4 hrs. Stepping off 18 green, we briefly discussed the possibility, but that was the end of the 6th full round + Preserve in 4 days, and we had one more round the next day before leaving and the feet were starting to complain, so we decided not to. The weather was perfect, though...

[duffer987]

Smart choice :-)

Have you done 54 hole days at Bandon? Always reckon mental part is worse than the physical. Even when we go to the UK when there's loads of light, if you are doing a string of days 36/each is enough for me.

Edit: Just remembered we did 54 once at Prairie Club in Nebraska, but that was with carts and it was in the middle of nowhere with nothing else to do.

[tad950]

One time, after I finished up at Trails, I was going to use the free third round option at the Preserve, but a 10some had just teed off.

[buzlin]

Just heard Bandon closed to overnight visitors through May 1......damn it

[puttnforthe8]

:(

Not a soul there now - and I watched the camera for a few minutes and didn't see even a blade of grass blow!

 

[duffer987]

The gorse looks sooooo cool :-)

Saw a maintenance guy out by the 8th on Bandon, but that was it. Gorgeous day out.

[jrg75]

Well, these are officially bumming me out. I was exactly 30 days out. Looks so great on the course, it's a shame nobody is enjoying it.

[philsRHman]

This is officially the most WRX post I’ve seen. Watching the course cameras for a closed golf course. And the funny thing is I was just thinking, hmm I wonder if they shut down the cameras, would be nice to stare at. Love it!

[duffer987]

What else am I supposed to be doing? Oh right, work :-) With no cam on OM, maybe that's where they sneak off to play?

Was disappointed that Trails cam wasn't working correctly, but Pac and Bandon have a bunch of fun presets to click on. Knowing we'll be there again and again - allthings being equal - sure it's a bummer now, but just meant spinning our Spring reservation into our 2021 reservation and getting first tee times of the day, lol. Always a silver lining with Bandon!

[ddherman]

Also means you get to add Sheep Ranch to the mix!!!

[duffer987]

Bingo :-) We now have 4 rounds over two trips booked for SR.

[Yank8823]

Is this confirmed? Thanks

[buzlin]

Actually, I don't believe it is. My friend read in the local Bandon paper that the town wasn't allowing overnight stays. The resort makes it's own separate decisions apparently.