Random Bandon Thread

[duffer987]

^And a Merry Xmas to you

[jrg75]

Here's a random question about lodging in Coos Bay and Bandon. I'm booking one night lodging for my trip in August (could only get two nights at the lodge). I've always stayed on property and know nothing about the local options. Thinking about Best Western at Face Rock. Anyone that has stayed there have opinions?

[Edaw68]

If you want cheap then the Inn at Oldtown is fine, nothing luxury but serviceable. Bandon Inn is a little nicer, but still cheaper than the resort. For one night either will work, I've stayed at both.

[jjr]

My buddy and I stayed @ Table Rock Motel the night we arrived and our last night, reasonable and comfy, I will stay there again next trip.

[DFinch]

Bandon Inn has been my go-to when I’m trying to hit winter weather windows.

 

[puttnforthe8]

Table Rock and BW...for peace and quiet and a good walk - both are fine; Bandon Inn to be closer to things.

[duffer987]

Bandon Inn. Rooms are big. Easy walk to Bandon Coffee Cafe for breakfast and wherever for dinner the night before. Neat views of town. Decent wireless and tele.

[spud3]

Same as everyone else. Bandon Inn or Inn At Old Town. Either works fine

[Slippin_Jimmy]

jrg75, I stayed at the Best Western at Face Rock last July and would recommend it. The rooms are a little dated but it was clean, the staff really cares and it's better than a typical Best Western IMO. Very friendly and welcoming. There's an indoor pool and hot tub there, nothing great but serviceable and clean. Short walk to the ocean, but it is a bit further from town than some of the other places mentioned, probably a 15-20 minute drive to the resort as I recall. I chose it b/c I could book it with Amex Rewards and would stay there again.

My only other stay in town was at the La Kris Inn a few years ago, it was fine but it's a roadside motel and nothing more. Just a crash pad for a late arrival and early exit, no complaints but it wouldn't be my first choice going forward.

I'd certainly defer to some of the other members who have stayed in town more, sounds like Bandon Inn gets high marks.

[jrg75]

Thanks all, location of Bandon Inn looks fantastic but I ended up booking the Best Western at Face Rock because I had an Expedia voucher from my cancelled trip and Bandon Inn wasn't an option. Ended up costing me very little extra out of pocket and since I just needed a decent place to spend the night before getting on property, I should be good to go.

I am excited about spending the night in Bandon and trying a local restaurant, thinking Edgewaters which seems to be highly regarded in various forums.

[duffer987]

^Good stuff. Vouchers are not to be sneezed at. All you really need is clean and sturdy enough bed to wake up ready to go the next day! One plus with rescheduling your trip is you get the anticipation countdown again and 'knock on wood' no genuine weather concerns and warmer temps!

[puttnforthe8]

Note: Don't forget Alloro is xxx times better than Edgewaters.

[Slippin_Jimmy]

+1 on Alloro! Haven't been to Edgewaters but it would be tough to top Alloro. Had an amazing meal there, better than anything at the resort (and I think the resort food is great). Definitely make a reservation if you plan on going there.

[duffer987]

Alloro is nice and would agree their pasta is certainly better than what would be on offer at Edgewaters, but it's not 4x better IMHO, and otherwise I don't have a large enough sample size to say. It has a different feel than other spots in town, but TBH I think it benefits a lot from the competition.

Speaking of which, has anyone managed to pass by Pablo's when it's open? Folks have good things to say about it in town.

[jrg75]

Of the Bandon options, are there restaurants where you can dine at the bar with a good beer or vino? This is my first solo trip so reservations for one seem unnecessary (and weird).

[duffer987]

All/most of them? Besides Alloro because it's small and Pablo's cause of their hours, most of the restaurants in town are of a decent size and/or have a bar area so it's easy enough to pop your head in and find a seat.

Last time I was in town - in Nov - due to it being a Mon/Tues and a huge windstorm blowing through the one night - Tues it was like a ghost town, there were limited options as most places were closed - but you'll be there in peak season so won't have that problem.

And you can always get a takeaway pizza from Bandon Brewing Co, if you just want have a few tins and watch some TV or surf the web at the hotel.

[gueuzengolf]

Looks like Bandon has a plan in place now:

It’ll be a different experience in June for sure.

[Wardonation]

[Hardrain]

Have a Bandon trip planned last week of May and while it is nice to hear they are opening back up I am not thrilled by the restrictions. I wonder what is the link between COVID-19 prevention and not allowing beer on the golf course? I have never been to Bandon and gotta say some beers around the Punch Bowl with my buddies was one of the things I was really looking forward to.

[digger71]

Agreed! Glad I saw this comment as I was thinking about making a trip. I can live the bars closed, and without beer on the course, but beers on the Punchbowl sure would have helped add a sense of normalcy to the experience

[NippedWedge]

Speaking of new restrictions. Does anybody know if they are using raised pool noodle bumpers with flagsticks or bumpers that sit half way down the cup (with flagstick still in)? Really hope it is the latter.

[duffer987]

Ya hopefully they do the something in the hole (whether with foam or bits of piping) to let the ball 'drop' that little bit into the hole to have the satisfaction of a hole-out.

The above ground bumper-pool option really does change the feel of the game.

They also have to consider how best to handle it for high winds; along with protecting players retrieving their ball, so would hope cups per normal with something propping the ball up would handle the wind better than inverted or exposed?

[CMCSGolf]

I saw on instagram someone asking the same question. BD responded that they will be using the pool noodle in the cup to prop up the ball, but it will still be allowed to fall into the hole. Hopefully that is accurate!

[Wardonation]

They are using the "noodle" I leave tomorrow and will play wed thru sat. Only 50 golfers on site, should be fun...

[buzlin]

I may have misinterpreted, but I get the impression that you're still able to bring your own booze on course and the Punchbowl, etc.... We've always done a combination of buying from the resort and bringing our own in the past and have never had any problems, except that one time we tried to drink our own beer outside of the Tufted Puffin on one of their patio tables. The server came out and just asked us to pour it into a glass or stand up. She could not have been nicer.

There may have been another time, but through some tough negotiations we worked out a win win with our server. That's a story that'll go to the grave with our group that year. :)

In defense of us bringing our own beer/whiskey, we feel as though over the last 7 years, we've still spent plenty of money at the resort (all of our meals, and at least half of the alcohol we drink, which is a LOT).

[Hardrain]

Buzlin - thanks for that info, so Bandon lets you bring your own beer on the course and around the practice areas? We are staying on site.

[duffer987]

Don't be cheap, especially now. If boozing it up is that key to your trip definitely buy it directly from the resort, you'll be helping them recoup just a modicum of their lost revenue and it also gives you the chance to heap tips onto their staff who sure as heck need it.

[buzlin]

Hardrain,

I've never seen, read, or heard anything against it, other than being respectful and recognizing that they're running a for profit business. I believe the issues we ran into had more to do the legalities rather than the resorts view of outside alcohol.

[Hardrain]

I am not being cheap, I would prefer to buy it from Bandon but their new guidelines specifically state they won't sell beer to take out on the course. Boozing it up isn't key to the trip but I can't imagine going and not being able to enjoy a cold beverage outside of my hotel room. I am just trying to get an idea of what to expect will these new guidelines.

[buzlin]

Their number one goal is for the guests to have a good time. Not having alcohol for sale on the golf course and Punchbowl clearly will take away from some guests experience. No way you can't or shouldn't bring your own.

Buy when/where you can, feel free to byob whenever where ever. We're kind of beer nerds, so their selection, while good, doesn't always meet our needs.

We've even had housekeeping fill our cooler with ice in our room unprompted.