Random Bandon Thread

[rouges1922]

Maybe a dumb question, but was wondering if they give you pin sheets before your round for the course with more detailed info on them than what is shown in the yardage books?
 

Ordered the yardage books in preparation for my first trip out there and noticed that all it tells you pretty much is the three pin regions, no info about slopes or anything. 

[Kernel]

13 minutes ago, rouges1922 said:

Maybe a dumb question, but was wondering if they give you pin sheets before your round for the course with more detailed info on them than what is shown in the yardage books?
 

Ordered the yardage books in preparation for my first trip out there and noticed that all it tells you pretty much is the three pin regions, no info about slopes or anything. 

The pin sheets available with the score cards, etc. in the starter shacks are no more detailed than the ones in the yardage books. 

 

This April I did see, for the first time, a green book for sale in the OM pro shop. It was the only one I saw, so I am not sure if they have them for the other courses. But it was the super-detailed version you seem to be looking for. 

[rouges1922]

3 minutes ago, Kernel said:

The pin sheets available with the score cards, etc. in the starter shacks are no more detailed than the ones in the yardage books. 

 

This April I did see, for the first time, a green book for sale in the OM pro shop. It was the only one I saw, so I am not sure if they have them for the other courses. But it was the super-detailed version you seem to be looking for. 

I saw they have those on sale online, but they’re way too detailed and too expensive. Was just wondering if they had something with a bit more detailed as far as major slopes, etc. Thanks for the info.

[rouges1922]

3 minutes ago, Kernel said:

The pin sheets available with the score cards, etc. in the starter shacks are no more detailed than the ones in the yardage books. 

 

This April I did see, for the first time, a green book for sale in the OM pro shop. It was the only one I saw, so I am not sure if they have them for the other courses. But it was the super-detailed version you seem to be looking for. 

I saw they have those on sale online, but they’re way too detailed and too expensive. Was just wondering if they had something with a bit more detailed as far as major slopes, etc. Thanks for the info.

[VNutz]

The sheets they give at the tee are just the basic green sheets detailing how many paces on and from the side.

[CDM]

21 hours ago, spud3 said:

Actual event is June 22

 

Thanks.  We will be right after the event (4 days) but I also noticed the links championship is going on while we are there.   

[CDM]

8 hours ago, Kernel said:

The pin sheets available with the score cards, etc. in the starter shacks are no more detailed than the ones in the yardage books. 

 

This April I did see, for the first time, a green book for sale in the OM pro shop. It was the only one I saw, so I am not sure if they have them for the other courses. But it was the super-detailed version you seem to be looking for. 

 

8 hours ago, rouges1922 said:

I saw they have those on sale online, but they’re way too detailed and too expensive. Was just wondering if they had something with a bit more detailed as far as major slopes, etc. Thanks for the info.

 

Here is what Bandon sells directly.  SR is not available yet it looks like....and yes fairly expensive.

 

https://bandondunesgolfshop.com/collections/golf/products/professional-greens-guide-strackaline-50-per-book-or-175-for-all-four?_pos=1&_sid=ad9e424a6&_ss=r&variant=28057066143828

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2021 by CDM

[spud3]

The greens books are impressive, but $50 a pop is probably 2x what I'd pay.

 

We agreed in our group that having one would probably end up making us slower on the greens... and probably not become better putters.

[2bGood]

On 5/11/2021 at 11:14 AM, rouges1922 said:

I saw they have those on sale online, but they’re way too detailed and too expensive. Was just wondering if they had something with a bit more detailed as far as major slopes, etc. Thanks for the info.

They sell caddies just outside the main pro-shop. They tend to provide as much or as little detail based on your preference. 

Edited May 13, 2021 by 2bGood

[gambit]

I didn't find the greens too difficult when I went and putted just fine, but I didn't play OM and SR wasn't finished yet. My problem was getting to the green lol.

[dcmidnight]

I cant imagine paying $50 for a Straka greens book for a course I might play once, maybe twice, on *vacation*. I bought one for my home club but I play there all the time. 

I know the caddie thing was a joke but at $50 per book, why not pay $100 and get a guy to carry your bag on top of everything.

[blink3665]

51 minutes ago, dcmidnight said:

I cant imagine paying $50 for a Straka greens book for a course I might play once, maybe twice, on *vacation*. I bought one for my home club but I play there all the time. 

I know the caddie thing was a joke but at $50 per book, why not pay $100 and get a guy to carry your bag on top of everything.

 

I almost purchased the Straka books. But you're right, you can pay a bit more and have a caddy. You could also get a group caddy and carry your own bag. 

 

As I noted in this (or a different?) thread, it will also depend on the experience of your caddy. We got paired with a single and a caddy. Caddy was new to Bandon. Player had Straka book. Caddy and player argued over a ton of putts. Player was right more often than caddy. 

[dcmidnight]

Again, I'm not downplaying the books in the right setting. I just cant imagine caring so much about my putts that I would pay $50 - per course - on a trip like Bandon. Just cant.

[MileHighGuye]

3 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

Again, I'm not downplaying the books in the right setting. I just cant imagine caring so much about my putts that I would pay $50 - per course - on a trip like Bandon. Just cant.

Truly agree. Just go and have fun. Soak it in. Use your imagination and just hit the putt. You’ll enjoy it so much more. 

[puttnforthe8]

On 5/7/2021 at 5:32 AM, Drwoods2017 said:

We're headed out there in 2 weeks.  Can anyone whose been recently comment on dining.  Were you guys able to eat at the restaurants or did you have to do grab and go? We were originally told to make reservations then told we couldn't make them because of the limited capacity.

Everything is open - just limited capacity.  No reservations.  

 

Gallery:  Has tent out front plus normal dining room and bar dining room.

Pacific:  4 tables inside, plus outside

Trails:  3 tables inside, plus outside patio and outside covered shelter

Sheep:  A few tables outside

Mckees:  limited capacity

 

side note:  Trails End food/menu is outstanding - we ate there 50% of the time *breakfast, lunch and dinner 

 

 

[2bGood]

9 hours ago, dcmidnight said:

Again, I'm not downplaying the books in the right setting. I just cant imagine caring so much about my putts that I would pay $50 - per course - on a trip like Bandon. Just cant.

I think I have all the yardage books by now. I bought them to help with my first visits there and as I knew I would return many times I figured it was a good investment for futures rounds. Thing is after a few visits I did not need the books so it was not much an investment after all. 😀

 

I figure the green books are the same idea, by the time they are worth the investment you don't need them anymore. 

Edited May 13, 2021 by 2bGood

[mci711]

I never really buy that stuff because I "need" it. I have all of the yardage books but have a caddie every time. It is just cool stuff to have, I'll probably get the greens book in the fall they sound nice for the collection. 

[BG5]

I’m curious how the Sheep Ranch is holding up?  Is it in decent condition?  Are the greens rolling well?

 

I travel to Bandon the first time in later June and have two choose which 2 courses that I want to play three times.  I’m def doing Pacific Dunes and am trying to decide if I play Sheep Ranch or Bandon a 3rd time.  Any suggestions?

[Seamus_MacDuff]

3 hours ago, BG5 said:

I’m curious how the Sheep Ranch is holding up?  Is it in decent condition?  Are the greens rolling well?

 

I travel to Bandon the first time in later June and have two choose which 2 courses that I want to play three times.  I’m def doing Pacific Dunes and am trying to decide if I play Sheep Ranch or Bandon a 3rd time.  Any suggestions?

Regardless of Sheep Ranch condition, play BD (or BT or PD) a 3rd time.  IMHO, all those other courses are significantly better than Sheep Ranch.  Sheep Ranch has some nice views, but as a golf course it's just not as good as the others.

[birdhays]

42 minutes ago, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Regardless of Sheep Ranch condition, play BD (or BT or PD) a 3rd time.  IMHO, all those other courses are significantly better than Sheep Ranch.  Sheep Ranch has some nice views, but as a golf course it's just not as good as the others.

Agree with this. I just returned from my first trip and will detail in separate trip report. Sheep Ranch is fun and visually stunning but I would play another course three times. I played SR twice and I felt the greens were not bad in my first round, but they felt worse the second time around. That may be attributable to the fact that I played SR first and the other greens were in great condition and they I didn’t seem great second time around. The good news is that you are going to Bandon and any decision you make will be good. Enjoy!

[MileHighGuye]

IMO... Bandon trails is just incredible. Such a fun and interesting course. It’s the course I’m looking to play the most when I go in October whether my group plays it with me or not. 
 

every other course you can stare at the ocean. Trails to me is hands down the most fun. 

[duffer987]

6 hours ago, BG5 said:

I’m curious how the Sheep Ranch is holding up?  Is it in decent condition?  Are the greens rolling well?

 

I travel to Bandon the first time in later June and have two choose which 2 courses that I want to play three times.  I’m def doing Pacific Dunes and am trying to decide if I play Sheep Ranch or Bandon a 3rd time.  Any suggestions?

Wait until you've played them the first time and then make the call while you're there. Assuming these are replay rounds and you'll be there peak daylight hours, so no problem chopping and changing.

And if you can get a bit sniffy about playing conditions, then definitely don't play it a 3rd time. It needs years to bed in and the volume of rounds doesn't help it either.

[BG5]

Great points by everyone in regards to which courses I play 3 times.  I’m fef going pacific dunes and have now eliminated sheep ranch because of everyone’s input and fear course still needs time to mature.  More than likely I’ll do Bandon Dunes but I must admit that Bandon Trails is gaining strong consideration since I’ve always love wooded courses 

[VNutz]

18 hours ago, BG5 said:

Great points by everyone in regards to which courses I play 3 times.  I’m fef going pacific dunes and have now eliminated sheep ranch because of everyone’s input and fear course still needs time to mature.  More than likely I’ll do Bandon Dunes but I must admit that Bandon Trails is gaining strong consideration since I’ve always love wooded courses 

I too love wooded courses, and I love Trails. That said, as a fellow midwesterner I'm not traveling to Bandon to play in the trees as I can do that at home if I really want, I'm going to play along the ocean and the ocean views. I think Trails is a great change of pace play after the ocean views and the wind has beaten you up for a bit, it's very calm and serene. I'd play Pacific or Bandon Dunes additional times over Trails. It's like going to Arcadia and playing some inland courses again rather than the Bluffs course.

[BG5]

30 minutes ago, VNutz said:

I too love wooded courses, and I love Trails. That said, as a fellow midwesterner I'm not traveling to Bandon to play in the trees as I can do that at home if I really want, I'm going to play along the ocean and the ocean views. I think Trails is a great change of pace play after the ocean views and the wind has beaten you up for a bit, it's very calm and serene. I'd play Pacific or Bandon Dunes additional times over Trails. It's like going to Arcadia and playing some inland courses again rather than the Bluffs course.

 

Great point...After watching the hole by hole vlogs of all the courses I think that Pac Dunes and Bandon Dunes are the winners.....It appears I cannot go wrong with those as they have some of the best holes on the entire property 🙂

[buzlin]

For the first few years, we'd always replay PD or BD multiple times for exactly the reason mentioned.  We're there to play on the ocean.  Now that we're Bandon regulars, Trails gets as much, if not more rounds than the rest.  It's that good.  As mentioned over and over, you can't go wrong whatever you do your first few trips, as it's all amazing.

[duffer987]

2 hours ago, BG5 said:

 

Great point...After watching the hole by hole vlogs of all the courses I think that Pac Dunes and Bandon Dunes are the winners.....It appears I cannot go wrong with those as they have some of the best holes on the entire property 🙂

Yup the cliche of no bad choices is spot on. That is one of the best things about the resort, the consistency across the courses. There is no other resort that can touch it across a 5 course (plus a short course) sample size.

And Arcadia Bluffs is not even in the same league as any of Bandon's courses: it's a minor league journeyman compared to MLB All stars.

[BG5]

Can anyone speak about using your putter around the greens.  My chipping is pretty suspect and I have started using my putter on most shots inside of 50 yards on courses that are firm and can handle that type of game.  Will this be an option on the bandon courses and is it wise or should I really start to work on my chips prior to the trip.  The thing I love about putting is I can usually at least get it on the green with a putter and I avoided skulling one across the green.  Any advice on using a putter would be greatly appreciated

[2bGood]

15 hours ago, BG5 said:

Can anyone speak about using your putter around the greens.  My chipping is pretty suspect and I have started using my putter on most shots inside of 50 yards on courses that are firm and can handle that type of game.  Will this be an option on the bandon courses and is it wise or should I really start to work on my chips prior to the trip.  The thing I love about putting is I can usually at least get it on the green with a putter and I avoided skulling one across the green.  Any advice on using a putter would be greatly appreciated

Short answer is most of the holes at Bandon will fulfil your dreams. Most holes happily accept a shot run up from off the green and plenty of players choose this option at Bandon, even if they highly skilled with a. wedge in their hands normally. 

 

You will enjoy the Preserve where you can put off the tee box on 13!😀

Edited May 21, 2021 by 2bGood

[Lefty_89]

2 hours ago, BG5 said:

Can anyone speak about using your putter around the greens.  My chipping is pretty suspect and I have started using my putter on most shots inside of 50 yards on courses that are firm and can handle that type of game.  Will this be an option on the bandon courses and is it wise or should I really start to work on my chips prior to the trip.  The thing I love about putting is I can usually at least get it on the green with a putter and I avoided skulling one across the green.  Any advice on using a putter would be greatly appreciated

Putter's paradise at the majority of the courses, most notably OM