Random Bandon Thread

[Chanceman]

6 minutes ago, Lefty_89 said:

No matter how many trips you make to Bandon, the excitement always feels like it's your first time.

 

17 days out here...!

 

See you there, Lefty! We arrive 24th April. Look out for the Aussies.

[Lefty_89]

Just now, Chanceman said:

 

See you there, Lefty! We arrive 24th April. Look out for the Aussies.

 

Let's go!!! We kick off the trip that Sunday with a round on Pac and Preserve. Will be there until Friday.

 

Should definitely try and link up for a drink or loop at PB, or both.

 

I heard No Laying Up has an event happening that week with 50+ guys, as well.

[buzlin]

Awesome.  We'll be there that Sunday to Thursday.  Also kicking things off at Pacific.  You guys will want nothing to do with my group.  🙂  

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by buzlin

[Lefty_89]

3 hours ago, buzlin said:

Awesome.  We'll be there that Sunday to Thursday.  Also kicking things off at Pacific.  You guys will want nothing to do with my group.  🙂  

 

 

Share your tee time on Pac so I can call up and change 😉

[Chanceman]

9 hours ago, Lefty_89 said:

 

Share your tee time on Pac so I can call up and change 😉

Our tee times are 

4/24 1230 Bandon Dunes

4/25 1230 Sheep Ranch

4/26 1010 Trails

4/27 1010 Pacific

4/28 1050 OM

4/29 1010 SR

Staying in Round Lake. Look forward to a beer or two!

 

[Lefty_89]

9 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Our tee times are 

4/24 1230 Bandon Dunes

4/25 1230 Sheep Ranch

4/26 1010 Trails

4/27 1010 Pacific

4/28 1050 OM

4/29 1010 SR

Staying in Round Lake. Look forward to a beer or two!

 

 

We'll be over in Round Lake too - I was there this past December and loved it. Favorite lodging on property.

 

I actually got a call from Reservations yesterday saying they saw I had a request for RL Double and one opened up. My buddy and I jumped on it.

[buzlin]

On 4/6/2022 at 11:37 AM, Lefty_89 said:

 

Share your tee time on Pac so I can call up and change 😉

It's in my own best interest to stay anonymous.  I had considered one year meeting up with Spud et al, but thought better of it.  I'm doing everyone a favor.  Haha.

[jvincent]

Alright fellow crazies, just booked my emergency trip for next week.

 

Playing Chambers Bay on the 19th and then will be at Bandon from the 20th through 24th. Play 9 rounds in 6 days.

 

Thankfully courses opened up here this weekend so I'll have some rounds in to get the walking muscles into shape.

 

[doc52]

1 hour ago, jvincent said:

Alright fellow crazies, just booked my emergency trip for next week.

 

Playing Chambers Bay on the 19th and then will be at Bandon from the 20th through 24th. Play 9 rounds in 6 days.

 

Thankfully courses opened up here this weekend so I'll have some rounds in to get the walking muscles into shape.

 

Missed you by two days at Chambers, playing the morning of the 17th.

Edited April 11, 2022 by doc52

[Chanceman]

Anyone have a comment on The Wheelhouse restaurant in Bandon Town and as compared to Edgewater? We tried Lord Bennett's last time which was quite good but not great.

[puttnforthe8]

3 hours ago, Chanceman said:

Anyone have a comment on The Wheelhouse restaurant in Bandon Town and as compared to Edgewater? We tried Lord Bennett's last time which was quite good but not great.

 

I didn't care for it; Edgewater is much better for sure.

[jvincent]

Got back from my Bandon trip on Monday.

 

As always, had a blast. 8 rounds in 5 days at Bandon and one day at Chambers Bay on the way down.

 

Got pretty good weather with the exception of one day where the wind was a consistent 30mph + gusts with rain squalls rolling through pretty regularly. The flags were wrapped with rubber bands because of the winds. I had to rearrange the schedule a bit because I had originally planned for 36 that day but I just put the scorecard away and embraced the conditions.

[Chanceman]

3 hours ago, jvincent said:

Got back from my Bandon trip on Monday.

 

As always, had a blast. 8 rounds in 5 days at Bandon and one day at Chambers Bay on the way down.

 

Got pretty good weather with the exception of one day where the wind was a consistent 30mph + gusts with rain squalls rolling through pretty regularly. The flags were wrapped with rubber bands because of the winds. I had to rearrange the schedule a bit because I had originally planned for 36 that day but I just put the scorecard away and embraced the conditions.

40mph or not it’s still great here. We arrived Sunday, played BD up front which is always fun and in slightly cool air, but since then it has been warm. Sheep Ranch dis appointed us, probably should play it last. Loved Trails, best so far. Today it’s PD and then OM. 
these Round Lake rooms are top class but i just wish there were some clothes washing facilities somewhere in the resort. 

[eboettne]

16 minutes ago, Chanceman said:

40mph or not it’s still great here. We arrived Sunday, played BD up front which is always fun and in slightly cool air, but since then it has been warm. Sheep Ranch dis appointed us, probably should play it last. Loved Trails, best so far. Today it’s PD and then OM. 
these Round Lake rooms are top class but i just wish there were some clothes washing facilities somewhere in the resort. 

 

Just curious, what about Sheep Ranch disappointed you? Have a trip Feb 2023 and Sheep Ranch is the one course we're playing twice. We've played all the other courses multiple times on prior trips but not SR yet.

[puttnforthe8]

20 minutes ago, eboettne said:

 

Just curious, what about Sheep Ranch disappointed you? Have a trip Feb 2023 and Sheep Ranch is the one course we're playing twice. We've played all the other courses multiple times on prior trips but not SR yet.

It's a bit boring imo; plus you play all the other courses and you have a sense of isolation on the holes, not SR - very "busy' if that make sense.   For me, It seems there could have been more done.  Plus hole 18 is just not a good finishing hole.   Still a good course, just a tier below the others.

[jvincent]

44 minutes ago, eboettne said:

 

Just curious, what about Sheep Ranch disappointed you? Have a trip Feb 2023 and Sheep Ranch is the one course we're playing twice. We've played all the other courses multiple times on prior trips but not SR yet.

 

Everyone has different views on the Bandon courses.

 

Personally I like SR. It's fun, has a bunch of greens right on the ocean, and has a different feel compared to the other courses.

 

 

[jvincent]

1 hour ago, Chanceman said:

 

 

 

The first time I played SR last fall I hit my drive THROUGH this tree onto the green.

 

See that opening just left of the main trunk? Right through there. The caddie couldn't believe it got through. Easy birdie. Only about 10mph downwind that day.

 

 

[Chanceman]

1 hour ago, eboettne said:

 

Just curious, what about Sheep Ranch disappointed you? Have a trip Feb 2023 and Sheep Ranch is the one course we're playing twice. We've played all the other courses multiple times on prior trips but not SR yet.

I played the original  Sheep Ranch when it was a paddock with 13 greens and enjoyed the shot across the cove to the point but it’s been omitted from the new layout. There’s a little viewing area to the left of the 17th tee which I think was the old tee to show you what might have been. Otherwise it’s fine but not a great golf course. 

[Chanceman]

This is the old shot across to the point. Left handers’ delight.

[blink3665]

23 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

It's a bit boring imo; plus you play all the other courses and you have a sense of isolation on the holes, not SR - very "busy' if that make sense.   For me, It seems there could have been more done.  Plus hole 18 is just not a good finishing hole.   Still a good course, just a tier below the others.

 

Some of the holes are boring. For me, the views and the quantity of holes on the ocean trumped the few boring holes. I do see how the course can feel "busy". There are points where you can see several holes or groupings of tee boxes / greens where you can see multiple groups at once. I actually dont mind 18. Could it be a cool ocean hole? Maybe. But I like the gettable p5 to finish up on.

 

22 hours ago, Chanceman said:

I played the original  Sheep Ranch when it was a paddock with 13 greens and enjoyed the shot across the cove to the point but it’s been omitted from the new layout. There’s a little viewing area to the left of the 17th tee which I think was the old tee to show you what might have been. Otherwise it’s fine but not a great golf course. 

 

The caddy that was with our group pointed that tee spot out. I think he mentioned that it was going to be in play for larger events. He also mentioned that from where we were, to the fairway was something like a 240 yard carry, and the fairway is blind. Very interesting shot.

Edited April 28, 2022 by blink3665
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[fairways4life]

On 4/27/2022 at 1:23 PM, jvincent said:

 

Everyone has different views on the Bandon courses.

 

Personally I like SR. It's fun, has a bunch of greens right on the ocean, and has a different feel compared to the other courses.

 

 

 

Very true about having different opinions on the courses there. Everyone hypes up Bandon Trails and while it was good it honestly didn't blow me away. Being inland and lined with tall pines, it reminds me of plenty of the courses at home that I play regularly. Just wasn't "different" enough like the other courses there are. I won't find anything around me that looks like Pac Dunes or Bandon Dunes. But inland courses surrounded by pines are a dime a dozen where I live so Trails just didn't pop for me like the others did. 

 

I loved Sheep Ranch. I think it was actually my favorite. I can see the argument about it being "busy." Can say the same about Old Mac to a lesser extent. 

 

I guess that's what makes it a cool place though. Everyone's ranking of the courses will look different. 

 

[eboettne]

8 minutes ago, fairways4life said:

 

Very true about having different opinions on the courses there. Everyone hypes up Bandon Trails and while it was good it honestly didn't blow me away. Being inland and lined with tall pines, it reminds me of plenty of the courses at home that I play regularly. Just wasn't "different" enough like the other courses there are. I won't find anything around me that looks like Pac Dunes or Bandon Dunes. But inland courses surrounded by pines are a dime a dozen where I live so Trails just didn't pop for me like the others did. 

 

I loved Sheep Ranch. I think it was actually my favorite. I can see the argument about it being "busy." Can say the same about Old Mac to a lesser extent. 

 

I guess that's what makes it a cool place though. Everyone's ranking of the courses will look different. 

 

Not saying you have to agree with me but I have played courses that somewhat LOOK like Trails too however the major difference being in how they PLAY.  The courses that I've played that look similar, you cannot play the ball along the ground like you can at Trails.  Also, most of those courses begin and end in the trees wheras trails starts in the meadows transitions to dunescape and then to trees.  Then you come right back out again, it's almost 3 distinctly different settings.  I've also never felt the peacefulness that I experienced around holes 11 to 13 at Trails, that was something else.  

 

But completely agree, that's what makes the place so special.  

Edited April 29, 2022 by eboettne

[fairways4life]

2 minutes ago, eboettne said:

Not saying you have to agree with me but I have played courses that somewhat LOOK like Trails too however the major difference being in how they PLAY.  The courses that I've played that look similar, you cannot play the ball along the ground like you can at Trails.  Also, most of those courses begin and end in the trees wheras trails starts in the meadows transitions to dunescape and then to trees.  Then you come right back out again, it's almost 3 distinctly different settings.  I've also never felt the peacefulness that I experienced around holes 11 to 13 at Trails, that was something else.  

 

But completely agree, that's what makes the place so special.  

 

I played plenty of shots on the ground that day at Trails. Just not all of them on purpose! 😂

 

We had 6 guys on our trip and after we finished playing all 6 of us ranked all the courses and we came away with 6 different lists. Honestly I think that's a sign of a good golf destination. Everyone takes away something different. 

[jvincent]

54 minutes ago, fairways4life said:

I guess that's what makes it a cool place though. Everyone's ranking of the courses will look different. 

 

 

We were chatting in one of the groups and I gave my usual "blonde, brunette, redhead" analogy for comparing the courses. The caddie said he was going to steal that from me.

 

I used to be indifferent towards Trails but have warmed up to it. As others have said, it's not as different from the golf we typically play in NA compared to the other courses but it's still pretty good.

[fairways4life]

4 minutes ago, jvincent said:

 

We were chatting in one of the groups and I gave my usual "blonde, brunette, redhead" analogy for comparing the courses. The caddie said he was going to steal that from me.

 

I used to be indifferent towards Trails but have warmed up to it. As others have said, it's not as different from the golf we typically play in NA compared to the other courses but it's still pretty good.

 

That's another thing. I've only been to Bandon once but my good buddy has been twice. And he said his course rankings changed a bit after the second time as warmed up to a couple of the courses more the second time. Again, probably another sign of a good golf destination as each experience can be slightly different with discovering new things about a course, having different weather conditions, etc. 

 

Also, I like the whole blond, brunette, redhead thing haha. 

[jvincent]

38 minutes ago, fairways4life said:

 

That's another thing. I've only been to Bandon once but my good buddy has been twice. And he said his course rankings changed a bit after the second time as warmed up to a couple of the courses more the second time. Again, probably another sign of a good golf destination as each experience can be slightly different with discovering new things about a course, having different weather conditions, etc. 

 

 

Bandon is absolutely a place you need to go multiple times. I've been 4 times now.

 

I've had every wind direction and level at each course at this point. I'm also starting to figure out how to score better too.

 

The Sheep Ranch greens still need some more grow in time to be sure but they were noticeably better last week than they were in November.

[graveydellic]

On 4/27/2022 at 11:59 AM, puttnforthe8 said:

It's a bit boring imo; plus you play all the other courses and you have a sense of isolation on the holes, not SR - very "busy' if that make sense.   For me, It seems there could have been more done.  Plus hole 18 is just not a good finishing hole.   Still a good course, just a tier below the others.

 

This is how I feel about Sheep too.  It's a little more interesting in weather, but if you catch it in benign conditions it's really a "nothing" golf course.  What bothered me most was having three 300 yard par 4's, and three 100ish yard par 3's.  Kind of a lack of variety from that perspective.  

 

That said, the routing is fairly genius to make it all fit and it unquestionably has the best views on the property.  Sheep would rank in the bottom for me at Bandon, but that's what makes Bandon so great.  There are no bad golf courses, and everyone has a different favorite, for a different reason, and often times my "favorite" changes from trip to trip.  Within the next 10 years I am sure Sheep will top my list at some point, even if just briefly.  

[rouges1922]

I went to Bandon for the first time in February, a trip that was pretty heavily motivated by the initial blitz of pictures of Sheep Ranch on social media a couple years ago…it just looked so amazing…but after playing all of the courses it came in at a distant 5th behind the rest of the courses. 
 

Don’t get me wrong the views are amazing, but there’s almost too many holes along the water…aside from 17 and 6, the par 4s that play along the coast in opposite directions, all the other infinity greens kind of blend together in my mind. Some of the most interesting holes, for me at least, were inland. 
 

Also, the course is almost TOO wide open…I think the addition of marram grass or something between holes would really help to create a sense of intimacy and definition that is lacking due to the “crowded feel” and absence of bunkers on the course. As it stands, the holes just kind of blend together without some sort of defining feature.

 

 

All of that being said, Sheep Ranch is still an amazing and fun course, and still safely inside of my favorite 10 courses anywhere in the US.

[jvincent]

Don't ask me how, but I lost more golf balls on SR, 4, in three rounds than I did in my other 5 rounds. Only one of those was in the ocean on #6.

 

So while I agree it's open don't get lulled into a false sense of security.

[rouges1922]

Just tried to book as a single for 3-4 days in 2023 and was told they don’t have lodging available for more than a night or possibly 2 available for the entire year. So, unfortunately, my return to Bandon will be pushed much further than I had hoped.