Sheep Ranch Preview

[spud3]

Golf.com posted this sneak peek from Josh Sens. The best part is the video, which describes a few of the holes from the ground, and has quite a few visuals that give a sense of what it's actually like to play the shot, as opposed to drone footage or dreamy sunset shots from places/angles you'll never be in.

 

Official opening is Monday. Anyone there or have plans to be there in the next weeks? Share photos, please! I cannot wait to play this course!

https://golf.com/travel/sheep-ranch-bandon-dunes-now-open-spectacular/

[jackbauer]

The Envisage flyover should be online in the next day or so.

My trip isn't until late this year but I'm tempted to throw caution to the wind and go this summer too.

[jackbauer]

It's up and running!https://envisage.golf/sheepranch/?hole=1

[DustlnTheWind]

Going 1/1/2021, can't wait. Since I live in Oregon I might drive down there and sneak in a round or two before my trip. Looks amazing!

[Edaw68]

Wow that looks cool after looking at the flyovers.

[spud3]

I may need to make an emergency run down there for a night or two...

[jrg75]

Wow x2, flyovers are very impressive. That opening hole looks so, so great as does all the others along the ocean with a good mix of lengths and shapes. 11 looks gorgeous even without a Pacific Ocean backdrop.

Does it seem to anyone else that the no bunker thing is temporary???? It seems like they've carved out some future spots.

With or without, should be a very special experience.

[spud3]

My understanding is that the grass bunkers are permanent, as the site is so exposed that sand would not stay in the bunkers

[Edaw68]

Yeah I swear I read somewhere the grass bunkers were built with the possibility of making them normal sand bunkers after experimenting with how windy the course will be and if the sand will stay in or blow out. Just on the flyover it looks like quite a few were set up with lips to shield the wind a bit.

 

And yeah that 11th looks awesome. Good use of that hill area to get a couple greens there.

[jrg75]

If I were in driving distance, I would absolutely be making a June trip.

Be sure to send in a good mini trip report if you get impulsive.

[gueuzengolf]

Headed up next week with my first round being on Sheep Ranch. Can’t wait!

[LooperCon]

Got a full tour of SR last week & MAN! I can't wait until we get to play it!

There are definitely gonna be some close calls with golf balls given the proximity of tees/greens, but if I die on sheep Ranch, they can just bury me where I drop because that's the closest I'll ever get to heaven.

 

Some pictures I snapped on the tour -

[McDreamerson]

I will be on June 3. Will provide a report. Doubtful there will be anything negative said seeing as everything up to this point has been raving, even on gusting days.

[dpdm03]

We've got 16 playing Saturday and Monday!

[scottc25]

I played 6 dead into the wind during preview play back in October. Needless to say I never came close to hitting the green in 2.

10 played downwind and I was pin high after my tee shot. Not possible in the summer!

Didn't play 13 but the grass bunkers off of the tee on 13 just seem unfair to me. Long hitters will hate them.

[spud3]

I just checked out the course on the Envisage link.

 

OMG.

 

It's already my favorite course...

[spud3]

Some more thoughts:

-I would even entertain the thought of playing this course from the back tees, and I usually never even consider that as a possibility.

-Nice to get a glimpse of the clubhouse. Looks understated and appropriate for the course.

-This course will be totally defended by the wind, plus some Old Mac-ish green complexes.

-The grass bunkers are an interesting idea. Remains to be seen how penal they actually are.

-I think taking a forecaddie would be a good idea for the first couple rounds. The hole descriptions list some aiming points, but there's several that have nothing to indicate the routing and best play. Hopefully the mowing will help with that.

-Some of those greens look like they just drop off the edge of the world (a la BD #4)

 

Just... wow....

[spud3]

Judging from the course cams (we need a SR course cam!), those folks playing on Opening Day this afternoon are getting the SR with full teeth bared...

 

NWS has it at 25 mph with gusts over 30.

[golfingforfun]

Playing twice tomorrow and will provide a recap and pics after the round. Wondered around the first tee this afternoon and the buzz was special, something I've never felt before at a golf course. Excited would be an understatement and can't really put my emotions into words.

[Edaw68]

We're eagerly awaiting.....

[dpdm03]

 

Played today. It was spectacular

[TechBroker]

Playing twice on our trip in July. Can’t wait.

[eboettne]

I'm curious from people that played the Sheep Ranch. Does it feel like an extension of Bandon or a different experience/type of course?

[hbrar99]

Just got back from a trip, played Sheep Ranch last Wednesday and Thursday. It was a different experience due to being a little further away and that you could see so much of the course from the clubhouse. As far as play, it felt like an extension of the resort. Each course is different and this one was as well, but we thought it was spectacular. We had cars and drove over there. The apple maps took us to the wrong spot, down to the beach. I suspect it was the old entrance to the sheep ranch. If you drive, give yourself a few extra minutes.

We played in relatively benign conditions. A little drizzle one day and minimal wind. The only drawback was the greens were young and slow. I am in no way suggesting that the course was not fun to play. But our caddies thought it was rolling at about 7 at best on day one and it was a little faster day 2, but no much. We kept hearing by next year the greens will be pure.

We did find it interesting that there were no bunkers on the course. It was more of a mental thing. We played Sheep Ranch in the morning and then Bandon dunes in the afternoon, so our group all commented on how seeing the bunkers from the tee box affected our target lines. During our second round there, our group became even more aggressive with our lines off the tee.

I didn't get a yardage book as this group I go with always gets caddies. I would tell you that we had at least one guy hit to the wrong green once, I went to the wrong tee once, and a group a few holes behind us skipped a few holes by accident by going to the wrong hole. We definitely had balls come thru our fairway from different tee's. All part of the learning process, but look at your yardage book to make sure you go to the correct hole.

One other note. Due Covid, they were restricting number of persons in all pro-shops and with the glass up at checkout counters and less cashiers, it seemed to take longer to check us in to play. Not much longer, but it was a longer. If you are going to sheep ranch, expect more people in the shop and I would recommend you get there at least 20 min before your tee time. It was a bit obnoxious that the groups ahead of us rolled in a few minutes before their tee times on both days we played and then wanted to look thru the pro shop. We ended up waiting outside and then 8 guys checking in took longer than expected. Also expect that people after their round will be in the pro shop looking around. I like to be early and roll putts, I had no issue getting to the course 30 min early so I could walk up calmly, check in, roll a few putts and then get ready. Our first day we arrived 20 min prior to our tee time and our first group was running to the tee.

Dining at the resort was a little slower than it had been in the past, so plan accordingly. The staff did a great job accommodating all guests. I remind everyone that they are doing their best and to be patient at times and try to get to where you need to early.

Lastly, take your camera. The views were unlike anything else on property.

[spud3]

Good observations! If there was one nitpick I had about the courses was that the signage for the next tee sometimes could be better. Seems to holding true for SR.

 

Anybody have any comments about playing out of the grass bunkers? Is it long fescue in there or stuff that is more playable?

[cabinetboy]

Can’t wait!

[ernotte]

It's a fantastic ride! Great place for beginner golfers too with wide fairways and no bunkers. 

[Chanceman]

To those who have played the SR, can you describe the grassy "bunkers" ? Are they deep, shallow, long grass, short grass, anything to know?

[ernotte]

10 hours ago, Chanceman said:

To those who have played the SR, can you describe the grassy "bunkers" ? Are they deep, shallow, long grass, short grass, anything to know?

I'd describe as a bit bumpy in shape with whispy grass and bare ground.  Not difficult get it out but can be tough to judge. 

[PorkChopExpress]

Grass bunkers are straightforward. It’s when your ball gets hung up in the tall grass around the bunker edges.