1st time Bandon Dunes trip July 2024

[LBRMGR]

So booking for Bandon just opened through July 2024 and I randomly booked 4 nights and wanted some suggestions while there is presumably the ability to move tee times/lodging around...

 

I booked the Lodge Suite for our 4-guy trip...does anyone have any opinion about booking this suite vs the Grove Cottage?  Do people prefer being in the Lodge or being in a standalone cottage?  We've done many trips with cottages before and standalone is nice, but wasn't sure about Bandon being in the Lodge...

 

Golf itinerary, we're flying in cross country on Sunday, leaving Thursday, any thoughts on the below layout?

 

Day 1: Sheep Ranch AM / Pacific Dunes PM

Day 2: Bandon Dunes AM / Bandon Trails PM

Day 3: Old Mac AM / Pacific Dunes PM

Day 4: Bandon Preserve AM

 

Playing every course 1x, playing Pacific Dunes 2x

 

I randomly chose that layout, but have no good knowledge if certain courses are better to be played in AM vs PM, etc.

 

I'm probably overthinking a lot here, but I want to optimize if at all possible...especially since they've locked up my $ for 20 months lol...

 

Thanks for all the help!

[jackbauer]

IMO, from most windy/morning preferable to least windy, it goes Sheep Ranch, Old Mac, Pacific, Bandon, Trails. And I try to schedule morning and afternoon rounds on courses I double up on. So if I were playing Pacific twice and the other courses once, I would schedule:

 

Day 1: Pacific/Trails

Day 2: Sheep Ranch/Bandon

Day 3: Old Mac/Pacific

Day 4: Preserve

 

But there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with the way you have it set up.

 

I've only stayed in single and double rooms so unfortunately can't comment on Grove vs. The Lodge.

 

Check out the random Bandon thread. It's long but there's a ton of great stuff. Make sure to read in reverse chronological order to get the most current info.

[jrg75]

Itinerary is great but I do the same as @jackbauer and try to schedule replays on different courses for am/pm as the courses play and feel a little different in the morning and afternoon.  The replay on pacific is the one I would choose but you will get a lot of different opinions on which one warrants a replay.

 

 

On lodging, I've always stayed in single rooms and chrome lake.  I prefer staying near the lodge as you are close to everything.  I guess the downside of the main lodge is that it can be a little more noisy depending on which groups are closing down the bar but honestly, it's pretty minimal.

 

Don't know much about the grove cottages but I'm sure they are nice but will require shuttles/short drives for pretty much everything.  IMO, for a first trip, I would stick with the lodge.

Edited November 2, 2022 by jrg75

[10&8]

22 minutes ago, jackbauer said:

IMO, from most windy/morning preferable to least windy, it goes Sheep Ranch, Old Mac, Pacific, Bandon, Trails. And I try to schedule morning and afternoon rounds on courses I double up on. So if I were playing Pacific twice and the other courses once, I would schedule:

 

Day 1: Pacific/Trails

Day 2: Sheep Ranch/Bandon

Day 3: Old Mac/Pacific

Day 4: Preserve

 

But there is absolutely nothing "wrong" with the way you have it set up.

 

I've only stayed in single and double rooms so unfortunately can't comment on Grove vs. The Lodge.

 

Check out the random Bandon thread. It's long but there's a ton of great stuff. Make sure to read in reverse chronological order to get the most current info.

This is the perfect response. Bandon Dunes is a must play in the afternoon with the sun setting. And since you’re playing Pac twice, a morning and afternoon round fits in the schedule nicely. Sheep/OM are morning plays due to the wind. Trails is a good play any time of day. I’m leaving for my 3rd trip next Friday. Absolutely cannot wait!

[kaschreiber]

have done the lodge and chrome lake (not cottages). The lodge is my personal preference, especially the lodge suite. having the balcony over the putting green, easy access to / from bunker bar if you get gnarly weather. that's always our go to to book.

[T2GRNN2]

42 minutes ago, kaschreiber said:

have done the lodge and chrome lake (not cottages). The lodge is my personal preference, especially the lodge suite. having the balcony over the putting green, easy access to / from bunker bar if you get gnarly weather. that's always our go to to book.

 

I second this.  We stayed in the Lodge Suite last year, and the deck is fantastic.  We were short on daylight, but the one day we sat on the deck after 36 at Bandon Trails, and we enjoyed a beer (or two or three...) watching groups come in on 18 at Bandon as the sun set and it became dark.  Pretty cool experience.

 

Not to mention, every time you see a picture of the Lodge from the golf course point of view, you can say "I stayed in that room!".

 

We didn't really hear much exterior noise from around the lodge while we were in our rooms, but the new outside patio by The Forge might come with some noise if you are on the deck outside of the Lodge Suite.  

 

Sorry I can't comment on differences/similarities on the Grove cottage vs. lodge suite rooms.   

[Seamus_MacDuff]

Unless you've got a loud group that's going to be making a fair bit of noise late at night, I'd go with the Lodge Suite over the Grove Cottages.  The advantage of the Grove Cottages is that they're separate cottages, so you're not sharing walls with others where you have to worry about not disturbing your neighbors, and you're also able to park right in front of the cottage which is great if you're all driving to the resort and have a car(s) that you're using to get around the property.  Depending on which Grove Cottage you get, you also have close access to a fire pit, which is great for the evenings.  The Lodge Suite is a little bit larger, but has the big advantage of being right there at the main lodge with close proximity to the Bunker Bar, McKee's Pub and The Forge steakhouse.  Either way, you can't go wrong....both are fantastic for a group of 4!

[LBRMGR]

super helpful!

[2bGood]

Nothing really new to add. Schedule looks good. It is splitting hairs over what to replay. I personally think Bandon Dunes is the course I would play twice. I am not going to dive into what is the best course, but BD is the most 'Bandon' of the courses in terms of layout, view, design etc but a bit more playable than Pacific. Pacific is the nicer course, but Bandon Dunes lends itself to a better golf experience. (just my $.02).

 

I think I am at around 60-70 rounds at the property and nearly every course has been my favourite at some point, but I have been steady on the idea that if you can just play one of the courses it is Bandon Dunes, with PD as a close second. 

Edited November 2, 2022 by 2bGood

[spud3]

+1 on 2bGood's comments on the courses.

 

Haven't stayed in the Grove, but the comment above about transportation and hauling clubs up and down stairs is well stated.  The shuttles are great, but I almost always have my car/traveling locker room and having ground-level lodging would be sweet for that reason alone. 

 

But the good news is that you'll have pros and cons to either (all minimal).  Try out the Lodge Suite for a trip.  Then you'll know... cuz you know you'll be back...

Edited November 2, 2022 by spud3

[carrera]

Just to amplify the above...you have a great trip planned (with suggestion to play PD at different times of day) and Lodge Suite vs Grove Cottage is absolutely not something to worry about.  At end of day you and your buds will relax, maybe play some cards, have a nightcap, and then just look for a good night's sleep...both Lodge and Grove are great for that.  Enjoy!!

[lurkinghobbit]

Agree with others that if you're playing Pacific twice - mix up AM and PM.  But someone above started the trip with Pac/Trails - and I  generally disagree with that, but do not know your group's age.  If you're young, don't worry about it.  If you are over 50, consider that the caddy consensus is the hardest walks are Trails followed by Pacific.  Which tells me doing them on the same day on the first day, may put some people in a bit of discomfort if they have a few years on them (which I now do).  My first trip there in 2008 - I could walk so much I carried my own bag and didn't even use a rikshaw.  My trip(s) this year - lots of caddy rounds and a few rikshaws.

 

As for lodging, I think others have hit it well.  Lodge is fun, but can be 'busy'.  Grove is more privacy/quiet.

 

 

[Lefty_89]

Round Lake is incredible folks - my favorite lodging by far albeit I have only stayed at Lodge and Inn previously. Will be at Lily Pond here next month.

 

Obviously you can't go wrong with Lodge since it's at the epicenter of all the action, but RL is in one of my favorite spots on property. Walk out the front door, around the corner, and you're at 6 green / 7 tee of Trails. Perfect for those late afternoon short loops too 😉 if you're wanting a suite though, best to look at Lodge / Grove as mentioned. Once you're there, you're going to probably want to spend the least amount of time in your room possible.

 

I say all this to say - you can't go wrong with anything you book. Bandon above everything!

Edited November 3, 2022 by Lefty_89