Temporarily Relocated to Salem, OR…is a Bandon round possible?

[jclinegolf]

I’ll be in the Salem, OR for the next three months. I’d like to play at Bandon if possible. Does anyone have any insight or guidance on whether a non-resort guest can get a last minute tee time?

 

Also, I’m open to suggestions on other courses to play in the area. 
 

Thanks in advance for any guidance. 

[JB85]

Yes, the courses are completely public and non resort guests can book tee times. If you book more than 3 weeks in advance, prices are higher and you won’t be able to book a time before 10 am. But if you’re playing as a single and have some flexibility on time of day / what course you’ll play, they can typically squeeze you in somewhere.

[oneunderbogey]

If you have a free day and want to play just call 24-48 hours in advance almost guarantee you can get a tee time on one of the courses as a single.

 

If you want to try and play 36 in a day, make sure there are no big events, show up early and check in at the clubhouse and it'll probably work out.  

 

Even if it takes awhile to get out there is a lot of fun stuff to do as a golfer there. 

[jclinegolf]

Thank you @JB85 and @oneunderbogey! Hopefully it works out and I can get down there in a few weeks.

[Jeff58]

A couple others that may be of interest-

 

Salishan. Also a coastal course. Much closer to you.
 

Tokatee. In the Cascades.

[Seamus_MacDuff]

10 hours ago, jclinegolf said:

I’ll be in the Salem, OR for the next three months. I’d like to play at Bandon if possible. Does anyone have any insight or guidance on whether a non-resort guest can get a last minute tee time?

 

Also, I’m open to suggestions on other courses to play in the area. 
 

Thanks in advance for any guidance. 

Repeating what others have said, it's not difficult to get a last minute tee time as a single, non-resort guest.  I used to live in Salem and can't tell you the number of times I drove down in the morning, played 18 and then drove back home late afternoon.

 

As to your other question about courses to play in the area, Salem isn't great for decent public golf.  In the past I might have recommended Salem Golf Club, but conditions have been less than ideal the last few years.  Best options are to drive 20 minutes up to Woodburn and play the OGA course, or 30 minutes up to Langdon Farms.

[mallrat]

Cross Creek can be a fun course. But you will be most likely be driving for good golf

[jclinegolf]

3 hours ago, mallrat said:

Cross Creek can be a fun course. But you will be most likely be driving for good golf

I believe I drove past this today. South Salem area?

[mallrat]

No, that’s Creekside. Cross Creek is out in the country in Dallas. 

[503Mike]

On 6/5/2023 at 8:22 AM, Seamus_MacDuff said:

Repeating what others have said, it's not difficult to get a last minute tee time as a single, non-resort guest.  I used to live in Salem and can't tell you the number of times I drove down in the morning, played 18 and then drove back home late afternoon.

 

As to your other question about courses to play in the area, Salem isn't great for decent public golf.  In the past I might have recommended Salem Golf Club, but conditions have been less than ideal the last few years.  Best options are to drive 20 minutes up to Woodburn and play the OGA course, or 30 minutes up to Langdon Farms.

Joined Salem last October and it was rough, but internal ownership (family) changes have led to a renewed focus on course conditions. It has improved dramatically since October, and even though there are still things that really need special attention (can we get some level tee boxes?), the plans are in place to address them over the course of the year. 

[DFinch]

You should be able to find some slots as a single on the Bandon courses. The property is amazing. Like soul-filling amazing if you're an avid golfer. It's golf heaven. I'm an off-season weather window hunter due to the rates, but I live close enough that I'll drive over just to sit with a Bloody Mary and take in the views. I've been tempted to sell off all my worldly possessions except my clubs and just live in a van down by the river (or in this case, Cut Creek).

 

As far as other courses, it depends on how far you want to travel. Within 2.5 hours I recommend these that are among my favorite non-Bandon courses in the state:
1. Tokatee (great layout and in great shape)
2. Bar Run (great shape and layout, "short" scorecard length is deceptive, only been open for a year. Greens are perfect). Driving range won't be open until Spring.

3. Gearhart. Removing the trees and returning to it's original links layout has brought it back to life. I fell in love with it.

 

Then you have the Bandon Resort courses, of course, and a friend who recently played the non-resort "other" Bandon course Bandon Crossings (also by Dan Hixson, designer of Bar Run) said it's in amazing shape right now and worth playing (I haven't played it myself yet). After that you have all the legendary Bend area courses less than 3 hours away.

But, yeah, if you're not from here and have the chance you must go to Bandon Dunes.

 

I've played all the Portland area courses but. other than Creekside (and it's been years), never really explored the Salem area.