Bandon Trip...Any Regrets? A Contrarian View..

tonster · January 30, 2013

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... Our group felt Old Mac was a terrible course (the caddies agreed)...
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The caddies don't like it because it has way too many stupid design features. I was not surprised to learn that it was designed by committee.
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When I read stuff like this, it makes me want to visit even more. :lol:
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And this is exactly what makes Bandon so much fun. Five great courses that you won't get anywhere else in the US and every golfer will have a different point of view.

FWIW, I went on my first Bandon trip over a month ago and played all the courses (minus Trails since it was closed) at least twice and probably enjoyed Old Mac the best and Pacific the least, despite my lowest rounds being at Pacific.

TML · January 30, 2013

i love Old Mac. It's probably taken 4 times playing it to know the course, but it is now becoming my favorite course. It takes a while to really learn where you should miss on the greens.

As far as flight costs, typically business class on British Airways from phoenix/sfo to heathrow, is much more expensive than flying to oregon. And I don't do economy flying internationally, since it's typically expensed during business trips.

duffer987 · January 30, 2013

^La-dee-da Mr Bidnessman
I'm just taking the piss, I knew everyone here was a scratch golfer, didn't realise coach class was out as well.
We're lucky here on the West Coast it's a cheap flight or get in the car and drive there trip.

Lots of places could be picked in the UK/Ireland, where you'd have a lot of courses per/mile, but it really really is hard to compete with the quality and variety on offer at Bandon Dunes. If folks don't like the style of play, so be it, but if folks do like the seaside for a game, you owe it a shot regardless of the cost.

CTgolfguy · January 30, 2013

I had perfect weather 4 days in a row.....bandon does a lot of things right, a lot has to do with the modest and nature like accomodstions. I wasnt in love with old maceonald.....was a big fan of trails, and obviously dunes and pacofic are jist flat beautiful

e46darnell · February 4, 2013

Bandon Dunes is awesome. The course is spectacular and it can handle the unpredictable weather. The question is can you brave the elements. A couple years ago I played Pacific Dunes (my favorite of the four courses) in a tournament back to back days. First round was fantastic. 65 degrees little to no wind and sunny all day. The next day the weather man called for overcast with showers and light winds. The second day is poured all day long and the wind was consistently 25 mph with gusts of up to 45 mph. Only about half of the field finished but aside from the flags bending sideways the course was still in great shape. All day rain and still no puddles on the greens, no plugged balls and this was in March by the way. Can't say enough about Pacific Dunes in particular. You know the course is great when you play through weather like that to shoot an 87 (I'm a 2.1 handicap) and you still putt the course above anything else you've played.

cardoustie · February 4, 2013

i want to get to Bandon but it will be harder than doing Scotland for a guy in Toronto. We flew overnight direct to Glasgow first class for $1100 a man

Stayed 300 yards from the first tee at the Old Course and stored our clubs at the proshop for the New and Jubilee courses for 1 pound per day.

It was also an easy trip to Muirfield and Carnoustie and of course The Castle Course and Kingsbarns are 10 mins up the road (as are many other great links courses)

I would highly recommend staying right in St Andrew's. I was surprised at how inexpensive it was to be honest. The town itself is also beautiful with great pubs and restaurants

dave willie · February 4, 2013

Bandon is a great experience, but so are the British Isles. I've been to Bandon twice, Scotland/England once (for golf) and Ireland once. I enjoyed each trip immensely, and each destination is entirely different from my regular rotation of golf courses. I plan to do each of those trips again sometime. They're all winners in my book, regardless of the price.