Bandon Dunes - Early July Trip Report / Reflections

potomacgolfer · July 8, 2013

Just came back from a phenomenal solo trip to Bandon Dunes. I know that there are many other postings with reflections/recommendations, but here are my added two cents.

1. Courses. Loved them all -- incredibly serene with one amazing hole after another -- although I liked Pac Dunes and Old Mac the best. The overall sense of peacefulness is similar to parts of the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island, but truer to links golf. As others have said, be prepared for high winds and tight lies.

2. Pace of Play / Course Sequencing:

---a. Pace. Outstanding!!! Paired-up rounds were all 3.75 - 4 hrs. Had two rounds as a single, both just under 3 hrs (I am a high handicapper but I play fast).

---b. Sequencing. Played Preserve on the day of arrival, then 36-36-18. Tiring but no problem with a caddy, advil and moleskin (for mild blisters) -- and I did not train for the trip at all. Next time, I might replace one of the 36 hole days with 18+Preserve. Suggest Old Mac in the AM before afternoon winds pick up. Suggest Trails in the PM b/c it has more tree cover from winds.

3. Solo Trip. Was supposed to go with a friend but he had to bail at the last minute. I forged ahead on my own and was glad that I went -- everyone was incredibly friendly, both on and off the course.

4. Lodging. Stayed on the property at the Inn, which is 50 yards from the main Lodge. Staff had told me that the Inn rooms are a tad nicer than in the Lodge -- and I am usually very picky about lodging, having been privileged to stay at a number of top-level properties. But as others have posted, you aren't in your room much except to shower/crash. Lodge is marginally more convenient to everything, but Inn location maybe is more peaceful (it has its own check-in desk/staff).

5. Food. Had fabulous breakfast sandwiches to go (called in ahead) from the Gallery and from Pacific Dunes. Dinners also excellent, twice at McKees and once at the Tufted Puffin Lounge. Lunches were just average, at Trails and Pacific Dunes.

6. Ground Transportation. Used Aviation Transportation to drive me from Eugene Airport to Bandon Dunes, then Bandon Dunes to North Bend Airport (OTH) -- just because I didn't feel like driving a long haul during a vacation. OTH return flight got cancelled, so Aviation arranged to drive me all the way to Portland on the spur of the moment (at extra cost, but reasonable in the scheme of things). Great great service! Connoisseur (a competitor) had quoted me a price that was several times higher.

7. Flights. OTH airport is 35 mins away but the United OTH-SFO route frequently suffers from delays/cancellations with no real backup options. Flying Delta from SLC to EUG is safer (2.75 hrs from resort), or flying your choice of airline into PDX (4.5 hrs from resort).

8. Packing Tips. Ship your clubs with ShipSticks (see resort website). Ship your clothes as well given small planes into OTH and EUG. Average highs during my July trip were 65-70 degrees, but during morning rounds the real-feel temp (with wind) was 55 degrees. Having a warm windsweater and long-sleeve polo saved me in the AM, even though it was back to a light wind jacket and golf shirt in the PM.

Just a few pics attached -- didn't try to do a hole-by-hole; these are just cool shots.