Need some advice on Bandon...

Argonne69 · March 23, 2014

[quote name='av1084' timestamp='1395598362' post='8931893']
Ok, so may have 6 rounds not including preserve on the first day. Which courses do you play twice? I know there will probably be votes for every one, but my thoughts were old mac and one of pacific or bandon. Anyone feel strongly one way or the other? Anyone with input on the order or time of day as well? Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

In order of preference:

- Pacific Dunes
- Old Macdonald
- Bandon Trails
- Bandon Dunes

cdnrockies · March 24, 2014

[quote name='Argonne69' timestamp='1395613303' post='8933629']
[quote name='av1084' timestamp='1395598362' post='8931893']
Ok, so may have 6 rounds not including preserve on the first day. Which courses do you play twice? I know there will probably be votes for every one, but my thoughts were old mac and one of pacific or bandon. Anyone feel strongly one way or the other? Anyone with input on the order or time of day as well? Thanks in advance!
[/quote]

In order of preference:

- Pacific Dunes
- Old Macdonald
- Bandon Trails
- Bandon Dunes
[/quote]

Mine too. OM and BT are interchangeable for myself.

av1084 · March 25, 2014

The final schedule is:

Day 1 - OM/Preserve
Day 2 - BT/PD
Day 3 - PD/BD
Day 4 - Depression

jchungum · March 25, 2014

[quote name='av1084' timestamp='1395765829' post='8947559']
The final schedule is:

Day 1 - OM/Preserve
Day 2 - BT/PD
Day 3 - PD/BD
Day 4 - Depression
[/quote]

Not bad...I just got back...here is how we did it.
Day 0 - Preserve (unscheduled, but we got in early)
Day 1 - BT/PD
Day 2 - BD/OM
Day 3 - PD/Preserve

I wish I switched Trails and Old Mac, but the rest worked out. I'll send out a trip report soon.

dntrs4 · March 28, 2014

We just got back from our trip to The Kingdom the second week in March. Sunday rained like it was the Second Great Flood. But then the next 4 days were just gorgeous! 50's, even 60's one day, and pure sunshine! The pictures do not do any of it justice (when do they ever?).

We played the following:

Sunday - BD (rained so no pics)
Monday - BT/PD
Tuesday - OM/BD
Wed - PD/Preserve
Thurs - OM

Enjoy the pics...

Bandon Dunes
[attachment=2145843:Bandon Dunes Miyagi Tree.JPG][attachment=2145845:Bandon Dunes No16 South.JPG]

Bandon Trails
[attachment=2145849:Bandon Trails No3.JPG][attachment=2145851:Bandon Trails Rainbow.JPG]

Old Mac
[attachment=2145853:Old Mac Ghost Tree.JPG][attachment=2145855:Old Mac No7.JPG][attachment=2145859:Old Mac No3 - Fairway.JPG]

Pacific Dunes
[attachment=2145857:Pacific Dunes No4 South.JPG][attachment=2145861:Pacific Dunes No10.JPG]

knock it close · March 28, 2014

Wow beautiful pics, I really gotta make the trip down there

Chris_NH · March 29, 2014

Great pics! It occurs to me that there are two iconic trees (that I'm aware of) at Bandon, and you've captured them both. The most obvious is the Old Mac tree. But I love the tree that's on the corner of the 16th green /17th tee box on BD as well. Both of these trees are seen not only from multiple points on the course they're on, but from certain spots on other courses as well. They're like Bandon beacon markers ;-)

av1084 · March 29, 2014

Man, I can't wait. One more week. Awesome pictures.

av1084 · April 13, 2014

Just got back. What an experience. 3 days of nonstop, 12 hour golf filled days! Way too tired right now for a full write up, but I will say this: I am so glad I did not skip Bandon Trails. As I told many at the course, if the ocean was close up to even one hole, I believe it would jump to a top 5 course in this country based on design alone.

My rankings were:

Trails
Old Mac
Pacific
Bandon

Much to my surprise, I thought I was an outlier, but it seems many locals shared my opinion. And disclaimer - being last on this list certainly is a good problem to have, as all the courses are spectacular. More to come later at some point (when the blisters heal)

Chris_NH · April 14, 2014

[quote name='av1084' timestamp='1397440066' post='9084529']
Just got back. What an experience. 3 days of nonstop, 12 hour golf filled days! Way too tired right now for a full write up, but I will say this: I am so glad I did not skip Bandon Trails. As I told many at the course, if the ocean was close up to even one hole, I believe it would jump to a top 5 course in this country based on design alone.

My rankings were:

Trails
Old Mac
Pacific
Bandon

Much to my surprise, I thought I was an outlier, but it seems many locals shared my opinion. And disclaimer - being last on this list certainly is a good problem to have, as all the courses are spectacular. More to come later at some point (when the blisters heal)
[/quote]

Glad to hear about your trip, and even more glad that we were able to convince you to play Trails! It's an amazing beautiful course (they all are - but it stands apart from the rest of the courses). Those Coore and Crenshaw characters kinda know what they're doing ;-)

baddomes · April 14, 2014

[quote name='av1084' timestamp='1397440066' post='9084529']
Just got back. What an experience. 3 days of nonstop, 12 hour golf filled days! Way too tired right now for a full write up, but I will say this: I am so glad I did not skip Bandon Trails. As I told many at the course, if the ocean was close up to even one hole, I believe it would jump to a top 5 course in this country based on design alone.

My rankings were:

Trails
Old Mac
Pacific
Bandon

Much to my surprise, I thought I was an outlier, but it seems many locals shared my opinion. And disclaimer - being last on this list certainly is a good problem to have, as all the courses are spectacular. More to come later at some point (when the blisters heal)
[/quote]

After reading this I immediately called the reservation office and switched the round on my last day of my June trip from a 2nd pass at Old Mac to Bandon Trails. Had been hearing mixed reviews on BT and wasn't sure what to do, but your post made that decision easier. Thanks for the update.

av1084 · April 14, 2014

Great! I am glad. I almost feel like I have to stick up for Bandon Trails, such that it gets overlooked so much by many (ie. me at first). If you appreciate course design, and enjoy thoughtful course management and shotmaking, then Trails is the course for you. I haven't had the privilege of playing many of the top courses in the world, or the US, for that matter, but I have played a few good ones and Trails is far and away at the top of the list. It is simply an architectural masterpiece.