FORE!
- Thread starter egr2teup
- Start date
Tommy is always a bridesmaid, never a bride. He now has 29 top 5 finishes on tour without a win. That's 11 more than the next closest player (Quigley had 18).
We were pulling pretty hard for Fleetwood over here. I agree with ronjon… Tommy might need an insurmountable lead to get over the hump. Seems like a good dude with a great swing, but also an unfortunate tendency to choke down the stretch (like most people would).
"Ryder Cup Rose" is rounding into form
I swear that Rosie has never missed a putt inside of 20 feet at the Ryder Cup and the putter/game is definitely warming up with the RC around the corner
I swear that Rosie has never missed a putt inside of 20 feet at the Ryder Cup and the putter/game is definitely warming up with the RC around the corner
Anyone ever played at Bandon Dunes in southern Oregon? I've been meaning to take my dad there one of these days for a golfing weekend. Heard it's consistently one of the best courses in the US that has never seen a major (most likely because of the lack of surrounding infrastructure, and not the course).
I have never played it but I have some friends that have been there several times. Unless something has changed you have to walk.
I've been twice in the last four years and if I had unlimited money and/or lived on the West Coast I'd go every year. It is an incredible experience and a must-visit for every American golfer. All 5 courses are or have been in the past ranked in the top 15 in the U.S.
You really need to plan to play all five courses plus the two short courses, though. It's not worth the effort to get there just to play Bandon. Your issue is that costs add up, and it's in more demand than ever so they have a lottery now and you have to get on it a year in advance. You can get good rates in the offseason, but there's a reason for that. If I was only going once and it was a bucket list trip with my Dad (who is presumably old) I would go July-September. That's really the only way to ensure you won't get absolutely dumped on with rain during your stay. You'll still get the afternoon winds, though.
I could respond with 50 pages worth of stuff on this subject if you were interested, but it doesn't sound like you're at the planning stages quite yet. My personal ranking of the courses...
1. Trails (my favorite golf course in the world)
2. Sheep Ranch - This is a hot take as it's near most people's bottom among those on site just because it's not going to win any architecture awards. But it's wide open, has the most views, and is just a fun golf course.
3. Bandon Dunes
4. Pac Dunes
5. Old Mac
*Keep in mind that Old Mac would still make my list of Top 15 favorite courses I've ever played, so it's not like it's a dump.
Feel free to DM me any questions you may have. Or if you think the answers would be beneficial to the group you can ask them here.
Thanks! I'll keep it here in case others are interested.
Dad is getting up there (late 70s), but generally still pretty spry. I think playing all the courses is beyond him at this point, but I do think we could get three in over a long weekend, with a rest day built in. Or maybe two and a short course.
Neither of us is very good (I can hit it pretty far but I'm all over the place, and dad is pretty consistent but just lacks the strength to get much distance these days). Sheep Ranch sounds like a good fit for us. We're both consistently scoring in the 95 range on our local courses. It's just a thing we love to do together.
I live in Portland, so he'd probably fly in Tuesday and we'd drive down on a Wednesday. I think given his age I wouldn't expect to go more than once now, so late summertime is probably the way to go. Sincerely appreciate all the great advice! As other questions come up I will certainly send them your way. Thank you!
Last edited:
That's great that you live in Portland. Both times I've gone I've flown into Portland to visit my sister and then added an extra day to the trip to drive the coastal route to Bandon. Not many places prettier in the U.S. than the Oregon coastline.
If I were in your shoes and budget-concious, I would stay off-property. Since you're staying off property you won't be allowed to book tee times within I believe it's 30 days, but there are always times available, especially if you're only playing one round a day. The early morning and early afternoon times fill up fast to resort guests because most of them are playing 36 holes a day. Your green fees are also a little more this way, but your lodging will be half the price.
Sheep, Pac, and Bandon have the best ocean views. Trails is a peaceful walk in the woods. Old Mac is inland except for one tee box on an ocean. IMO Old Mac is one I would skip if I couldn't play them all, just because it doesn't offer ocean views and is the hardest course on the property.
Get a caddie for you and your Dad to share. It's worth the money to be able to take in the walk and the scenery without lugging your bag along. I did my first round there without a caddie and my next eleven rounds with one, if that tells you anything. Caddies are the best money you can spend on your first trip to Bandon.
There is plenty to do at the resort that is free. There's a free short course at the driving range. The driving range is free. The 36-hole putting course is free. The labyrinth in the woods is free. The benches and views are free. The walk on the beach is free. One of my regrets is that every time we've gone we've tried to squeeze so much golf in that you don't have time to do anything else. My next trip I will leave at least two afternoons open for enjoying the non-golf course parts of the property and town.
If price isn't a concern, stay on property. It's just too convenient and ideal not to. However, there are always times available, so don't feel like you have to stay on property just to ensure you get a tee time. There isn't a day of the year you can't walk up to the office and get an afternoon tee time on at least a couple of the courses. Customer service is out of the world at BD.
Look around the country at what different resorts are doing with their customer service, on-site amenities, lodging, etc. and they're all patterning it after what Mike Keiser created at Bandon Dunes. As someone who has been in and around Pinehurst since birth, I chuckle at people who think Pinehurst has invented all of this cool stuff over the last 15 years (short course, putting course, The Deuce, etc.). In reality they just stole it all directly from the Bandon Dunes playbook.
ETA: I agree with your sentiment to play Sheep Ranch. It's both the easiest course and the easiest walk, but offers the best ocean views. Sounds like exactly what you and your Dad will be looking for. It's also the least played of the courses because it's the farthest from the main clubhouse and because it doesn't have the same reverence among hardcore golfers as the other ones. Try to catch a late afternoon sunset round there. Shouldn't be a problem grabbing one of those tee times. The Pastrami sandwich in the Sheep Ranch pro shop will be a spiritual experience for you. Google it. It would be on my short list for death row meals.
This is just all spectacular info...really appreciate it @PINEHEEL
A sunset round at Sheep Ranch sounds like a must do. And I will crush a good pastrami sandwich, haha.
One of my favorite memories with my dad is the 2014 US Open at Pinehurst, when I was finishing up grad school at UNC. So much fun to walk all over that beautiful course. Bit of an unremarkable tournament, with Kaymer winning at a canter but it was a great experience.
So in some sports, you’re absolutely correct. But not in golf.
Golf is a bit different. I maintain that only the elite men’s ams (think US Am level) could hang with the LPGA pros, particularly the top one’s. Ask Spencer’s dad. He’d have better perspective than me, but the women pros are pretty damn good.
Your club champion, for example, couldn’t beat Nelly Korda.
Think of it this way, how many ams, even good ones, do you know who are going out shooting 65 every time from 6,500 yards? Not many.
Oh, and hello everyone. I was out on vacation during the changeover. Good to see this thread has survived.
And a huge shoutout to Egr for all he has done over the years! What an honor it has been posting on his thread!
Last edited: