I feel your pain. Bandon isn't the same experience it was 20, or even 10 years ago. But then it never could be. Keep in mind that many of those "large" groups that get "preferential" consideration have been with Bandon Dunes from it's one golf course beginning. Our group began with 4 guys (now 40), in 1999 and have been every year since. For the sake of debate, from our perspective I could make the argument that our Bandon is now awash in newbs, corporate junkets, and bro's. But I won't. The Bandon experience is still very, very special.