How early to book Bandon as a single

[Phireside]

Looking at doing Bandon as a single in the future. Will likely be in a shoulder month like March or October.

 

Wondering how early I need to do this? And for those that have gone solo, what is the process?

[Kirklan]

I went the last week of October spur of the moment last year. Booked 7 rounds of golf over 3-1/2 days just 2 days in advance. Got all the tee times I wanted and actually golfed as a single 4 of the 7 rounds. The best golf experience I've ever had was being the first off the tee at Bandon Trails with a marine layer/fog hanging on the course. Not enough to obscure the course, but lending to a mystical feeling. Had the entire course to myself for 4 hours, never saw another person the entire round. My understanding is that is one of the slowest weeks of the year because the rate drop significantly on November 1st.

[spud3]

Search on the keyword 'Bandon' in this forum and you'll get dozens of solo trip reports. Should keep you busy for quite a while.

 

As for when to book, they usually start booking for February two years later around December, but that date changes each year. Call and ask. If you're thinking February 2020, you'll want to be right on it, as lots of people now believe that is the best value/risk. February 2019 was sold out by January of this year. March is a little less chronic, but not much. Shoulder season is just about as popular as high season. Apparently, some folks have discovered that all you need is good rain gear and you can still play golf in bad weather.

 

As for a process, it's pretty much pick your dates, call and reserve your room, make your tee times and then figure out how to pass the time until you are there. There's a few threads that cover that, too.

 

BTW, going solo is really really cool

[Pulledabill]

Some months you can only book 7 days in advance unless you pay extra. Then yiu cant get time before 10am. Im going in Feb as a most likely singke due to weekdays off.

[Edaw68]

You can book as a single for 2019 starting now if you want. March may be a bit crowded by now, but October will likely have plenty of space. If you want March of 2019, call soon. If 2020, you can probably decide next spring. Going as a single and not being picky about tee times will give you a lot of flexibility.

 

The biggest decisions to make are the dates you want to go, where you want to stay, and how much golf. As a single for a room the Lodge single is plenty, and probably the easiest for staying on property. You will need to stay on property to book well in advance. As for how much golf, decide which of the courses you want to play (the answer is "all of them") and how many rounds per day (36 is doable in either March or October).

 

Once you know when you want to arrive, what room, and how many rounds a day, just call reservations and let them do it for you. It's as easy as "I'll be arriving on the Xst, and would like to play that day, then 36 the next day, then 18, then 36, etc". If you don't worry about which course which day and just tell reservations you want to play all four courses while you're there, they'll plug and play tee times. Can't go wrong with any course. After you've played them all you can then adjust for additional rounds on your favorites for future trips.

 

The reservations crew is really good. It really is as simple as saying I'll be there on x dates as a single and want to play them all. They'll put it together.

[wkuo3]

Communicate with the golf course. Either call up or email. They will let you know what may be possible and also make recommendation for your planning.

They were always very helpful !

[duffer987]

C'mon Shaun don't be lazy ;)

"bandon single", "bandon solo" in this sub-forum gets you loads of stuff.

Fair question about far ahead though, as Spud points out it changes. In my going on 6yrs on this forum, all my first hand experience and anecdotal info here is that Bandon is just getting more and more popular, so it's never too early.

Due to family commitments, this coming Nov might be the end of our annual trips, so I've not looked into 2019 times.

 

Not sure where that 7 days mentioned above comes from though? I think that is incorrect, unless someone else knows why this would be the case. Never been anything other than 21 days for non-guests.

[spud3]

Some months you can only book 7 days in advance unless you pay extra. Then yiu cant get time before 10am. Im going in Feb as a most likely singke due to weekdays off.

 

This has not been my experience. 21 days out, only if you are not staying on property; otherwise you can make all of your tee times for your stay when you reserve your room (even as a single). Also never heard of an extra charge to get around the 21 day limit.

 

The only restriction I've heard regarding morning times is that you agree to play at sub-4 hour pace.

[Pulledabill]

C'mon Shaun don't be lazy ;)

"bandon single", "bandon solo" in this sub-forum gets you loads of stuff.

Fair question about far ahead though, as Spud points out it changes. In my going on 6yrs on this forum, all my first hand experience and anecdotal info here is that Bandon is just getting more and more popular, so it's never too early.

Due to family commitments, this coming Nov might be the end of our annual trips, so I've not looked into 2019 times.

 

Not sure where that 7 days mentioned above comes from though? I think that is incorrect, unless someone else knows why this would be the case. Never been anything other than 21 days for non-guests.

 

May had been 21..sorry...brain dont always work well at times...i will call.

[Pulledabill]

It is 21 days as non guess or you can book todsy if staying on propery. This is for the months of jan, Feb, March. Not sure hiw 7 got in my head.

[mallrat]

Wife just gave me the go ahead. Heading down after Thanksgiving dinner for the weekend. Excited because I didn’t think I would make it down in the next year or two.

[007iron]

I did Thanksgiving weekend in both 2015 and 2016 - was great weather one year and pretty rainy the second. The resort was pretty quiet - pace of play and tables for meals were easy to come by.

 

I'm going down the weekend before Thanksgiving this year - I booked end of July and had great success at getting early tee times but didn't get my first choice of lodging (I'm at the Inn instead of Lodge)

 

Flying to Medford this go round; slightly longer drive than Eugene (barely) but get In'n'Out burger on the way to the resort

[pettit13]

Just booked 3 nights 10/8-10/10 on a month's notice as a single. Apparently I got the last single room left on property (at least that's what they told me). I'm able to play all 4 course the first 2 days and then had my pick for the third day. The only time I couldn't get on a course was Bandon Dunes is booked in the early morning.

 

A previous poster was right about the reservations staff, though. I basically said I have the first two weeks in October available and I want to come up for 3-4 days, and they set it all up.

[duffer987]

I did Thanksgiving weekend in both 2015 and 2016 - was great weather one year and pretty rainy the second. The resort was pretty quiet - pace of play and tables for meals were easy to come by.

 

I'm going down the weekend before Thanksgiving this year - I booked end of July and had great success at getting early tee times but didn't get my first choice of lodging (I'm at the Inn instead of Lodge)

 

Flying to Medford this go round; slightly longer drive than Eugene (barely) but get In'n'Out burger on the way to the resort

Haven't flown into Medford yet, but it's a more scenic drive at least up into the mountains and back down, then the rather boring drive from Eugene till you hit the coast.

[wmblake2000]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

[Edaw68]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

 

From chats with the starters that's actually fairly common. A lot of people within easy driving distance will just watch for a good day or two of weather in the forecast and hop down. From what they said if you aren't super picky about which course or prime tee times it isn't that hard.

[Edaw68]

Just booked 3 nights 10/8-10/10 on a month's notice as a single. Apparently I got the last single room left on property (at least that's what they told me). I'm able to play all 4 course the first 2 days and then had my pick for the third day. The only time I couldn't get on a course was Bandon Dunes is booked in the early morning.

 

A previous poster was right about the reservations staff, though. I basically said I have the first two weeks in October available and I want to come up for 3-4 days, and they set it all up.

 

Told ya, the staff is amazing all over there. But reservations has gotta be the best. Generally the first contact anyone has there, and I have never had anything less than an excellent experience with them.

[spud3]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

 

From chats with the starters that's actually fairly common. A lot of people within easy driving distance will just watch for a good day or two of weather in the forecast and hop down. From what they said if you aren't super picky about which course or prime tee times it isn't that hard.

 

That is exactly what we do :)

[payerasjl]

i am about to book my 3rd go as a single (i go with my wife, but she doesnt golf). thinking of early november.

[spud3]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

 

From chats with the starters that's actually fairly common. A lot of people within easy driving distance will just watch for a good day or two of weather in the forecast and hop down. From what they said if you aren't super picky about which course or prime tee times it isn't that hard.

 

That is exactly what we do :)

 

I should add this is helped by the fact that Oregon residents pay the same rate as resort guests. So if the resort is booked, you can get a room in town and get slotted in whichever course/tee time is available. And there's always an open slot somewhere, as long as you're flexible on which course. The only thing I miss when I've done that is the jacuzzi.

 

Lots of good reasons to be an Oregonian, but this is certainly one of best.

[bird206]

Speaking of Jacuzzi. Can you describe the jacuzzi at Bandon? I'm looking forward to using it after my rounds there. Is it small, big, crowded, best times to go, wear trunks from room to jacuzzi, other details?

[bird206]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

 

From chats with the starters that's actually fairly common. A lot of people within easy driving distance will just watch for a good day or two of weather in the forecast and hop down. From what they said if you aren't super picky about which course or prime tee times it isn't that hard.

 

That is exactly what we do :)

 

I should add this is helped by the fact that Oregon residents pay the same rate as resort guests. So if the resort is booked, you can get a room in town and get slotted in whichever course/tee time is available. And there's always an open slot somewhere, as long as you're flexible on which course. The only thing I miss when I've done that is the jacuzzi.

 

Lots of good reasons to be an Oregonian, but this is certainly one of best.

 

 

Speaking of Jacuzzi. Can you describe the jacuzzi at Bandon? I'm looking forward to using it after my rounds there. Is it small, big, crowded, best times to go, wear trunks from room to jacuzzi, other details?

[Edaw68]

I didn’t realize they would be so crowded in the off season. How is it for locals to drive there (not stay) and play as a single in off season? I am contemplating moving to Oregon (retired) with the theory that on the random decent day in winter I would drive over and walk on. Is that realistic?

 

From chats with the starters that's actually fairly common. A lot of people within easy driving distance will just watch for a good day or two of weather in the forecast and hop down. From what they said if you aren't super picky about which course or prime tee times it isn't that hard.

 

That is exactly what we do :)

 

I should add this is helped by the fact that Oregon residents pay the same rate as resort guests. So if the resort is booked, you can get a room in town and get slotted in whichever course/tee time is available. And there's always an open slot somewhere, as long as you're flexible on which course. The only thing I miss when I've done that is the jacuzzi.

 

Lots of good reasons to be an Oregonian, but this is certainly one of best.

 

 

Speaking of Jacuzzi. Can you describe the jacuzzi at Bandon? I'm looking forward to using it after my rounds there. Is it small, big, crowded, best times to go, wear trunks from room to jacuzzi, other details?

 

It’s in the basement of the Lodge. They’d probably call it an 8 person tub based on hot tub sizes. I wouldn’t expect more in there. If you’re staying at the lodge you can just wear trunks and a robe down to the basement. If you’re staying somewhere else on property there’s a locker room and showers for changing.

 

I’ve rarely seen more than a few people in it. I’ll use it late afternoon/early evening after my last round of the day but before dinner.

[bird206]

Are robes included when you stay in the lodge rooms?

[Edaw68]

Are robes included when you stay in the lodge rooms?

Affirm. If you don't find one in your closet when you check in just call housekeeping and ask.

[spud3]

Are robes included when you stay in the lodge rooms?

Affirm. If you don't find one in your closet when you check in just call housekeeping and ask.

 

My experience is it's 50/50 chance of having one in your room. It's the one thing that housekeeping seems to forget, but as Edaw says, a quick call to the front desk and there's one at your door in a few minutes, no charge.

 

Frankly, it's one of the big reasons to stay in the Lodge. Take the elevator down to the basement after your last round wearing shorts and a robe, a quick round in the sauna, then the jacuzzi, back to the room for a shower then McKee's.

 

As was also stated, it is criminally underused.

[eboettne]

Are robes included when you stay in the lodge rooms?

Affirm. If you don't find one in your closet when you check in just call housekeeping and ask.

 

My experience is it's 50/50 chance of having one in your room. It's the one thing that housekeeping seems to forget, but as Edaw says, a quick call to the front desk and there's one at your door in a few minutes, no charge.

 

Frankly, it's one of the big reasons to stay in the Lodge. Take the elevator down to the basement after your last round wearing shorts and a robe, a quick round in the sauna, then the jacuzzi, back to the room for a shower then McKee's.

 

As was also stated, it is criminally underused.

 

Would there be any issue bringing a few beverages with to the jacuzzi? Sounds like a great way to relax after walking 36 a day

[Edaw68]

Are robes included when you stay in the lodge rooms?

Affirm. If you don't find one in your closet when you check in just call housekeeping and ask.

 

My experience is it's 50/50 chance of having one in your room. It's the one thing that housekeeping seems to forget, but as Edaw says, a quick call to the front desk and there's one at your door in a few minutes, no charge.

 

Frankly, it's one of the big reasons to stay in the Lodge. Take the elevator down to the basement after your last round wearing shorts and a robe, a quick round in the sauna, then the jacuzzi, back to the room for a shower then McKee's.

 

As was also stated, it is criminally underused.

 

Would there be any issue bringing a few beverages with to the jacuzzi? Sounds like a great way to relax after walking 36 a day

I’m pretty sure they have the standard liability sign up that says don’t consume alcohol in the sauna or jacuzzi. I’ve never seen anyone bring booze down there.