Bandon: Current Course Conditions?

[ehendy]

I thought this post would serve us all well as we dream and plan for upcoming quests to Bandon. 
 

So, as of today (3/31/21), who with a very recent firsthand experience has a report on the golf course(s) conditioning (tees, fairways, greens, firmness, speed, forgiveness, wind direction and strength, spin on greens, major differences between courses...)?

 

Many thanks - I leave in 2 weeks for my 1st trip out. 

[payerasjl]

It’s a toss up this time a year. Pretty sure there was a frost delay or atleast frost warning yesterday. 
 

im heading out on Monday so ive been doing the same recon and it’s a toss up. 
 

check out the course cameras. 

[ehendy]

I’ll be curious to hear about your trip. Safe travels! 

[Cwing]

141 days left for me. ETA August, 2021.

[MileHighGuye]

October 1 for me!

[Yank8823]

June 8th for the maiden voyage, 70 days and counting...

[Saltydawg15]

August 2021 for me

[tad950]

Just got back from Bandon. Sheep Ranch greens have been recently aerated or verticut and sanded. The course seems to be suffering a little from heavy play in my opinion. Pacific, Old Mac and Bandon Dunes are in typical early Spring shape. I didn't play any extra rounds because of back issues, so I was unable to play Trails. But the caddies said it was in great shape. I didn't hear what their maintenance schedule will be for the the rest of the courses. I'm guessing that a couple of the courses might have been aerated when you arrive in a couple weeks. It's always a crap shoot this time of year with green speeds. Every course is different.

 

 

[spud3]

+1 on the 'every course is different' comment above, especially green speeds.  Significantly slower greens on BD, as per usual. 

 

As of two weeks ago, Trails was in great shape overall, especially greens. 

 

Tee boxes were slightly below average on most of the courses, but nothing too heinous. SR is definitely showing signs of fatigue, but that's to be expected.  Now that the growing season is really getting underway, both of those should improve.

[jrg75]

10 days out!!!!  Course cameras are great, glad the Pacific one is back. Gorse looks magnificent.

[TFavor]

Called this morning, booked a twosome trip for this weekend. 
Now got me thinking about the green maintenance schedule. 
Booked the big 3 but now looking at a change based on airating. 
Any updates on greens WRX’ers???!

Edited April 5, 2021 by TFavor

[TFavor]

I always thought they shut the course down for a couple weeks for aerating. 
Did it suck to pay 190$ for a round on a beat up immature course with aerated greens or did it still play decent?

On 4/1/2021 at 8:28 AM, tad950 said:

Just got back from Bandon. Sheep Ranch greens have been recently aerated or verticut and sanded. The course seems to be suffering a little from heavy play in my opinion. Pacific, Old Mac and Bandon Dunes are in typical early Spring shape. I didn't play any extra rounds because of back issues, so I was unable to play Trails. But the caddies said it was in great shape. I didn't hear what their maintenance schedule will be for the the rest of the courses. I'm guessing that a couple of the courses might have been aerated when you arrive in a couple weeks. It's always a crap shoot this time of year with green speeds. Every course is different.

 

 

 

[jrg75]

I fretted about this my first several trips but I think Bandon's maintenance practices minimizes impact to the playing surface.  I did have one trip where there was some small aeration marks but they use small tines that seem to heal pretty quickly.  I will say that playing on freshly  sanded greens would be pretty disappointing if paying full price.

[BD14]

Was there Sunday to Sunday (March 28 - April 4). 
 

Trails and PD greens were running very fast.  They sanded PD greens on Monday, but they were in great shape by the time we played our second round there on Wednesday.  These 2 were the fastest.  
 

BD were recently aerated, but they were still rolling great and pretty darn quick.  They had mostly healed already.  OM greens were a bit shaggy but nothing to complain about. Ball rolled true. 
 

SR greens were in the worst condition. Had a few bald patches, etc. But no one in the group complained. 
 

All of the courses were in good condition. Ground felt softish at PD, BD, and Trails, but ball still rolled out well. SR is still hard everywhere. Was even difficult to get tees into the ground. 
 

overall, conditions were around 7.5/8 out of 10.   Nothing anyone in our group of 14 complained about. But it was all of our first time out. 

[payerasjl]

Yesterday was incredible. 
 Sun was shinning all day

[tad950]

On 4/5/2021 at 5:34 PM, TFavor said:

I always thought they shut the course down for a couple weeks for aerating. 
Did it suck to pay 190$ for a round on a beat up immature course with aerated greens or did it still play decent?

 

I wouldn’t say the course was beat up, exactly. But it was rough around the edges, so to speak. Since our group usually goes late March or early April, I have come to expect different stages of greens maintenance at the individual courses at Bandon. So I wasn’t upset. The views at Sheep Ranch are hard to beat. Not my favorite course at Bandon, but I’d gladly play it again. 

[ehendy]

On 3/31/2021 at 6:40 AM, payerasjl said:

It’s a toss up this time a year. Pretty sure there was a frost delay or atleast frost warning yesterday. 
 

im heading out on Monday so ive been doing the same recon and it’s a toss up. 
 

check out the course cameras. 

How was it? We leave on Sunday. Weather looks good so far! 

[payerasjl]

Still here. Hit the weather jackpot and next week looks even better. 
 

36-36-45 thus far and getting ready for 36 more today. 

[TFavor]

Played Bandon Dunes today. Conditions are immaculate. Couple greens sanded and aerated. Like 17 and 13. They only do a couple at a time. Greens are awesome shape though. Really speedy today, especially in the afternoon, after the wind and sun was on it all day. Hard greens. Ball wouldn’t even leave a pitch mark. 
This is the best shape I’ve ever seen Bandon. 

[wtoomey]

Just got back from a long weekend:

 

Sheep- A lot of divots. Didn’t remember see any of the typical nets that protect certain landing areas, but I did see a bunch of divots. The tee boxes were also well used. On #5 they had to move the markers way to the left in a corner of the box because everything else was barren. The greens were thin, but still rolled true. With all of that, it’s a great course and no one in our group had any complaints. 

 

Old Mac- Afternoon round and the greens were rolling fast and smooth. No sign of any prior maintenance. One or two nets, but nothing out of the ordinary or offensive.  Noticed they were using shorter flag sticks on Old Mac, wonder if they are designed for high wind days?
 

Pac- Greens were great. Fast, firm, and true. Typical amount of nets in the fairways, and divots were you’d expect them. 
 

Trails- Best conditions I’ve seen in April in the past 6 years. I saw markings were fairway nets are either coming or have been, but there were minimal nets out there. The tee boxes were in great condition. The greens were fast, hard, and putted so nice. 
 

Bandon- Also great condition. The only time I saw it better was in November after the US Am was there. We played it on Sunday, and almost got blown off the course on the back nine. Greens so hard and dry that balls would be moving after marked and replaced. #16 was playing 277 down wind and I hit my 180 club to the front edge. As mentioned earlier, 13 was punched and sanded, but wasn’t bumpy at all. Didn’t even recognize if 17 was. 
 

Overall, I was impressed with all the courses, even knowing that Sheep was well played since opening they have worked hard to present a quality product. 
 

Random observations: Great to see rakes in bunkers and being able to pull the pin to putt. (Two things still not available to this Northern California golfer)
 

[Kernel]

Thanks for the updated conditions. Trails' greens have always been iffy when we go in the Spring. Nice to see they are improved this year.

 

Will be there in two days. Forecast is just about ideal for the Oregon coast. 

[jrg75]

Just finished my first day, played Trails AM and 27 holes at Bandon in the PM.   Trails is in phenomenal shape, greens are perfect and rolling fast, best I've ever seen it!!!!  Bandon is in good shape, it's playing fast and firm.  They did just punch and sand the 12th through 17th greens this morning.  You can definitely tell, but my ball still seemed to roll pretty true. Overall courses are in great shape.  

[jrg75]

Just checked in at Pacific, looks like they are punching a few greens today.

[Kernel]

Played BD yesterday in wonderful conditions - sunshine and a 10-15mph breeze. Greens on the front were very good, quick but not too fast. Quite a few greens on the back had been tine aerated and sanded in recent days. Those were obviously slower and not as predictable, but still very playable. 

 

Heading to Sheep Ranch right now. 

[commoditybroker]

30 days out for me!  First trip up, the days cannot move fast enough to get me there

[ehendy]

Somewhat redundant as we were there last week too. 
 

Trails was pure and the best conditioned course - same for preserve (apparently they do in fact share a super and he’s Fitbit going on right now)

 

Pac and Bandon were great despite a vericut on some greens. Bandon winds on Monday afternoon kicked us in the teeth. 
 

OM played firm and fast. 
 

Sheep was fun but shaggy. Greens rolled ok but you can tell they’re holding on for dear life. 
 

plenty of other commentary and pics on Instagram, @dadbod226, if interested. 
 

can’t wait to go back! 
 

here’s one of my favorites...

[BG5]

Any updates as of late?

[Cwing]

85 days out for me!!!

 

[Lefty_89]

204 days for me, but who's counting 😉

[BG5]

22 days until I arrive 🙂