Favorite Course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

[brentk14]

Offbeat question about post round stuff. Does McKee's pub serve lunch at all, I see a dinner menu. And is that the best place to go at the resort after a round?

[toddnt]

I know all the other restaurants serve lunch, not sure if McKees is open. If its not raining the fireplace next to McKees is nice and the Bunker Bar in the basement is nice for pool and cards and cigars!

[Gachnar]

[quote name='brentk14' timestamp='1298560044' post='3005197']
Offbeat question about post round stuff. Does McKee's pub serve lunch at all, I see a dinner menu. And is that the best place to go at the resort after a round?
[/quote]

I believe McKee's is only open for dinner. It's certainly the most cost effective place for dinner. For lunch there is the Tufted Puffin Lounge, Trail's End (my fav lunch spot) and Pacific Grill. Or you can grab a quick lunch at the Clubhouse turn stand or Old Mac.

[evanrfid]

[quote name='lsfird13' timestamp='1297718185' post='2977137']
[quote name='DMR2112' timestamp='1297526866' post='2970792']

Old Macdonald - Very interesting layout and design. I made more birdies and Doubles here than the others. Condition needs a bit more time to grow in IMHO. Greens were thin and heavily sanded over when we were there. Love the concept and how the course was done. Certainly one of a kind.

Looking forward to a return trip to Bandon to play all of these beauties again.

DR
[/quote]

Interesting that you had more doubles at Old Mac than anywhere else. I thought that Old Mac was so wide open that doubles, triples and X's would be more frequent on Trails and Pac - which I've found to be more penal. I've only played the 10 hole preview loop at Old Mac but shot just a couple over which was my best string of holes on that trip. Why the doubles on Old Mac more so than the others?
[/quote]

I find that interesting as well. Old Mac definitely isn't penal in the "lose your ball in the water/junk" way, but there are a lot of hazards out there to snatch up a slightly misplayed shot. Getting the ball in the hole once you're out of position is extremely difficult. I hope golfers visiting see this as a good thing, because this is a course that [b]really[/b] tests your game. Mentally, strategically, everything.

[Gachnar]

Old Mac is the only course where I've followed a 20 ft downhill birdie putt with a 50 yard pitch shot :/. Hit 3w just over the green on 4, and got my putt on the wrong side of a slope and watched it roll down into the rough way below the green. Rather humbling.

[Sushiyoshi]

Pacific was my favorite followed by BD. OM was grip and rip but the greens were killer. On hole #3, the pin was about 1 yard off the back. Talk about ridiculous. Didnt play Trails so cant comment on that. The guys in my group who played it did not like it very much.

[DMR2112]

[quote name='lsfird13' timestamp='1297718185' post='2977137']
[quote name='DMR2112' timestamp='1297526866' post='2970792']
I just got back from my first trip to Bandon and I really liked all 4 of the courses and would not really be fair to rank them but I will rate them like this:

Bandon Dunes - My favorite!! Love the routing, the holes on the cliffs, the bunkering and the mix of holes. Excellent layout and so much fun to play! 3-6 was my favorite stretch.
Pacific Dunes - Great layout with more blind/semi blind shots and more strategy here in my opinon. Scenery stunning as well, especially around 10 and 11.
Bandon Trails - I really liked this course and was my second favorite. The setting in the forest, dunes and meadow is beautiful and a nice change of pace from linkes at BD and PD. A bit more up and down but overall, a very enjoyable course to walk and play.
Old Macdonald - Very interesting layout and design. I made more birdies and Doubles here than the others. Condition needs a bit more time to grow in IMHO. Greens were thin and heavily sanded over when we were there. Love the concept and how the course was done. Certainly one of a kind.

Looking forward to a return trip to Bandon to play all of these beauties again.

DR
[/quote]

Interesting that you had more doubles at Old Mac than anywhere else. I thought that Old Mac was so wide open that doubles, triples and X's would be more frequent on Trails and Pac - which I've found to be more penal. I've only played the 10 hole preview loop at Old Mac but shot just a couple over which was my best string of holes on that trip. Why the doubles on Old Mac more so than the others?
[/quote]

I had more doubles at Mac because when I missed a green in the wrong place ( and I did that a lot!! ) I had trouble just getting the ball onto the green. Then of course, my putting was the worst that day than any of the others so I had many 3 putts. I made birdie on 1, 6, and 14. I had double on 12, 13 ( after a great drive of course ) and 15 ( 3 putted after missing green ) and a triple on 7 ( Flew green to back pin, needed 2 to get on, then 3 putted ). Definitely a roller Coaster ride but one I will take tomorrow if I could again. Course was lots of fun and I look forward to going back when it has grown in fro another season.

[PorkChopExpress]

1 Mac
2 Trails
3 Bandon
4 Pacific

Score best on Pacific
Score worst on Trails

Trails used to be my favorite cause it simply can hand you a new one. Mac once the greens mature, it will hand it to you on both sides

[brentk14]

Has anyone played their par 3 practice course, Shortys? How do you go about getting on there? I've got a tee time for Saturday afternoon, and would like to play Shorty's before.

[Gachnar]

[quote name='brentk14' timestamp='1300376029' post='3063810']
Has anyone played their par 3 practice course, Shortys? How do you go about getting on there? I've got a tee time for Saturday afternoon, and would like to play Shorty's before.
[/quote]

It's not open all that often, when you go to the range just look for the flag, if it's red, it's closed, green, it's open. Stuff a few bucks in the box (goes to Evans Scholar program I believe).

If it's red and the range is empty, talk to the attendant, they've let us go play it when it was quiet but closed. Not likely on a Saturday though. If the range is usy it's usually closed, as it's part of the range.

[upnort]

Can't give a fav. yet. My son's a caddy there and I'll be playing all four in June.

[Golfer gone Wild]

Just got back from our first trip to Bandon, here is how i would rate them:
[list=1][*]Pacific[*]Trails[*]Bandon[*]Old Mac[/list]

[Golfchops]

1. Old Mac
2. Bandon
3. Pacific
4. Trails

Old Mac was just so St Andrews for me I was awestruck. Bandon had my favorite hole, the 12th I believe of all the courses. Pacific was great, but when I was there (February) the greens were pretty bumpy and it was a bit of a turn off for me. Trail was money, and hard as hell, lame to pick it last when its such a great track. Still never experienced any place like Bandon. I was blown away the first time I played Chamber's Bay, but Old Mac was a golf life changer for me. Then again, I might be spoiled getting to play Chamber's all the time.

[golferkeith]

Just got back from Bandon Dunes, loved all the courses, but here's my list:
1. Bandon Dunes
2. Old Mac
3. Pacific Dunes
4. Bandon Trails

Wow, what a golf resort. Had a great time, and looking forward to a return trip.

Keith S.

[Tylanthus]

I hate to rank them Every time I type out a list it's different.

Bandon Dunes is probably my favorite maybe due to it being the most "well rounded" (whatever that means). Pacific is the most visually striking and the one I would recommend a first timer to play if they could only play one. Old Mac I see as having the most potential and is probably the most pure fun to play for me.

But I still want to put Trails as the top spot.

**** it. Bandon Dunes it is!

[ghpup67]

For me they all have their different characteristics. I have played all of them except OM at least 6 times. Only played OM when I was there last month (Mothers Day weekend BTW is a great time to go there - no crowds, easy tee times.... Trails was only scheduled for 9 golfers Mothers Day, day.... golfers, not groups). Hit the @#@#$#$ tree on 3 after I thought I had got past it..... Great tracks all.

[Solson]

Have been to Bandon 3 times, once since OM opened. Have played OM 2 times and it gets my vote.

[mikec142]

I rank them in the following order: PD, BD, BT, OM.

PD and BD are neck and neck with PD getting the nod. BT is a great course and a fun change of pace. OM is a distant fourth for me. Good shots were not rewarded. The greens were wild and four putt is not out of the question. I found it very difficult to hold the greens at OM.

Just got back from my second trip to Bandon where we played 9 rounds in 4.5 days. Amazing trip and I can't wait to go back!

[The Tufted Puffin]

The first time I played there it was blowing 25 mph and gusting to 35 and we played PD. I shot an 80. It was my first Links golf experience although I have spent a great deal of time on the Oregon coast through the years. It was magical. I've played them all now, and played them well (thanks to my caddies), but my favorite is PD.

[quote name='mikec142' timestamp='1318392765' post='3661257']
I rank them in the following order: PD, BD, BT, OM.

PD and BD are neck and neck with PD getting the nod. BT is a great course and a fun change of pace. OM is a distant fourth for me. Good shots were not rewarded. The greens were wild and four putt is not out of the question. I found it very difficult to hold the greens at OM.

Just got back from my second trip to Bandon where we played 9 rounds in 4.5 days. Amazing trip and I can't wait to go back!
[/quote]