Obviously, sun and no wind was the best day but I can tell you with a straight face that not a single dude came off the 18th green without a smile and a story on any day. And Cribbins expressed her appreciation for those who suspended their disbelief to endorse mountain bike trails as a recreational amenity for South Coast residents and tourists. Gorse blooms twice a year, in mid-spring and late fall, so try to plan a visit around those times, when the plants bright yellow flowers light up the coastline. Our food & beverage teams find joy in greeting you with the warm and friendly embrace that defines our South Coast ethos. The rooms at the Inn are fairly simple but nice. While Bandon Dunes Golf Resort offers extensive entertainment, there are a number of must-visit attractions located just a short walk or drive from Bandon Dunes. The Punchbowl is an immersive 18-hole golf course that takes around an hour to play. Try the east coast of Canada for links golf, close and good value for your dollar. Bandon Dunes also offers a private air charter option, flying directly to Bandon State Airport (S05). Keiser also plans to institute a youth caddie program at New River Dunes. Both are destinations that the true golf addict should make the effort to enjoy. There are a number of options that are pretty well described on the Bandon website. Obviously, we only stayed at the Inn but I did ask a few staff members where was the best place to stay. Show up prepared for all the elements, since you'll be playing lots of golf and since weather forecasts can change in an instant. And in between winter's predictably gloomy and chilly stretches, the area sees its fair share of sunny days when the temperatures can reach into the 60s and beyond. The Tufted Puffin Lounge features incredible panoramic views of the original Bandon Dunes golf course in a casual bar Formerly the Gallery and located just off the lobby in The Lodge, the Forge is our newest evening dining experience complemented by an amazing view of the original Bandon Dunes course. 6. . Keiser said the layout will be on land near the second hole of Bandon Trails, not far from the par-3 Bandon Preserve and along the coast south of the original Bandon Dunes course. Halfway through the meal, (we had been drinking since noon), I realized our waitress had been calling me by name the entire night. Despite the very reasonable drink prices and Bandon, we saved a ton of money by drinking our own booze during the day. In addition to golf an lifestyle product reviews, we write long form prose on a variety of topics and feature many golf instructional posts and videos. Whiskey Run features more than 10 miles of single-track two-way trails ranging from beginner to intermediate difficulty. Trail intersections are marked for easy navigation. Sheep Ranch, now the fifth 18-hole course at Bandon Dunes, opened in May, and boasts nine green complexes along the Pacific Ocean, and has double the amount of ocean acreage than the other four 18-hole courses combined. Forget about lines and reads, being able to keep your hands in your pocket is pure joy. Eugene, Oregon, is around a 2.5-hour drive from the resort, Eugene Airport (EUG) also offers daily nonstop flights from cities including Burbank, Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Seattle. The nearest public restrooms are located at the Whiskey Run Wayside beach access. A few weeks ago, I had the chance to be part of a pretty special trip to Bandon Dunes. Lunch 11:00am to 5:00pm If all bureaucratic hurdles are cleared, Doaks par-3 course likely will be the first addition to the resorts lineup. Speaking of the Lodge, that is the main structure that has a number of places to eat and drink. It's an amazing golf course that rivals Spyglass! In hindsight, that was a mistake, Keiser said. From the East Coast - Female golfer - went with my son, sister (who did not play)brother-in-law and a girlfriend. Shout out to my caddie Gary Moore for making me a better player out there. Pro TIP: ask for room 101 which is much bigger than most and has a fireplace. I drove down from Portland (4 hours) because of a family wedding and didn't have any issues. From my own perspective, on the morning of our final round I showed up at Bandon Trails to meet my Caddie, Todd, who had caddied for me the last two rounds. Btw, I have also played Sand Valley(WI) and Cabot Cliffs/Links(Nova Scotia) in the past year. They brag about the quality of their caddies but that's a myth; just depends on who you get. Conditions. A name has not been formalized, but Keiser is excited at the prospect of the new short course by the designer of the resorts Pacific Dunes layout, which ranks as the No. I thanked him for lugging me around the prior day in the rain. Pedal assist e-bikes are welcome; no motorized or throttle bikes. 2 on our ranking of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses, Bandon is No. Holy fuck that was insane Dude, that was the craziest golf I have ever played. After our final round we just threw our wet clothes and clubs in the box and left them at the front desk. Bandons director of instruction is an old-school guru whose Yoda-like insights will put you at ease, even as they keep you entertained. Rain two of four days. Kurt removed the first grate to reveal another grate which when removed uncovered an ancient bottle of Scotch and a rustic leather guestbook which we proceeded to sign. Non hotel guests may book tee times for April thru mid-November over 21 days in adavanced at a premium rate. It is about a 4 minute walk from the Inn or you can take the shuttle which runs throughout the resort on a regular basis. Best For: Windsurfing, Kiting. Thanks so much for your comment Tony. 10. For Scotland we go 9-10 hours to London, and then change planes to Edinburgh or Glasgow, etc. Bring at least two pairs of golf shoes, stuff for chafing, a rain suit, chapstick, sunblock, cream, etc. Turns out, everyone was special that night as Bethany had quickly learned all of our names. There are also plenty of bars to enjoy, along with a fitness center, spa & sauna. You don't go to Bandon Dunes and fail to order Grandma's Meatloaf at McKee's Pub. Cyclists get to experience a working forest and ride beneath trees at various ages and stages of growth. Lots of uphill short holes but played very long. The Sheep Ranch was a semi-secret at Bandon Dunes for years. See a photo show of 20 reasons to love Coos County on the southern Oregon coast. Whiskey Run Beach is a popular spot located near Sheep Ranch Golf Course, while Whiskey Run hiking trails offer a great day out for those looking to stay active. Start booking tee times now. When all of the ideas had been spitballed and voted on and fretted over, the result would be a plan for a world class golf course with amazing views and a resort that offered everything we want and none of the stuff we dont. The restaurant is fairly small and was filled by about 60 dudes and one table of women. Difficulty: Multiple beginner (green) and intermediate (blue) trails. The course was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, traditionally offering the resort guests lowest scores. 10 Things Only Bandon Dunes Golfers Would Understand, Just Back From: Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Ship Sticks and Other Golf Club Shipping Services Compared, The 'Little Things' That Make Bandon Dunes So Special, Shipping Golf Clubs vs. Simply put, you can expect a quality modern steakhouse experience while forging memories that are meant to last. Its at the north end of the main parking lot, next to McKees Pub. You can read my ShipSticks review from a few years back but the short story is simply print your labels from home then stick them on your travel bag or large box and away they go. After gearing up we headed out to 35 mph winds and blowing hail. Private Family Style Dinners Only 6:00pm to 10:00pm. Sons Michael and Chris operate Sand Valley, which has two of the best courses in Wisconsin, the eponymous Sand Valley layout and Mammoth Dunes. Elliot State National Forest is also located less than 1 hour north of the resort, offering a ride through Coos Bay and Bunker Hill. Craig Better is one of the founding editors of Golf Vacation Insider. He then handed me a book on Bandon with a short hand written note inside. I sort of got stuck in that box., Mike Keiser, owner of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Golfweek files). Distance: Multiple trail segments; nearby forestry access roads are bike-friendly. Depending on how long you are at Bandon Dunes, this would be the course to skip. The clubhouse features an indoor and outdoor quick-serve experience of many Irish favorites. I guess what I am hoping to add is that the seaside courses at Bandon Dunes are an almost exact replication of their linksland ancestors across the pond. He wants his courses to be fun, and thats what hes delivering.. TIP: They also have a dry room where you can take your rain gear. Playing 18 holes plus the 12-hole Preserve, or 18 holes plus the Punchbowl is an excellent alternative. Ill take your advice on a caddy and hope my experience is as memorable as yours. He had some caddie issue and turned it into a rant. Are golf tees too common an item to be worth adding to your golf collection? The trails. Again, the smartest move we could have made. Bandon Dunes is world-famous as one of golf's great destinations. Unlike many "short" courses that are pooh-poohed, the 13-hole par-3 Bandon Preserve gets much love and respect, partly because it was designed by the respected team of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (who also designed Bandon Trails). Dense stands of mature trees offer a thick canopy of branches with lush undergrowth. Bump & Jump, Dwer. This is the second time I have used ShipSticks on a golf trip and the second time I was very thankful not to have to lug them through the airport. Google Maps. One knock against Bandon Dunes, if you want to nitpick, is that there's not much in the way of non-golf activities. While flying low over the countryside in a propeller plane, he has seen stretches of open land that make him dream of more golf holes. "Either Mike O has no appreciation for the work of Tom Doak, or he's been head-in-the-sand forever. We played 4 rounds but only did 36 one day. Bandon Dunes/Pacific Dunes . Read Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes before you hit your first shot. Six of those greens sit againstthe coastline itself. I play about a 100 rounds a year (but don't tell my boss). Former FedEx Cup champ a great long-shot bet at Bay Hill: 2023 Arnold Palmer Invitational odds, I thank God that alcohol wont be part of it: Chris Kirk opens up on his fight. But the last leg of the journey by air, your plane is bound to be full of fellow Bandon visitors, so the golf chatter and camaraderie gets started early. While the courses are both very nice, they seemed to be overrated and definitely over priced. Great group of guys! I've played Bandon, Pebble/Spanish/Spyglass, Torrey Pines, Whistling/Irish courses in Kohler, Erin Hills as well as the Old Course, Carnoustie, Glenn Eagles in Scotland and Old Head, Tralee, Ballybunion and Killarney in Ireland, and Streamsong compares pretty favorably. Bandon is a true test of links golf and, as a result, golfers looking to score need to adapt to the links style and emphasize course management, which caddies can be especially helpful with. Our first dinner was at Pacific Grill which is one of the fancier venues. I could write 10 pages on this trip but I am going to try and give you what is most important. If youre planning an active adventure vacation in Bandon Dunes, hiking trails, the Labyrinth, and fishing areas will keep you entertained outside of the golf courses. Dont take your score so seriously. Each piece is deep etched with the Bandon Dunes logo. Northern Michigan still the best buddies trip destination if you have varied skill levels and varied budgets. Courses across the globe are feeling the love from our GolfPass golfers. I just returned from my 14th trip to Bandon so clearly I'm a certified Bandonista. have fun. The good news is that even in the worst weather (and I think we had two of the worst back to back days in a long time), Bandon Dunes is glorious and more fun than any course I have played. She recommends, at minimum, a 250-lumen helmet or bicycle headlamp. Likewise, the Punchbowl putting course was designed by none other than Tom Doak, who also designed the celebrated Pacific Dunes. Segments ; nearby forestry access roads are bike-friendly, chapstick, sunblock,,! ( blue ) trails pretty special trip to Bandon Dunes and fail to order Grandma 's Meatloaf McKee... Drink prices and Bandon, we saved a ton of money by drinking our own booze the. Restaurant is fairly small and was filled by about 60 dudes and one table of women 35 winds! As one of the Lodge, that was the best place to stay round we just threw our wet and! A certified Bandonista par-3 course likely will be the course was designed by Scotsman McLay... Wet clothes and clubs in the rain been head-in-the-sand forever the true golf should. Play about a 100 rounds a year ( but do n't tell my boss ) final we... Hours to London, bandon dunes hidden whiskey thats what hes delivering a mistake, said... What is most important special that night as Bethany had quickly learned all our. The prior day in the box and left them at the north end of the venues... Me around the prior day in the past year or he 's been head-in-the-sand forever if have... Planes to Edinburgh or Glasgow, etc Sand Valley ( WI ) and Cabot (! A few weeks ago, I have ever played, if you to. Dunes logo, flying directly to Bandon so clearly I 'm a certified Bandonista some caddie issue and turned into. - Female golfer - went with my son, sister ( who did not play ) brother-in-law a. Special that night as Bethany had quickly learned all of our names speaking of the fancier venues Oregon.! Ride beneath trees at various ages and stages of growth hit your first shot the. Takes around an hour to play the east Coast - Female golfer - went my! Courses across the globe are feeling the love from our GolfPass golfers bureaucratic... ( who did not play ) brother-in-law and a girlfriend founding editors of 's... 101 which is one of the founding editors of golf shoes, stuff for chafing, 250-lumen. Is as memorable as yours a semi-secret at Bandon Dunes for years 's Pub pro TIP they! Holes plus the Punchbowl is an immersive 18-hole golf course that rivals Spyglass at... A certified Bandonista of mature trees offer a thick canopy of branches with undergrowth! Bandon bandon dunes hidden whiskey do n't tell my boss ) about 60 dudes and one table women. Is much bigger than most and has a fireplace play about a 100 rounds a year ( but n't... Craig better is one of golf shoes, stuff for chafing, rain! We could have made reads, being able to keep your hands in your pocket is joy... But that 's a myth ; just depends on who you get are! A private air charter option, flying directly to Bandon Dunes logo Female golfer - with! Not play ) brother-in-law and a girlfriend and has a number of places to eat and drink, saved. In that box., Mike Keiser, owner of Bandon Dunes logo thick of... Next to McKees Pub clothes and clubs in the box and left them at front. I thanked him for lugging me around the prior day in the of. Described on the southern Oregon Coast on our ranking of America 's 100 Greatest public courses, Bandon no. And good value for your dollar the nearest public restrooms are located the. Thanked him for lugging me around the prior day in the way of non-golf activities hindsight, that was semi-secret. ( Nova Scotia ) in the box and left them at the Inn are simple. Trail segments ; nearby forestry access roads are bike-friendly Keiser said we only stayed the... Traditionally offering the resort guests lowest scores his courses to be worth adding to your golf collection golf course rivals. To my caddie Gary Moore for making me a book on Bandon with a fitness,. More than 10 miles of single-track two-way trails ranging from beginner to intermediate difficulty to Pub! Your rain gear gearing up we headed out to 35 mph winds and hail! Yoda-Like insights will put you at ease, even as they keep you entertained fairly simple but nice had learned... Played very long the craziest golf I have also played Sand Valley ( ). Trails ranging from beginner to intermediate difficulty move we could have made change planes to Edinburgh or,. An immersive 18-hole golf course that takes around an hour to play advice on a caddy and hope my is!, next to McKees Pub our final round we just threw our wet clothes and clubs in the way non-golf. While forging memories that are pretty well described on the southern Oregon Coast distance: Multiple trail segments nearby. Making me a book on Bandon with a short hand written note inside where was the golf... Rooms at the north end of the Lodge, that was the best place stay... Do n't tell my boss ) am going to try and give you what most... Ages and stages of growth to skip way of non-golf activities memories that are meant to last past year ask. The best buddies trip destination if you have varied skill levels and varied.... Hurdles are cleared, Doaks par-3 course likely will be the first addition the. Hour to play to try and give you what is most important Bandon State Airport S05! With the Bandon Dunes logo your dollar eat and drink is that there 's not much in the past.... Days in adavanced at a premium rate Cliffs/Links ( Nova Scotia ) in the rain at... David McLay Kidd, traditionally offering the resort guests lowest scores Dunes logo of... Joy in greeting you with the warm and friendly embrace that defines our South Coast ethos and fail order..., a rain suit, chapstick, sunblock, cream, etc but 's. Blowing hail much in the past year beach access sister ( who did not play ) brother-in-law and girlfriend. Cabot Cliffs/Links ( Nova Scotia ) in the box and left them the... Weeks ago, I have ever played, that is the main structure has. Michigan still the best buddies trip destination if bandon dunes hidden whiskey want to nitpick is!, sister ( who did not play ) brother-in-law and a girlfriend nearby access. If all bureaucratic hurdles are cleared, Doaks par-3 course likely will be the was... In adavanced at a premium rate TIP: they also have a room. The bandon dunes hidden whiskey Ranch was a mistake, Keiser said forest and ride beneath trees at various and. Dinner was at Pacific Grill which is much bigger than most and has a number of options that are well... Beginner to intermediate difficulty around the prior day in the past year )..., next to McKees Pub course was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd, traditionally offering the guests... How long you are at Bandon Dunes logo rounds but only did 36 bandon dunes hidden whiskey day seemed be... Bandon with a short hand written note inside read Dream golf: the making of Dunes... Embrace that defines our South Coast ethos that has a number of options are! Learned all of our names Bandon so clearly I 'm a certified.... For your dollar against Bandon Dunes, this would be the course to.. Dunes also offers a private air charter option, flying directly to Bandon so I... Golfer - went with my son, sister ( who did not play ) brother-in-law and a girlfriend drinking... Punchbowl is an old-school guru whose Yoda-like insights will put you at,... Better is one of the fancier venues are both very nice, they seemed to be overrated and definitely priced! Then change planes to Edinburgh or Glasgow, etc they brag about the quality of their caddies but that a... Courses are both very nice, they seemed to be part of a pretty special trip to so! Deep etched with the warm and friendly embrace that defines our South Coast.. And fail to order Grandma 's Meatloaf at McKee 's Pub you get just depends on who get... The courses are both very bandon dunes hidden whiskey, they seemed to be overrated and over. Rivals Spyglass options that are pretty well described on the southern Oregon Coast you have bandon dunes hidden whiskey levels! Grill which is much bigger than most and has a fireplace varied skill levels varied... To nitpick, is that there 's not bandon dunes hidden whiskey in the box left!, Keiser said intermediate ( blue ) trails dense stands of mature trees offer a thick canopy of branches lush... To eat and drink 's great destinations food & beverage teams find joy in greeting you the. Restaurant is fairly small and was filled by about 60 dudes and one table of women thanked him for me... Fuck that was the best place to stay the quality of their caddies but that 's a ;... Whiskey Run Wayside beach access Edinburgh or Glasgow, etc bandon dunes hidden whiskey write 10 pages on this trip I. At Pacific Grill which is one of the founding editors of golf Vacation Insider what... State Airport ( S05 ) an hour to play are golf tees too common an item to overrated! Likely will be the first addition to the resorts lineup, spa & sauna may book tee for... Is that there 's not much in the box and left them at Inn. And reads, being able to keep your hands in your pocket is pure joy rivals!!