u/No-Negotiation6602

Just got back from my second trip to Bandon. My first trip is last year. I had the best time ever and here is my review from that trip:

https://www.reddit.com/r/golf/comments/1kdblae/bandon_dunes_report_425/

For this report, I will skip most of the stuff that I already talked about and just mention some new stuff.

- The conditions were spectacular. The greens all ran pretty consistently, the tee boxes were well manicured, the fairways / traps / features were all great.

- We stayed in Chrome Lake cottages, which, coming from a Grove Cottage last year was a bit of a step backwards, but they were really nice, well appointed, great views, and I we were very happy with the price.

- I got a lesson from Grant Rogers on day one, and it was eye opening. For $125, I think it's an amazing trip.

- All the same things as last time: fantastic food, the shuttles are out of control great, the practice facility is the best I've ever been to, our caddy was fire, and everything is clean, efficient, and complete. Our meal at Ghost Tree Grill this time was especially notable.

- Let's get to the golf: My ranking the first time was Bandon, Old Mac, Pacific, Trails, Sheep with the caveats that Trails had recently been aerated and Pacific the wind was absurd in the afternoon and it beat the shit out of us.

On this trip, I liked every course more than I did the first time. Especially Sheep which really feels like a great round of golf, the green complexes are more interesting than I remember, and there are some really cool inland moments (like the 8th green and the 14th tee) that are memorable. However, it still doesn't have the majesty of the other courses.

One thing I realized this time around is that, without any surprises about what was coming next, and because I had seen everything, I was less affected by the views, the individual features, and the specifics, and far more cognizant of how each course made me feel. Obviously, there's a little noise here, right? This can be influenced by how I played, who I was with, what time of day it was, etc. However, I'm cognizant of that and did my best to account for those things. So here's my new observations:

Bandon, which was my #1 ever (over Pebble, Spyglass, Bethpage, etc.) was still incredible and the stretch from 12 - 18 is still my favorite in golf; but it did feel a bit more muted this trip, especially the front. I felt the walks between holes (3 and 4, 5 and 6, 8 and 9) to be more arduous than last time, and i noticed more of the not natural features. It is eminently playable, and it's still one of my favorite courses on planet Earth, but it did not make me feel as much as it did in my first trip.

Pacific, on the other hand, I have a new appreciation for. I think that objectively, in terms of golf course architecture, it might be the best golf course in the country. The routing is amazing, every single hole has something interesting off the tee, in the fairway, and on the green, I think the green sites and greens are incredibly interesting from hole to hole (7!!!), and this time, I found the inland holes, particularly that stretch near the top (1, 2, 7, 6, 8, 9) to be my favorite holes. I noticed more tall trees inland, and thought those connector Par 5s (3, 12, 15), even though the land is less interested, to be incredibly engaging. However, it is so hard, and so penal, and the impact of the ocean holes did less to me this trip. I love this course, but it did not do to me what these next two did.

Old Mac was an absolute show stopper. I remember this course being very big but this time, I noticed things I didn't notice last time. The walk up 3 and the walk up 7 are the two best moments on property. They're my two favorite walks on the course, but this time I found myself having very emotive feelings on the east side of the dune ridge (1, 2, 17, 18). The quiet and peacefulness of those holes is unlike anything else on property. The greens throughout the entire course are so engaging and interesting. I was on the wrong side of the channel on 8, and somehow made a miraculous putt to 3' and made par. I had a great round (with an eagle on 14), and the sun was setting as we moved in to the clubhouse. I will say, that that stretch in the middle (9 -12) does feel a bit muted and takes you down from an incredible high (I actually played fine in that stretch), but overall, I think this course made me feel almost as much as I can feel on a golf course. I will never, ever forget this round, but...

Trails made me feel more. I will also add a disclaimer that we walked 36 Friday and Saturday, then played Trails Sunday morning at 7:30a. I have been battling a minor foot injury for 5 months that I labored through, but the back half of Trails got to me. Walking up the hill on 7 and 9 ended my foot and broke my spirit; however, it couldn't take away from me what Trails was doing to me. Every walk through the woods and reveal meant something to me. And then being in those wide open spaces (3 and 4, 9, 11, 12 and 13, and of course 14 and 15) was so emotional and lovely. I felt awakened in these spaces, and then would play the hole through dramatic elevation changes, big features, and interesting greens, walk through a trail, and have it all open up again. Then you get to 14 for the last 5 holes of your trip, and your foot hurts, and you are 6 over on the last 3 holes (after making the turn at 4 over), and you look out and read the plaque, and everything just takes over again. I can't explain it other than, it made me feel something beautiful for 18 holes, even if the last 4, I was limping and hacking at a ball I could barely hit.

So, that's my new rankings: Trails, Old Mac, Pacific, Bandon, Sheep.

Until October, when I go back.

Has anyone ever gotten a lesson at Bandon and if so, how was it, both in terms of your overall game and specifically to Bandon.

I am going next week (for my second trip) and, on my first trip, I really got beat up by the wind. I've since spent a lot of time practicing low-trajectory, low-spin shots, and I've gotten better, but I can obviously use more help.

But on the other hand, my game can always use a lesson (I'm a 10.3 and I would like to be a 5). I haven't had a one-on-one lesson in twenty years, so I don't know if I want to spend this entire lesson working on 150 yd low 7 irons.

Just wondering what other people's experiences were.

I get 2#s of beans from Trade every two weeks. The brands / varieties are different, but they are all light-to-medium roast. I am wondering how you guys are pulling Aiden profiles for coffees when they change every two weeks. Most of the producers I receive don't have Aiden profiles when I look (unless I'm looking in the wrong place); so I usually find similar-ish profiles from other roasters.

Wondering what everyone else is doing with this issue.