First Time Tips
Just got back from my first time in Bandon Dunes. I think Pinehurst is the Disney Land of golf, and now know that Bandon is the center of the world for golf psychos. The place was incredible and we had good weather (no rain, and yes it was windy, but not as bad as it could be). Here are a few things that I would recommend, not in any specific order.
Quick note: we played/walked 36/36/18. We did get shorty's in the day we arrived, and not counting the preserve.
1- The order of the courses you play wont really matter, but I think the order we played was perfect. Old Mac/Pacific Dunes day one. Bandon Dunes/ Trails day two. Sheep Day 3. Every course will be your favorite course while you are playing it, but after reflection, Old Mac was a good course, and if I played it after any of the other, I would not have enjoyed it as much as I did.
2- Buy or Bring a water bottle that you can refill. And refill or get water any chance that you can. Other than the halfway houses and a few water stations, not a whole lot out there. Sheep Ranch has almost none on the course. And while you're at it, bring a snack of some sort
3- The shuttle service is fantastic, but if you have a car, I would take it to the range and the courses. On the days we played 36, we had an hour or less between tee times. It was easy to throw our stuff in the car and head to the next course without waiting or hoping one was available. If you are only playing one round or popping around the resort, take the shuttle.
4- Caddies. Get a caddy. We had Suge and Castles (aka Chris and Jason). These guys were elite, and turned a great trip into an amazing trip. I would get them every time I go back. There is a lot of golf without a caddy (people carrying or using a push cart), which is great, and hopefully they have played the courses before. I can say that between the four of us over fives rounds, they saved each of us an average of 2-3 shots a round. Pay the fee, tip them well... it will significantly improve your experience.
5- Keep pace with the group in front. Seems obvious. Our longest round was 4:40, shortest was sub-4:05. The difference. The long round the group in front was 1-2 holes behind all day (no caddy with them, so see above), the shortest was a group that kept pace with the group in front of them. There are times where it stacks up, part of any course, but don't be that guy/gal holding up the entire course. Note, course rangers wont do too much to speed people up IMO. Don't be that group!
Also, don't show up late to the tee box. The 440 group was 6 minutes late, but ensured us that they "play really fast."
6- Socks. Put an extra pair in your bag in case of weather. 100% change socks (and shoes if you can) between rounds. Just bring socks.
7- Play the right tees. The scorecard shows the yardages as being comparatively short. It plays way longer than the number says. Your 6200 yard course back home is not a good comparison. You'll love the first time you hit your 170 club no more than 100 yards.
8- Play an extra club. You'll be tired, wind is tough, whatever it is. just hit the extra club
9- Wedge Trajectory. If there is one thing that I wish I would have worked on more, or at all, was practicing flighting my wedges more.
10- Head into downtown Bandon if you have time. The place is really cool, and has some charm. Arcade bar has $3 beers and a good scene.
11- We stayed at Bandon Inn the night before our first round (lodging wasn't available the night we arrived). It was clean and quiet, which is all we needed.
12- Bring cash and tip people on property. Everything from the caddy master, the shuttle drivers, caddies, bartenders, etc. Yes you can put almost anything on the room, but the guy/gal who delivers your bags cant get anything from that.
13- The main lodge has a sauna and jacuzzi. 2 of the 4 of the group went nightly and said it really helped. So yes, bring a swim suit on your trip to Bandon Dunes. The room I stayed in also had a hypervolt which came in very handy.
14- Play one of the short courses. Charlotte's (free next to the driving range) and Shorty's are fun. i took 3 clubs and there wasn't a shot I could not hit. Preserve is fun, but it is real golf shots.
15- We did a lot of the food places, all were good. The steakhouse and Mckee's were my two favorite places we ate at. Honestly, you cannot go wrong. Everywhere is a good place to sit and hang. Tacos at Shorty's were top notch, so was the breakfast sandwich at the range.
Also a few things we didn't get a chance to do, I am sure that many will call me out on things left off this list.
