Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Health & Safety Measures . One of the things I find frustrating is when people downplay the fun of Old Macdonald and the absolute perfection of Bandon Trails. (July 7, 2020: This post has been updated to include information on the fifth 18-hole course on Bandon property, the Sheep Ranch, with details and information that will help in planning a trip with a new course to play!). If you prefer to warm up, keep the bags with you and drop by Shorty’s practice area to start each day. A full casino featuring both slots and table games, you’ll find everything you need to help scratch the itch. The Mill Casino, located in North Bend, is only 30 minutes away from the resort. At the time Mike Keiser hired him, Kidd was an unheralded designer in his 20s. He took a bet on David McLay Kidd (a relatively unknown golf course architect) and in 1999 the resort opened with its first golf course – Bandon Dunes – to instant acclaim. Pacific Dunes is the most challenging course on the property. I’ll answer it easily here; take one. Providing some of the best beach views on the property, make sure to add The Preserve to your schedule. In my opinion, there are two options to getting to Bandon Dunes that doesn’t involve a private airplane; flying to Eugene or taking the knuckleball flight directly to North Bend. Get a margarita at the little halfway house, carry your bag, bring a Bluetooth speaker and remember, the only rule at the Preserve is everyone has to hit putter off the tee of the final hole, the 13th. You can take a scenic drive down 101 and take in all the scenery, or stick to I-5 and put the pedal on the ground to trim off some time. Even if the forecast doesn’t call for rain, it’s the Pacific Northwest, and it always seems to find a way to rain. Prepare to Go Low with the Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails, Old Macdonald, Pacific Dunes, and Sheep Ranch Yardage Guides! 6. 8. Personally, I like to do Old Mac/Trails the first day and then Pac/Bandon the next. Don’t forget your sunscreen and lip balm. Folks in Central Oregon, you can hop in the car and, without going thru TSA, be at the resort within a few hours. Your caddie is there and the times are secured and as long as you have golf balls in the bag and a couple of tees in your pocket, you are good to go (how much are things set for the golfer? Each morning we opted to walk from our room to the Lodge for breakfast; we clocked the walk right at 6 minutes. The first course at the resort, Bandon Dunes, opened on May 19, 1999. Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is open to the public. Insider tip, if you’re with a buddy, it’s worth it to all chip in and make sure there is at least one caddie in the group. Pack your rain gear and two pairs of golf shoes. The most economical options are going to have you flying into Portland or Eugene, which is still a 4-hour drive away from the resort. Courtesy of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Go fishing! Hole Locations Local Rules Compare Services. If you’re traveling with the family, this a no brainer, Mount Hood and Hood River are just outside of Portland and feature several waterfalls and excellent hiking trails. You’ll hear people mention the Labyrinth (my good pal Mitch Laurance walks you through it. If you’re lucky enough to live in San Francisco, Denver, or Central Oregon, getting to Bandon Dunes is pretty straightforward. All the rooms at the resort have a fridge where you’ll be able to store plenty of water and drinks. Pack the most comfortable shoes that you HAVE WORN walking a golf course. Sheep Ranch is much like Old Mac in terms of when best to play; the earlier the better. The Eugene option is my preferred way because I feel I can rely on it. I’ve done both a number of times and frankly, I prefer the flight to Eugene. The punch bowl is available free of charge and features a 36-hole layout that anyone can spend hours enjoying. You’ll have to decide what to do with your clubs at the end of each day. Hole # Hole #1 Hole #2 Hole … Insider tip, if you’re playing multiple rounds, be sure to change socks between rounds to help avoid blisters. I couldn’t imagine being a non-golfer staying at Bandon Dunes; the place is a golfing oasis and explicitly designed for golfers. 9-13 is as serene a walk as I’ve ever experienced in all my years playing this goofy game. Insider Tip, Shorty’s is only open Thursday – Sunday when the South Range is closed. You get your bags, your clubs and boom, you’re off. The best option is flying into Denver or San Francisco and hopping onto a connecting flight to North Bend. Starting the round, I posted a photo on social media of Bandon Trails. We found the best way to get what we wanted and at a great price was to make a quick trip into town and hit the Beverage Barn. Insider tip, I recommend buying a 6-pack of Red Bull to help keep you going along with a few snacks. I found it to be a refreshing way to get the day started and allowed me to start working out some of the cobwebs. Before anyone throws me through a plate-glass window, let me make it … Play Shorty’s course. It makes the Bandon Dunes experience a LOT better, plus, you’re playing 36 holes a lot so not having to worry about the bag makes those walks a lot better. If you need transportation to/from any of the airports, I suggest using Aviation Transportation. The drive to Bandon Dunes from the airport is somewhere in the 2.5-hour range, but it’s one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever take and with a direct option into Eugene, ends up being about the same time as connecting in San Francisco or Portland for your North Bend prop. You’ll want to spend most of your time at McKee’s which is what my friends and I do, but the menus elsewhere are so different it’s worth venturing out. Pacific Dunes feels horribly underrepresented for a course that we all agree is at least the second best on the property. The best option on the property is to explore the walking trials. It has some of the most fun holes on the property (the green on No. Insider tip, it’s a bit spicy because of the Thai chilies, so if you don’t like it spicy, you might want to ask for a mild version. You are almost in a golfing daze for a few days, walking from pro shop to pro shop, first tee to first tee knowing that everything of importance to your day is already set. It’s one of the best halfway houses on the planet, so much so that on sunny days when the course isn’t packed, I’ve sat on one of those benches with a buddy and had a couple of beers and just let a group or two go ahead of me. New York Golf Courses . One benefit of flying into Portland is that you’ll have better rental car options and probably save a few dollars renting a full-size SUV or minivan for the trip. 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