How to Prep for the Golf Trip of a Lifetime to Bandon Dunes

“Golf as it was meant to be….” Pretty sweet tagline - and it’s a fitting description. Perhaps no golf destination in the world has gotten more press and props than Bandon Dunes since golf’s COVID resurgence. Frankly, lots of people are sick of hearing about the place - but I often find that the people with that opinion have never experienced the resort in person. Most times, when you run into someone that has been there, you get lost in a long conversation swapping stories about how absolutely incredible it is…

I’ve had the good fortune of making nine different trips to the resort - starting in 1999 when only the OG course was around. It has gotten better every trip as Bandon expands and adds courses (with more on the way in the new Shorty’s Par 3, and the course south of the main resort). I’ve gone to most of the major resorts in the country, and played overseas, but I always find myself going back to Bandon. It truly is a special place. But rather than bore you with why I think that, I thought it would be more useful to share some tips in case you’re planning your first venture. I always take guys that have never been to the resort, and I always end up answering the same questions and giving the same tips…..so here are several little nuggets that should help make your first visit a great experience.

3-Club Wind Bandon Tips:

1. Shoes - Bring multiple pairs of golf shoes (including at least 1 pair of waterproof golf shoes) and multiple pair of socks.  When you head to the morning t-time, have 2 pair of shoes and 2 pair of socks with you. You will leave one pair of shoes/socks at the caddie stand in a bag they provide.  Change both your shoes and your socks between rounds (you won’t have time to go back to your room between rounds).  Your feet will thank you.  While walking with a Caddie is the greatest way to play golf - it’s still a lot of walking, and you don’t want to get a blister during the first round!

2. Caddies - One of the really cool things about Bandon is that your caddie will be on your bag for the entire week - so it’s just like you’re a Tour Pro.  (I’ve had the same caddie at Bandon for 14 years!) They get to know your game very quickly, and get pretty good about picking the right clubs for you.  In fact, don’t even bring your range finder - you won’t need it - it’s pretty meaningless at Bandon.  The caddie will figure out all yardages for you and pick your club.  I don’t even ask how far anymore - he just hands me a club.  Initially they may ask you, “What do you hit 150?” (Even though we are only 100 out into the wind).  Learn your distances for each club before the trip, and be honest about how far you hit each club - that will allow the caddie to give you the right stick.  There will be times they hand you a club and you think they’re nuts - either 2 clubs too much or 2 clubs too little…..but trust them - the wind and the lay of the land make your yardages meaningless.  And there are plenty of times they want you to land it 30 yards short of the green because it’s going to roooooolllll! Perhaps my favorite thing is when you are 200 yards out from the green, you hit your approach but can’t see the green or where it ended up….and the caddie hands you the putter for the walk up - because they know.

3. Low, low, low - Learn how to play the ball on the ground.  As the caddies will tell you fairly quickly - “Putter is ALWAYS an option at Bandon.”  Other than a Sand/Lob wedge to get out of a green side bunker, you may not use your wedges much at all (except for FULL shots from far out).  I’m not exaggerating when I say you can putt from 50-100 yards out in some cases.  You will have far more success with getting your putter close than sticking a wedge on these courses. Practice your bump and run shots with PW, 9, 8, 7, 6 Irons - you can bump and run a lot out there.  I personally do not be take my 60 degree wedge - there is simply no place to use it there.  Between the tight lies (think chipping off your driveway) and the extreme wind (we have had guys hit a lob wedge that actually came backwards at them) - you simply don’t need a 60 degree or greater unless that is your sand club (there are a lot of bunkers with heavy sand.) Speaking of bunkers and sand wedges - make sure the one you bring for getting out of the sand has plenty of bounce - that you will need.

4. What to wear??? The answer can change from round to round….or even hole to hole, lol.  My standard attire in 9 prior trips is long pants, golf shirt, vest. (Every one of my trips has been late July)  One trip I even wore shorts with a long sleeve pullover.  On the range before the first round it is often CRISP - pants and long sleeves.  The rounds often start off foggy and cool, and get sunny and warm. Afternoon rounds can get WINDY - I’m talking 25-45 mph on Old Mac or Sheep Ranch. Evenings after dinner when the sun goes down get very cool again. Here is the big caveat though….it can rain at any time.  I have gotten VERY lucky with sun every trip I’ve been there - but fall and winter can be wet.  I bring two sets of rain gear just in case - with one set being actual Gore Tex jacket and pants.  Hopefully you get lucky and you never need it - but you’ll be miserable if it rains and you don’t have it. You play no matter what - sideways rain, wind, whatever…but that makes the experience even more memorable. Jeans and a golf shirt and warm jacket are perfectly acceptable all over the resort.

5. Things not to forget:

   1. Sunscreen - even though it could be 60 and cloudy - between 36 in the sun and the wind - your face and neck will get fried.  Wait til you see the leathernecks on the caddies.

   2. Lip Balm/Chapstick - same reason as above.

   3. Rain Gear - hope you don’t need it, but if you do….hat, pants, top, shoes, gloves.

   4. Camera - obviously your phone - but make sure you clear out your memory so you have plenty of space - you’re going to want 1,000 pictures.

   5. Hat - between the wind and the sun……

   6. Body Glide - for those of you that cycle you know what I’m talking about.  Apply this stuff liberally and your parts will thank you after 36 holes per day.

   7. Warm jacket - temps drop pretty good at night - so definitely a fleece jacket/pullover of some sort - unless you plan to buy one of the sweet logo ones there.

   8. Extra money for the pro shop - they have so much cool logo merchandise it’s ridiculous.  Almost impossible to not spend a few bills in those (one at each course).

6. Things you probably don’t need to bring:

   1. Leave the umbrella at home - you can’t use it out there in that wind.

   2. 60 or 64 degree wedge - unless that’s what you use out of the sand - but they are pretty useless off the fairways (sooo tight).

   3. Rangefinder - numbers are meaningless in that wind, and caddies will give you all the yardages.

   4. Any extra junk in your bag - the caddies will pull out anything you don’t really need and leave it in a bag at the pro shop - so you might as well clean out your golf bag and pull out that year-old peanut butter sandwich.

   5. Cart bag - if you have a stand bag/carry bag, bring that.  If your bag sucks the caddies will swap it out for another one that’s easier to carry.  They will NOT carry a cart bag or a bag that doesn’t have a good stand.

7. Meds -Aleve….bring lots and lots of Aleve - I pop them like candy walking 36-holes a day.

8. Souvenirs - For me, this place is like walking into Costco…..I can’t walk out without spending $500. It will be tempting to go into the Pro Shop at the main Lodge (where you check in, pick up your clubs if you shipped them, and where Bandon Dunes golf course is located) and drop your entire budget.  However - keep in mind that each course has a Pro Shop at the first tee where we check in for that course.  And each Pro Shop carries slightly different merchandise. (What you see at one place you might not see at the other.)

   I try to check out all the shops first before buying too much.  First trip I made the mistake of buying a shit ton in the Bandon Pro Shop, blew my whole budget, then saw some even cooler stuff at the Pacific Dunes shop.  There is also a gift shop inside the Lodge itself.  So there are at least 5 different Pro Shops to check out.

   Pace yourself……

9. Caddie Fees - Caddies will be double bag at Bandon - so they carry two bags each.  Your caddie stays with you all week.

   Caddie fee is $100 PER PERSON, PER ROUND.  So each day, the caddie fee will be $200 per man for the 36 holes, that you will pay directly to the caddie yourself.  The $100 fee is the base rate.  Tipping is on top of that, and is customary if they have done a good job. Expect to tip $50/round for better, more experienced caddies.  I know it sounds like a lot - but trust me, these guys will work for their money, and carry your bag for over 12 miles each day, rake your bunkers, pull your clubs, give you the line, give you the distance if necessary, pull the flag if you want, find your lost balls, read your putts, and motivate the hell out of you.  They are worth every penny, and will save you at least 5 strokes each round. You can pay in cash if you like - but the easiest way is to pay for the caddie in the pro shop of the course you are playing, and they will give you the cash to give to them and charge the amount to your room. (At least that is how I’ve done it historically.) That way I don’t have to carry a bunch of cash around. It is also customary to offer to buy the caddie a drink/snack/lunch at the turn shack.  This usually amounts to a Gatorade/water and a sandwich or something.  The golfers are usually grabbing a shot of something a little stronger

10. Enjoy the walk - These are crazy times.   While I always look forward to any golf trip, I look forward to Bandon more than any others. Not only is it “Golf as it was meant to be…” - it’s life as it was meant to be - peaceful, serene, and filled with days of joy and wonder. You will finding yourself looking out over an infinity green at the Pacific Ocean in a daze….and it may be sunny, it may be howling wind, it may be raining sideways - but you are going to have a grin ear to ear. Bandon is simply good for your soul.

    Tell the office you’re unreachable, turn off the cell phone, and use it only for all the photos and videos you’re going to want to take.  Drink some cocktails.  Eat all you want without guilt - you are going to walk it all off.  You are going to sleep very well.

    Don’t worry about your score. If you’ve never played true links golf (Scotland/Ireland), it will be an adjustment.  It will make you giddy - but you will be hard pressed to play to your handicap right away.  And if the wind is whipping - forget it.  Just hit shots you’ve never played before and laugh your ass off.  You will hit some terrible shots….and you will hit some incredible ones.

    Enjoy the company of good friends - this is perhaps what I look forward to the most. Watching a newbie’s face the first time they see the resort, see the courses, putt from 100 feet, hit a driver 150 yards into the wind, then hit it 300 on the next hole with the wind, see them hit a shot at the Preserve, watch them hit a triple break putt at the Punchbowl.  I’ve taken so many guys to Bandon for the first time - and the atmosphere is like a kid on Christmas Day every time.

Teachers I’m digging

While I am not a golf pro or teacher, I’m a decent player that’s been at it for quite awhile. I’ve been as high as an 18 hcp when I first started playing, and as low as a +.4 during a hot run. I currently hover between scratch and a 2 hcp. One thing I like to do is tinker and constantly chase that elusive improvement. I’ve gone on way too many YouTube binges looking for answers, and often that creates many more problems than it solves. There are, however, a few YouTube instructors that I follow and think have a really good way of teaching the swing. One of my favorites is Milo Lines. His mantra of “Swing Like an Athlete” resonates with me, and I think he’s pretty good at communicating that message. Give him a look…