Had an incredible time at Bandon. It's everything people say it is and more. Incredible golf, some good food and lodging. A bucket list trip that everyone should make. Had great weather and a little Bandon weather ( hailed on me at Old Mac). Just go.
All five courses are different and have their strong points.
Here is my ranking:
1. Bandon Dunes
2. Trails
3. Pacific Dunes
4. Old Mac
5. Sheep Ranch

Very nice!

Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I'll be there in August for a trip that we booked in December of '21!

I've watched (and my wife has sat through) every YouTube video at Bandon 6 times over. I don't know who is more excited for me to go.

What did you love about trails? That was the consensus bottom of all of our lists (bottom is relative) because it felt like a course that could be in Texas while the rest felt like another world

colten.c said:

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What did you love about trails? That was the consensus bottom of all of our lists (bottom is relative) because it felt like a course that could be in Texas while the rest felt like another world

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It was in the best shape of any course. I've played in the pine trees here in Texas but these trees were so huge and unlike any other course I've played. It was a great routing, like walking in the woods and let's play some golf too. You don't see very many other golfers as you play. Also a very quiet round because you are sheltered from the wind some.
Best set of par threes on the property. My top three are all very close but having to choose that's why I put Trails #2.

When were you there?

Super Bowl weekend right before they had that huge snowstorm.

cb1919 said:

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Great pics. Thanks for sharing. I'll be there in August for a trip that we booked in December of '21!

I've watched (and my wife has sat through) every YouTube video at Bandon 6 times over. I don't know who is more excited for me to go.

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I did too! Everything is really close together except Sheep Ranch it's a few minutes drive to get there. You will love it I have to make it back someday.

Glad you had a good time. One of my favorite places.

My most recent rankings are:

1. Bandon
2. Pacific
3. Trails
4. Old Mac

Haven't gotten to play Sheep Ranch yet.

My buddy and I were there this week. We played back to back on Pacific on Monday. Weather was decent. A little bit of rain and chilly but not too much wind.

Woke up to heavy rain with a little snow mixed in on Tuesday and a forecast for 1.5-2" of rain on Wednesday. We called an audible and went to San Diego.

Trails is my favorite as well. Love that course.

DallasAggie89 said:

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Trails is my favorite as well. Love that course.

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Same here.

And there is NO WAY that course looks and feels as if it is in Texas.

I go Bandon #2, Pacific #3, Old Mac #4.

Haven't played Sheep.

My thoughts too I've never played anything like Trails. Loved it.

That's the beauty of bandon. Not a bad course out there. I loved all the ocean courses with shots along the cliff, over the gorse, etc. But ranking something number 5 is relative out there. Might still be in my all time top 10

colten.c said:

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That's the beauty of bandon. Not a bad course out there. I loved all the ocean courses with shots along the cliff, over the gorse, etc. But ranking something number 5 is relative out there. Might still be in my all time top 10

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Something about playing the last 4 holes on Bandon, coming into the Clubhouse on 18, people having cocktails watching you come in, and.......

you thin a pitch and then 4 putt.

It can be a tough pitch from that downslope.

First time out there I two putted for birdie from about 90 yards.

I love links golf.

I love Bandon because everyone ranks them differently and it's hard to argue. There's no consensus other than Old Mac being down the ladder which ironically is my #2.

1. Pacific. Fired a 75 with a double on 18.
2. Old Mac. Played with hardly any wind. 78
3. Bandon. Last day. Was tired. Could easily be number one had it been first day and the 75.
4. Trails. Greens were terrible in 2017.

Yesterday said:

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I love Bandon because everyone ranks them differently and it's hard to argue. There's no consensus other than Old Mac being down the ladder which ironically is my #2.

1. Pacific. Fired a 75 with a double on 18.
2. Old Mac. Played with hardly any wind. 78
3. Bandon. Last day. Was tired. Could easily be number one had it been first day and the 75.
4. Trails. Greens were terrible in 2017.

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If I was a long hitter and better golfer overall I would probably rank Pacific number one too. I've never hit so many four irons in a round in my life. Couldn't get out of a couple bunkers. It's just a tough golf course. Old Mac surprised me because I had read all the negative stuff and I don't get it. It was fun to play and had way more elevated tees and shots to elevated greens than I would have thought. Definitely seemed the most linksy of the courses to me.

1. Pac
2. Sheep
3. BD
4. Trails
5. Old Mac

I bet if I played again, my rankings would change. Loved them all.

AgOutsideAustin said:

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Yesterday said:

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I love Bandon because everyone ranks them differently and it's hard to argue. There's no consensus other than Old Mac being down the ladder which ironically is my #2.

1. Pacific. Fired a 75 with a double on 18.
2. Old Mac. Played with hardly any wind. 78
3. Bandon. Last day. Was tired. Could easily be number one had it been first day and the 75.
4. Trails. Greens were terrible in 2017.

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If I was a long hitter and better golfer overall I would probably rank Pacific number one too. I've never hit so many four irons in a round in my life. Couldn't get out of a couple bunkers. It's just a tough golf course. Old Mac surprised me because I had read all the negative stuff and I don't get it. It was fun to play and had way more elevated tees and shots to elevated greens than I would have thought. Definitely seemed the most linksy of the courses to me.

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That's interesting. #4 and #7 are beasts but overall I don't feel like length helps a lot on Pacific. Long and safe usually leaves a very challenging approach. Greens are pretty accessible from the right position but you can't get into the right position without hitting toward some danger.

Also I think it plays quite a bit easier with the wind from the south. Makes the hard holes harder, but makes some of the easier holes MUCH easier.

AgOutsideAustin said:

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Yesterday said:

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I love Bandon because everyone ranks them differently and it's hard to argue. There's no consensus other than Old Mac being down the ladder which ironically is my #2.

1. Pacific. Fired a 75 with a double on 18.
2. Old Mac. Played with hardly any wind. 78
3. Bandon. Last day. Was tired. Could easily be number one had it been first day and the 75.
4. Trails. Greens were terrible in 2017.

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If I was a long hitter and better golfer overall I would probably rank Pacific number one too. I've never hit so many four irons in a round in my life. Couldn't get out of a couple bunkers. It's just a tough golf course. Old Mac surprised me because I had read all the negative stuff and I don't get it. It was fun to play and had way more elevated tees and shots to elevated greens than I would have thought. Definitely seemed the most linksy of the courses to me.

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I can learn you how to get out of those bunkers.

But if you had that many 4 irons (why the **** do you still carry a 4 iron, who do you think you are) perhaps you should've played forward tees.

HouAggie said:

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1. Pac
2. Sheep
3. BD
4. Trails
5. Old Mac

I bet if I played again, my rankings would change. Loved them all.

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Me too. I liked Sheep but felt like some of the holes were kinda fit in because they had limited space to build the course. I loved the infinity greens and all the greens right on the ocean but the greens themselves were in rough shape. Caddies said they were originally fescue but now they are letting the poa anna take over and there's not a lot of either one really. It's the newest course so it needs some time to develop I guess.

I played the green tees.

With 10 rounds to split there I think I go:

3 Pac
3 sheep
2 bandon
1 mac
1 trails.

What I don't love about trails is that the creativity and options aren't there like with the others. The shots and the shapes are very clearly outlined for you. It's a matter of hitting the shots. That's less interesting to me than the others.

I thought sheep was on the most acreage?

The Milkman said:

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I thought sheep was on the most acreage?

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Not sure but I remember Mr. Keiser saying that it was going to be hard to fit 18 holes there but Crenshaw and Coore made it work.

Definitely less bump and runs or long putts from off the green at Trails. More of an air game there vs ground game.

The Milkman said:

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With 10 rounds to split there I think I go:

3 Pac
3 sheep
2 bandon
1 mac
1 trails.

What I don't love about trails is that the creativity and options aren't there like with the others. The shots and the shapes are very clearly outlined for you. It's a matter of hitting the shots. That's less interesting to me than the others.

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I can't judge Sheep Ranch since I've never played it. But on the other four I think I go:

3 Bandon
3 Trails
2 Pacific
2 Mac

I rank Pacific ahead of Trails but my rounds on Trails are usually very peaceful. 11-13 is one of my favorite stretches on the property.

I went just under three years ago. My wife joined me on the trip and even had the greatest experience ever. We drove down from Portland and made a pit stop at Tillamook, a must do. She ended up walking Sheep Ranch with me because she enjoyed the views so much. Unfortunately, many amenities were closed at the time due to COVID, but the pro is that she wants to go back to experience it all. Thanks to Netflix's Full Swing, she is even into golf now and a Scottie Scheffler fan since he is from Dallas and a Christian.

This was also my first time ever playing with a caddie which took the experience to an entire new level. We had so much fun just talking, but her ability to give me an aiming point during putts made things a blast to see if I could sink a putt from distance.

We got our first baby on the way next week, but I would definitely be down for a TexAgs Bandon trip in the future.