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Just returned from 3rd trip to Bandon (2017).
The comments of Mike O are pure East coast arrogance. This string of thoughts is particularly egregious:
"Pacific was longer and tougher, but isn’t vaguely memorable – I can not recall a single hole.Old Macdonald is ridiculous, just a vast green wasteland with random holes plopped down – but at least it’s memorable (for a lot of absurd sidehill lies, blind shots and greens the size of Texas.) With the wind and fatigue, I couldn’t wait to get off the course."
Either Mike O has no appreciation for the work of Tom Doak, or he's been head-in-the-sand forever. Pacific Dunes has a tapestry of memorable holes with #4 and #13 being perhaps the best coastal golf holes I've played (#13 gets the top nod from me). As for Old MacDonald, if Mike O takes a moment to refresh his understanding of CB MacDonald's golf design effort, then the appreciation of Old MacDonald becomes even that much greater. Tom Doak and Jim Urbina have done an admirable job bringing to life a reflection of CB MacDonald's golf influence.

Btw, I have also played Sand Valley(WI) and Cabot Cliffs/Links(Nova Scotia) in the past year. Both are destinations that the true golf addict should make the effort to enjoy.

I just returned from my 14th trip to Bandon so clearly I'm a certified Bandonista. However, I've been lucky enough to have played 16 links courses in east Scotland (many of them Open rota courses) and my overwhelming thought each time I stepped out onto a different Scottish links course was that "This is just like Bandon". Of course the Scottish courses were here first, so a more accurate statement would be "Bandon is just like here". I guess what I am hoping to add is that the seaside courses at Bandon Dunes are an almost exact replication of their linksland ancestors across the pond. If one were to write a review strictly about the golf, I honestly cannot see how he could draw a stark difference between playing Old MacDonald vs North Berwick, or Bandon Dunes vs Royal Aberdeen. They are all fantastic links golf courses with all the playing characteristics of such. For my money, and being a west coast guy, Bandon Dunes is extremely hard to beat.

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I get a little of what Mike O is saying relative to a factory.From a nose in the air and cost standpoint some of the rota courses are stuffy and underwhelming. RCD is spectacular, but...can be unaccommodating. Silgo area is my favorite. 3 days at Dornach in shorts and a consistent 2 club breeze with a flask of the local beverage. I've played Bandon seven different trips (live in Colorado) from when they first opened ($100 to stay in the lodge & $60 rounds w/ $30 replays) to last year. Always a great time. We do like to go into Bandon or Coos Bay for dinner and drinks a night or two. Looking forward to Cabot next September. Streamsong's courses are great, but it just doesn't do it for me. Crazy expensive, just my $0.02. Northern Michigan still the best buddies trip destination if you have varied skill levels and varied budgets. Wed-Sun after Labor days is optimal.

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Wow - Don't listen to Mike O, the guy clearly is clueless. He had some caddie issue and turned it into a rant. Bandon Dunes is a place every golfer should go to. It is not a place to bring your wife, as it's not a cutesy place like the Pebble Beach area. There are a few restaurants in a nearby town, but this is a golfers dream spot.

What it has is 4 really good courses, and 3 of them show up on almost everyone's top 100 list. They added a par 3 course The Preserve which is expensive but perfect for the second round of your day. It's only 13 holes, grab a beer and a couple of clubs and enjoy.

The greens have always been in private course condition when I have visited in May-October. Be prepared for the weather I have played in shorts and the next day in full rain gear. No golf carts allowed, so be prepared to walk. They have plenty of caddies and you can have them do as much as you want (read putts and call the shots) or just carry the bag. Your the boss.

The pubs will not compare to those in Ireland & Scotland but they do have plenty of restaurants serving pints and good pub food, and of course great seafood and steaks. Once you arrive they have shuttle busses to take you everywhere on the property, and despite what Mike said, they have customer service guys standing out front to take care of everything. This is a well managed place, and a great buddy trip location.

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Visited Streamsong in Sept. Very warm and humid. Rain two of four days. (just described most of FL).

While the courses are both very nice, they seemed to be overrated and definitely over priced. Rumor has it they have a golf package; but nothing that fit our needs. The rooms at the Lodge were beautiful and the restaurants were great. They brag about the quality of their caddies but that's a myth; just depends on who you get. Forecaddies don't forecaddie but ride on the back of the carts. And don't ask them to carry your putter; you'd think it was kryptonite. Probably for the better; might drop one or two trying to hold on to the cart.

Would only go back if that's where the guys were going for their buddie trip. Otherwise wait until 2017 when the bloom was off the rose and everyone has had a chance to visit. New Black course will be ready in '17 as well.

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Great article. Thinking of staying offsite when visiting Brandon in 2016. Can some one tell me if it is still the case that you cannot book a tee time before 10am there unless you stay on site? Would probably sway my choice. Thanks!

Try the east coast of Canada for links golf, close and good value for your dollar.

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For those of you on the east coast, you now have Streamsong in central Florida for a nice links type layout. I've played Bandon, Pebble/Spanish/Spyglass, Torrey Pines, Whistling/Irish courses in Kohler, Erin Hills as well as the Old Course, Carnoustie, Glenn Eagles in Scotland and Old Head, Tralee, Ballybunion and Killarney in Ireland, and Streamsong compares pretty favorably. Only an hour from Orlando or Tampa, you'd never know you were in central Florida (except for the summer heat). Two great courses and another under construction. Good caddies and a nice hotel and restaurants...fishing, shooting and a spa but nothing else nearby...

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I can find much to agree with in Mike's assessment of Bandon since it has become so popular. I am in awe however at Mr. Keiser's boldness and marketing savvy. His courses play into the changing attitude and environmental concerns that have made "brown the new green". The irony is that all the private club golfers who wax romantic about Bandon would fire their superintendent if their home club imitated those conditions. I can't recall the exact trajectory of fees since its opening, but the value for the golfer has been impacted greatly since my early visits.
Since Mike is on the east coast, I certainly understand his preference for the historic links of the UK and Ireland which I have been fortunate enough to experience. I would suggest that for high golf IQ fellows like Mike a trip to Melbourne's sand belt and Mornington Peninsula ( as well as Tasmania) would be a worthwhile goal. For us on the west coast (SF),we take one 14 hour flight. For Scotland we go 9-10 hours to London, and then change planes to Edinburgh or Glasgow, etc. Once in Melbourne, you can count on mild weather and almost a dozen great tracks fairly close together. On our last trip, we stayed at the Victoria club house and our longest drive was ten kilometers until we went down to the Mornington peninsula which was about 60 miles. Some quality golf around Sydney, but nowhere near the number of good choices of Melbourne.

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From the East Coast - Female golfer - went with my son, sister (who did not play)brother-in-law and a girlfriend. We played 4 rounds but only did 36 one day. If I were to do it again, I would play 36 at least twice (the female golfers I vacation with don't normally do 36 a day on golf trips and I was concered about how I would hold up - especially walking the entire time). Enjoyed every minute of it. I'm sure a lot of it had to do with the fabulous weather we had at the beginning of June. We did not stay on the resort because I didn't care for the accommodation with the odd number(we rented a house on the beach on VRBO in Bandon) but my interaction with the staff was outstanding. Everyone was so friendly and willing to help in any way. Shout out to my caddie Gary Moore for making me a better player out there. I have not been to Scotland or Ireland so I can't compare but with a 13 handicap I think I did pretty well. I have been to Pebble and Pinehurst and I put Bandon right up there with them. As for being held captive, I'm assuming that you all rent a car either in North Bend or Portland so you should have the freedom to leave the property and explore the area. I drove down from Portland (4 hours) because of a family wedding and didn't have any issues. I suppose if I went at a different time of year when they days weren't so long things might have been a little different.