In photos: Recapping a stormy off-season golf trip to Bandon Dunes Resort
BANDON, Ore. -- Unpredictable spring weather ruined my photography plans at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.
But it didn't dampen the golf. Neither wind nor rain, hail or even snow (farther south along the coast) could ruin a mission to play as much golf as possible on my first trip to golf's most popular resort. My foursome still walked 112 holes of golf in five days, playing all four courses at the resort, plus a round at the Preserve, the 13-hole, par-3 course; followed by a tour of the Sheep Ranch, which is on deck to be transformed into Bandon's next 18 by Gil Hanse.
The weather did, however, hamper my chance to get some great photography in a beautiful place. I didn't dare bring my best camera along during my rounds -- something I've been doing for two decades. It was just too wet and the overcast skies didn't allow for much light. There were no glorious sunsets or sunrises.
Still, I managed to snap some cool golf shots in this photo gallery ... all with my iPhone. You can, too.
Video: Ginella on how to take great golf pictures with your phone
Just remember a couple of tips:
- The foreground is your friend. Taking pictures with a golfer or flag or bunker front and center will look better than trying to capture some panoramic backdrop the lens can't convey.
- Use a photo editor. I tweaked all my photos with Snapseed, a free app with a filter called 'HDR Scape' filter that enhances clouds and stormy dark skies.
A trip in early March is always a dicey proposition. That's why the green fees are still in winter rates ($135 vs. $275). Just don't let the weather ruin your enjoyment of the rounds or your photos.