Yeah - the weather has been nasty here the last few days. And looks like it will stay that wait until maybe Sunday. Hope your room has shoe heaters...and try to dry all your gloves, socks, and clothes in your room as soon as possible, especially if you use them the next day. I had to do that even with the grips on my clubs last time. And maybe have a flask of whiskey handy to help stay warm too!On my way to Bandon, lot of rain and 40 degree weather in the forecast. Woot.
That's awesome. Hope you wagged your finger at him and said "I have a good feeling about this."Just got here and as I'm pulling up to the lodge, there's Ben Crenshaw ripping a butt outside in the rain. This trip was worth it just for that!
Dude, WTF! I've been there like 20 times, including opening day at Old Mac and the only people I've met are the owner and the designer of Old Mac (because it was opening day). You go once and meet Crenshaw? Pretty badass. Is he working or just playing? Not sure if he's involved in the sheep ranch conversion or not.Just saw him in the lodge and shook his hand and talked with him for a min. Best trip ever.
That's exactly why he's here. I asked him if he was playing and he said he was only working on the new course. If he was willing to play, I was all about asking if he'd join me.Dude, WTF! I've been there like 20 times, including opening day at Old Mac and the only people I've met are the owner and the designer of Old Mac (because it was opening day). You go once and meet Crenshaw? Pretty badass. Is he working or just playing? Not sure if he's involved in the sheep ranch conversion or not.
Him and Coore are now sitting next to me at dinner. This is sick. I want to just sit at his table and listen to them talk.You should have had him take you out to the sheep ranch to walk the "course" or maybe play it. It's not an actual golf course, it's like 13 greens and you make your own track. Supposed to be the best part of the whole property. I put off playing out there every time I went and doubt I'll ever get the chance now (until it's a full course, of course).
False, we played 27 holes at Shorty's and I won $6 from the group. Great start to the trip.You've had a mind-bendingly great trip to Bandon already and you haven't even swung a club.
So? Impressions from a Bandon virgin?False, we played 27 holes at Shorty's and I won $6 from the group. Great start to the trip.
7:40 tee time at Bandon Trails tomorrow, hopefully more money in my pocket.
Yeah, the food gets really old after 2 nights. It's great to get a nice steak on night one, then a burger on night 2, and then you just want some kind of damn vegetables. That's the thing they get the most complaints about, for sure.It was great. We played at 730am all four mornings and played Bandon Trails, Old Mac, Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes in that order. The first two days were awful weather and we got pulled off Old Mac after teeing off on 15 because of lightening and marble sized hail (it managed to hail at least once all four days). We got in at 1:30 on Wednesday and we were able to hit the range and Shorty's for a bit; the Preserve was closed because they lost the greens. I was super disappointed in that.
A bunch of guys played 36 both Thursday and Friday, I took the opportunity to dry out my shit and take a couple well needed naps (don't get away by myself very often). Saturday the weather was iffy to start, but it cleared up (after hailing as I was standing over a 6 foot putt worth $12). This ended up being the most enjoyable round of the weekend for me (and one of the most enjoyable rounds of my life). The scenery on Pacific is absolutely amazing. I ended up playing 36 on Saturday with my second round at Old Mac (what a fun course).
My play was pretty consistent overall after the front nine on Thursday. I shot 52 in torrential downpour, in full rain gear and not having played since September. I settled down after that and shot between 40-42 every other nine after that (shooting between 81-83 for the remaining 4 rounds, usually with at least one triple and a few doubles). All in all, very satisfied with my play and extremely satisfied with the courses and the group of guys I went with. We had one guy on the trip bring cases of wine from his 3000 bottle wine cellar and kept our glasses filled up every night.
My only complaint for the whole trip was the food (other than the breakfast buffet). It was delightful at first, but the menu at all of the clubhouses was pretty similar and very heavy, I got sick of eating it by the 3rd and 4th night and ended up just eating the side salad for dinner the fourth night. They need some more variety there, especially for long stays. Next time I might pack some stuff, I'm not a heavy eater.
Oh and did I mention I met Ben Crenshaw? Because I did
Yeah pretty much everyone in my group was pretty meh about the food by the fourth night.Yeah, the food gets really old after 2 nights. It's great to get a nice steak on night one, then a burger on night 2, and then you just want some kind of damn vegetables. That's the thing they get the most complaints about, for sure.
Yeah, I've done it as a twosome all the way up to 24 guys. A foursome at Bandon for 3/4 days is really the perfect sized group. You're with the same guys on all 4 courses and it's just a lot easier to be flexible with your time and plans.Yeah pretty much everyone in my group was pretty meh about the food by the fourth night.
The pro at my course is setting up another trip for next year. I'm not in a huge rush to go back, but I'll probably go next year. I'd almost prefer to go with a smaller group of buddies next time.
Super jealous man. I went about 15 years ago or so right after they opened Pacific and I e been dying to go back. Just an amazing place. And Crenshaw!?!? Did you throw him an ‘I’ve got a feeling...’?It was great. We played at 730am all four mornings and played Bandon Trails, Old Mac, Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes in that order. The first two days were awful weather and we got pulled off Old Mac after teeing off on 15 because of lightening and marble sized hail (it managed to hail at least once all four days). We got in at 1:30 on Wednesday and we were able to hit the range and Shorty's for a bit; the Preserve was closed because they lost the greens. I was super disappointed in that.
A bunch of guys played 36 both Thursday and Friday, I took the opportunity to dry out my shit and take a couple well needed naps (don't get away by myself very often). Saturday the weather was iffy to start, but it cleared up (after hailing as I was standing over a 6 foot putt worth $12). This ended up being the most enjoyable round of the weekend for me (and one of the most enjoyable rounds of my life). The scenery on Pacific is absolutely amazing. I ended up playing 36 on Saturday with my second round at Old Mac (what a fun course).
My play was pretty consistent overall after the front nine on Thursday. I shot 52 in torrential downpour, in full rain gear and not having played since September. I settled down after that and shot between 40-42 every other nine after that (shooting between 81-83 for the remaining 4 rounds, usually with at least one triple and a few doubles). All in all, very satisfied with my play and extremely satisfied with the courses and the group of guys I went with. We had one guy on the trip bring cases of wine from his 3000 bottle wine cellar and kept our glasses filled up every night.
My only complaint for the whole trip was the food (other than the breakfast buffet). It was delightful at first, but the menu at all of the clubhouses was pretty similar and very heavy, I got sick of eating it by the 3rd and 4th night and ended up just eating the side salad for dinner the fourth night. They need some more variety there, especially for long stays. Next time I might pack some stuff, I'm not a heavy eater.
Oh and did I mention I met Ben Crenshaw? Because I did
Bump for this. Weather looking iffy but improving. Friday might be a washout, Sat/Sun looks like 65-70 and overcast with scattered showers.Heading to Pinehurst next weekend. Getting in Friday afternoon, leaving Sunday night. Probably going to do the Cradle on Friday, and at least 18 Saturday/Sunday. Maybe 36 on Saturday depending on weather and such. Hoping to play at least one of #2 and #4, if not both.
Tiger in The Masters famously hit the flag and bounced into the water, followed by an illegal drop. He possibly wins another major if he hits a slightly worse shot there. Or do you mean specifically that it spun back off, not just bounced back off?I went out this morning and wound up playing 11 holes, and I did something I've never done before - I hit a wedge shot from just over 100 yards on a par 4 that hit the flagstick about a foot above the hole, landed two inches away from the cup, and spun back off the green. I think Hunter Mahan was the worst victim of this I can remember, on the 16th hole at Bethpage in 2009 when he was in contention during the final round at the US Open, although I'm probably forgetting someone.
Enjoy the foursome!Bump for this. Weather looking iffy but improving. Friday might be a washout, Sat/Sun looks like 65-70 and overcast with scattered showers.
I'm heading down with my gf (who golfs better than me) and my brother (ditto). Visiting the gfs mom who lives on #5, and my gfs friend is coming up from Charlotte (also played college golf). Playing #5 on Saturday afternoon and #4 on Sunday morning. Weren't any good times for #2 and with the weather we didn't want to play it in potential rain. Really looking forward to #4. Would love to get the Cradle in if possible too. Looking forward to it.
See, I told you I was forgetting someone! Yeah, that's definitely the most famous such incident, although you could argue that Mahan's was more crucial, coming on the 16th hole in the final round rather than the 15th hole in the third round.Tiger in The Masters famously hit the flag and bounced into the water, followed by an illegal drop. He possibly wins another major if he hits a slightly worse shot there. Or do you mean specifically that it spun back off, not just bounced back off?
It's happened to me as well, but more like Tiger's. 18 at Bandon Dunes (on Bandon) I hit my third (par 5) from about 100 out, bounced once, hit the flag stick and it ricocheted hard right, off the green and into the lateral hazard (all gorse so no going in). I don't remember what my score was going into that hole but I'm pretty I has having a good day before making a double I didn't deserve. I should not, flag sticks at Bandon are metal so they don't break in the wind so hitting one is almost always punitive, but usually not as bad as I got.See, I told you I was forgetting someone! Yeah, that's definitely the most famous such incident, although you could argue that Mahan's was more crucial, coming on the 16th hole in the final round rather than the 15th hole in the third round.
Done similar on a short par 4 at Pumpkin Ridge in Portland (#17), except it was from about 40 yards out and was for an eagle. Worst eagle I've ever made.I recall once sculling a shot out of the greenside bunker on a short par 3 into the flag on the flagstick, and then the ball dropping into the hole.
To save par.
My one career ace was on a sculled 8 iron. "Kept it under the wind", I said. Of course, I now tell it as hitting it 10 feet past the hole and spinning it back in.I recall once sculling a shot out of the greenside bunker on a short par 3 into the flag on the flagstick, and then the ball dropping into the hole.
To save par.
My home course for much of my childhood was Atlanta Country Club, which used to play host to the Atlanta Classic - e.g., John Daly won there in 1994. You might remember the 13th hole, a short dropshot par 3 with a covered bridge in the background (shown below); there was a member who very famously made an ace there on a shot that landed on the roof of the bridge and ricocheted back onto the green and into the hole. I'd be hard-pressed to imagine a better "lucky ace" story than that one!My one career ace was on a sculled 8 iron. "Kept it under the wind", I said. Of course, I now tell it as hitting it 10 feet past the hole and spinning it back in.