Two nights and two rounds to determine whether the full pilgrimage belongs on the calendar.
3 Days
Long Weekend
$800–$1500/person
2
Moderate
This itinerary is for the golfer who is already on the Oregon coast and has two days to spare. Perhaps the trip began in Portland or Bend and the route south passes through Bandon's orbit. Perhaps a weekend on the coast was the plan and the golf is the addition rather than the purpose.
Drive into Bandon from the north via Highway 101 or from the east via Highway 42. If arriving from Portland, the drive takes roughly four hours and 20 minutes.
Morning round at Sheep Ranch. The contrast with Pacific Dunes from the day before is immediate and instructive.
Check out and continue south on Highway 101 toward Gold Beach and the California border, or reverse north toward Florence, Newport, and Portland. Groups heading south with time should consider a stop at Cape Blanco Lighthouse (40 minutes south), Oregon's oldest continuously operating lighthouse at the westernmost point in the contiguous United States.
Two nights is tight by Bandon standards, but it works for the golfer who accepts the limitations and focuses on the best the resort offers. Pacific Dunes and Sheep Ranch, played back to back, provide a clear picture of the resort's character: the precision of Doak's architecture and the naturalism of Coore and Crenshaw's approach, both expressed on coastal terrain that has no American equivalent.
A rental car is essential for the duration of this trip. Day guest tee times, for golfers not staying on-resort, are available April through mid-November after 10:00 AM and can be booked up to 21 days in advance. The premium over resort guest rates is $50 to $75 per round. For groups uncertain about committing to on-resort lodging for just two nights, day guest rates keep the trip viable while staying at the Best Western or Bandon Inn.
The two rounds played here will determine the answer to a single question: is the full five-night trip worth the investment? The answer, for the golfer who values design and walking and does not mind the wind, is almost always yes.
$800–$1500
per person
3 Days
2 nights
2
courses included