Insider Guide to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

After multiple trips to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, we wanted to share our advice and insider tips for getting the most out of your golf trip.  We decided to break up our advice into 5 categories; Getting to Bandon Dunes, Eating & Drinking at Bandon Dunes, Getting Around Bandon Dunes, Bandon Dunes for the non-golfer, and Golf at Bandon Dunes.

Getting to Bandon Dunes

• If you’re lucky enough to live in San Francisco, Denver, or Central Oregon, getting to Bandon Dunes is pretty straightforward.  With direct flights available into North Bend from both San Francisco and Denver, you’re only a short flight away from the nation’s best golf resort.  The drive from North Bend airport to Band Dunes Resort is only 45 minutes.
• Folks in Central Oregon, you can hop in the car and, without going thru TSA, be at the resort within a few hours. 
• Everyone else you have some serious work to do.  The best option is flying into Denver or San Francisco and hopping onto a connecting flight to North Bend.  The most economical options are going to have you flying into Portland or Eugene, which is still a 4-hour drive away from the resort.  One benefit of flying into Portland is that you’ll have better rental car options and probably save a few dollars renting a full-size SUV or minivan for the trip.
• The drive from Portland International Airport to Bandon Dunes is relatively easy. You can take a scenic drive down 101 and take in all the scenery, or stick to I-5 and put the pedal on the ground to trim off some time.
• Insider Tip, if you can, extend your trip to include two nights in the Portland area.  If you’re traveling with the family, this a no brainer, Mount Hood and Hood River are just outside of Portland and feature several waterfalls and excellent hiking trails.  Spend a day going white water rafting or ziplining; it’ll satisfy all the thrill-seekers in your group.
• Another insider tip, taking the trip to Bandon, is one of the most demanding golf trips you’ll ever take.  Try your best to prepare; if you’re not used to walking the course, spend the month before your trip hitting the gym, and walking your home course, I’m sure you’ll thank me afterward.

Eating & Drinking at Bandon Dunes

• Start with a good breakfast at the Lodge. Try to sit at my favorite table in the Tufted Puffin Lounge; it’s the one all the way front center with a view of the 18^th green, the Bandon Dunes practice green, and the first tee.  The Breakfast menu is one of the better values at Bandon; to be honest, they don’t price gauge on food, and for a resort in such a remote location, I found all the food prices to be very reasonable and the food quality exceptional.  The 3-egg omelet is massive; it’s more like 6-eggs. I could only finish half.  The stack of pancakes for $7 is a real bargain, I suggest upgrading for $1 to get fresh hazelnuts, and a healthy topping of Nutella added.  Insider tip, make sure to ask for whipped cream on top; it’s made fresh and the perfect compliment.  If you want to fill up, they have a buffet option for $18 that has all the regular breakfast staples and much more.  When I’m gearing up to walk 36 holes, I like having something in my stomach but be careful not to overdo it.
• The best lunch hands down at Bandon Dunes resort is at Trails End.  As soon as I walked into the clubhouse for my round at Bandon Trails, I knew I needed to come back the next day and try lunch.  The menu has a bit of Asian/American fusion that offers up several great options that will no doubt leave you pleasantly full.  I had the Wagyu sliders, it comes with three nice sized sliders, and you can add on extras at only $4.  The next day, I came back and had the Poke Bowl, which was out of this world.  Insider tip, it’s a bit spicy because of the Thai chilies, so if you don’t like it spicy, you might want to ask for a mild version. Still, the combination of avocado and seaweed salad helped to offset the spice and helped provide a beautiful presentation.
• The best dinner option we found was at McKee’s Pub.  Bandon has three different dining options during our post-COVID-19 visit; McKee’s Pub, Pacific Grill, and the Gallery. McKee’s Pub is just down to earth, and you can show up as you are and easily fit in with the crowd.  Pacific and The Gallery are a little more upscale dining, and if your beat after a day of walking 36 holes, probably not the experience you want. McKee’s features a typical pub menu; great burger, outstanding fish and chips, and the world-famous Grandma’s meatloaf. I’m not a big fan of meatloaf, and I even loved it, be warned it’s a massive plater, and I doubt you’ll be able to finish.
• Insider tip – if you find yourself physically exhausted after walking 36 or even 54 holes and you can’t bring yourself to leave the room, no problem. Just order a 16-inch pizza from McKee’s Pub, they deliver!
• Is anyone thirsty?  Who doesn’t like a lovely spirit or beer after, during, or hell even before a round of golf?  We found the best way to get what we wanted and at a great price was to make a quick trip into town and hit the Beverage Barn.  The Beverage barn has everything you’ll need to satisfy your drinking desires.  They even have 4-packs of fireball shots for only $3.99.  Insider Tip – the beef jerky near the front counter is the best I have had, so moist and juicy, you’ll think you’re eating a filet.
• A couple of more tips, I always like to have water in my hotel room.  At Bandon Dunes, two bottles per day are provided free of charge.  If you just drink a bottle or two a day, you’ll be fine.  If you want more water, I recommend stopping by a grocery store on the way into the resort and stock up. Insider tip, I recommend buying a 6-pack of Red Bull to help keep you going along with a few snacks.  All the rooms at the resort have a fridge where you’ll be able to store plenty of water and drinks.
• On the course, there are no beverage carts, you’ll have one or two chances to hit a snack bar, but I recommend putting a bottle of water in your bag and a snickers bar to help get you through the round without any detours.
• For a local meal, we highly recommend going into Old Bandon, it’s about 10 minutes away from the resort, and all the locals rave about Tony’s Crab Shack.  I lived in San Diego for ten years, so I know a good fish taco, and Tony’s Crab Shack has a phenomenal fish taco.  Their signature dish is the crab sandwich, which is also delicious. I’d stay away from the clam chowder; I thought the bowl of chowder at McKee’s was much better.
• If you love cookies, the snack bar on the golf courses has fantastic cookies. We’re big fans of the chocolate chip and white chocolate chip, but I also heard great things about the peanut butter cookies as well.

Getting Around Bandon Dunes Resort

• The shuttle service is excellent. I stayed at other golf resorts and was always disappointed having to wait up to 20 minutes to be picked up. At Bandon, we always took the shuttle to and from all locations and never waited longer than 3 minutes to be picked up.
• If walking is more your style, the resort is full of walking trails that will get you from one spot to another.  Each morning we opted to walk from our room to the Lodge for breakfast; we clocked the walk right at 6 minutes.  I found it to be a refreshing way to get the day started and allowed me to start working out some of the cobwebs.
• If you rented or drove a car to the resort, you always have the option of driving from point A to point B.  I highly recommend avoiding this; the shuttle service is so good there is no need to drive anywhere on the property.  For those of you flying into North Bend, you might want to weigh the option of taking an Uber from the airport to the resort versus renting a car; it just depends on how many nights you are staying on, which will pay off better.  The bonus of using the shuttle service is you can drink as much you want and not have to worry about getting behind the wheel.
• You’ll have to decide what to do with your clubs at the end of each day.  If you’re fine not warming up, then let the resort deal with the bags and get them to the right course each day.  If you prefer to warm up, keep the bags with you and drop by Shorty’s practice area to start each day.  You shouldn’t need more than 20 minutes, and you’ll be able to loosen up in the morning.  We tried it both ways, and the warm-up proved to be worthwhile and led to better scores over just showing up on the first tee ice cold.
• The new crown jewel of the Bandon Dunes Resort is the Sheep Ranch.  The Coore and Crenshaw design is worth playing, but it’s the newest course at the resort and the furthest from the Lodge. You’ll drive past Old Mac and keep going and going. Don’t worry, you’re not lost, and eventually, you come to a 4-way stop and see the Sheep Ranch signage.  Another reason to take the shuttle, they never get lost.  Make sure to allocate an extra 5-10 minutes when heading over to the Sheep Ranch for your tee time.

Bandon Dunes for the non-golfer

• I couldn’t imagine being a non-golfer staying at Bandon Dunes; the place is a golfing oasis and explicitly designed for golfers.  However, it happens, the wife tags along or just a buddy who is along for the trip, so we’ll do our best to list some options.
• The best option on the property is to explore the walking trials.  The resort has tons of trails that will keep any active walker, jogger, or runner busy for several days.  The trails are easy to follow, the distance is documented, and they even have a labyrinth.
• Take a trip into Old Town Bandon. There are 10 square blocks of shopping, dining, history, art, culture, and outdoor recreation. Spend an hour, or a day, exploring the historic business district located only 10 minutes outside of the resort.
• Go fishing!  There are several lakes on the property where fishing is allowed.  If you’re looking for a full fishing experience, you can hook up with a charter boat in either Old Town Bandon or nearby Coos Bay.
• Go, Gamble!  The Mill Casino, located in North Bend, is only 30 minutes away from the resort.  A full casino featuring both slots and table games, you’ll find everything you need to help scratch the itch.  After trying your luck, they offer several food options, including a buffet that has rave reviews.
• Visit the Punch Bowl, way better than any miniature golf course. The punch bowl is available free of charge and features a 36-hole layout that anyone can spend hours enjoying.  The Punch Bowl is at Pacific Dunes behind the Pacific Grill.  The Punch Bowl opens daily at 2 pm and gets busier as the day progresses.  Grab a drink from the Punch Bowl bar and have a blast.
• Play Shorty’s course. Shorty’s course is available free of charge and is an excellent way for any non-golfer to give the sport a try.  Insider Tip, Shorty’s is only open Thursday – Sunday when the South Range is closed.  We mentioned this for non-golfers but highly recommend it for everyone; it’s a great layout and a fun way to end the day.

Golf at Bandon Dunes

• Golfing at Bandon Dunes isn’t cheap; to keep the cost down, we recommend trying to play as much golf as you can each day.  Your first round of the day is going to range from 200-275.  Your replay round is half the cost of the first round, and if you can manage a third round, that will be free of charge.  Insider tip, if you’re playing multiple rounds, be sure to change socks between rounds to help avoid blisters.
• Pacific Dunes is the most challenging course on the property. If you can, make sure Pacific Dunes is your first round of the day, you’ll need all your energy.  We learned this lesson the hard way, the last thing you want is a late-round on Pacific after having already walked 18 or 36 with the wind blowing.
• Take a caddie!  Bandon Dunes isn’t the same without a caddie; it completes the experience.  The cost of a caddie is $100 + gratuity, which typically starts at $20 and goes up from there.  Insider tip, if you’re with a buddy, it’s worth it to all chip in and make sure there is at least one caddie in the group. He’ll explain each hole to everyone and make sure you don’t get lost.
• Don’t forget about The Preserve; a 13-hole par-3 course that is out of this world.  The Preserve is my special place at Bandon.  Providing some of the best beach views on the property, make sure to add The Preserve to your schedule.
• Clean out your golf bag!  If you plan to use a caddie, make sure to lighten the load, nothing is more embarrassing for you or the caddie when they have to tell you that your bag is too heavy.  Insider tip, you don’t need that many golf balls!  I know I haven’t seen you play before, but guess what it’s pretty wide open, and if you have a caddie, they’ll be able to find your ball or replace it with another they find.  Trust us; two sleeves are all you’ll need if you employ a caddie.
• Pack your rain gear and two pairs of golf shoes.  Even if the forecast doesn’t call for rain, it’s the Pacific Northwest, and it always seems to find a way to rain. Don’t go crazy, but something lightweight that will shed water will go a long way.
• Please dress in layers; mornings at Bandon can start rather cold then by the afternoon; it warms up to the point you’re okay in short sleeves.
• Pack the most comfortable shoes that you HAVE WORN walking a golf course.  If you bring the wrong golf shoes, you’re in for a world of hurt. Don’t make the mistake of breaking out a new pair of shoes and paying the price with multiple blisters.
• Warm-up in the morning, I know waking up the morning after 36+ holes the day prior, the last thing you might think you need is some practice swings.  Guess what, you do.  Stop by the practice range for at least 10 minutes before you make a fool of yourself on the 1^st hole.
• Don’t forget your sunscreen and lip balm. If you don’t get blisters on your feet, you’ll surely end up with them on your lips if you don’t use lip balm.  Coming from the east coast, I always get “Bandon lip” from being out in the wind, sun, and cold!