Bandon Dunes, OR

The sixth year of the East Islip crew’s annual Ryder Cup trip sent us to Bandon, Oregon in October of 2025. Golf trips aren't like a wedding anniversaries where you wait for a special year to book something. The fellas got Bandon on the book in late 2024 to give the wives and girlfriends ample time plan ahead for childcare or their own girls getaway. We used the "it's a once in a lifetime trip" so many times, but Bandon Dunes is one of those trips to use it on.

It's hard to think where to begin with Bandon because spoiler alert - it's worth every penny. And I think it's human nature to think about golf trips, or any trip for that matter, through the lens of money and time off—was the juice worth the squeeze? At Bandon, when I paid my bill, I would’ve happily paid double - and I mean that. With a minor caveat that we booked our tee times and lodging 10-ish months in advance so that upfront commitment knocks out a big chunk of the cost and gives you months to build anticipation the right way.

And Bandon is a place that deserves that anticipation.

If you already have your Bandon trip booked, I wholly recommend reading Dream Golf by Stephen Goodwin, which details Mike Keiser's love for golf and how he found Bandon and developed it into what it is now. The money and time you are devoting to this trip you’re doing yourself a disservice if you don’t. It makes the trip hit that much harder knowing the history of the story behind the architecture, design, heartaches, and the land you're hitting that little white ball around.

Back to the caveat: putting down that deposit might be the most exciting payment you’ll ever make. If the upfront cost feels too much - choose a cheaper trip. Bandon will always be there, and you want to do it right. You don’t want to show up strapped for cash on a once‑in‑a‑lifetime trip. Between caddies (highly recommend s/o Rack), buying merch, great dinner spots, post round drinks, this is not the place to cut corners.

My group flew into Portland, OR from the East Coast and landed around 11:00 AM PST. We rented a sprinter van both ways and super affordable and she ended up being a Bandon legend — one of the very first members. She gave us the full rundown on what to do, what to avoid. The 4½‑hour drive that followed was the easiest, quickest 4½ hours we’ve ever done. The travel is absolutely not an excuse to skip Bandon. The drive itself is beautiful; she let the fellas have a few drinks in the sprinter van, rip the pen (which I still don't think was kosher in OR but she didn't say anything), saw some wildlife the city boys weren't accustomed to, and the first of many views of the Pacific.

Format of the trip: Kyle (Me) and Kip were the captains. Kyle drafted Curtis, Dog, and Mike as the good guys. Kip drafted Funk, Tom, and Jago as the bad guys.

17 Ball = (40-ball but altered to fit the Bandon Preserve 13 hole course) 2v2 and your team takes the 17 best individual scores out of the 26 possible scores because this format was played at Bandon Preserve which has 13 total holes. You need to tell your competitors at the end of the hole if you are going to record any of the scores.

30 Ball = (40-ball but altered to fit the Shortys 19 hole course) 2v2 and your team takes the 30 best individual scores out of the 36 possible scores because this format was played at Shortys which has 19 total holes. You need to tell your competitors at the end of the hole if you are going to record any of the scores.

Best Ball and Singles - you're in the wrong place if you dont know.

We rolled into Bandon around 5 p.m. the night before. We were buzzing with that “we finally made it” energy, and by the next morning we were the first groups scheduled off at Bandon Preserve. Originally, the plan was to save the par‑3 courses for the afternoons, but due to everyone else on property having the same idea we were bumped to the early morning rounds each day—but the moment we stepped onto Preserve, we quickly learned there wasn't a better warm up.

Preserve is pure magic. Thirteen holes of par‑3 perfection that drop you straight into the Bandon mindset: creative greens, dramatic contours, ocean views, crisp air, and a serenity that feels almost unreal. It’s one of those places where the world gets eerily but cooly quiet and you realize you’re standing on sacred golf ground. You get a mixture of mid-irons to wedges off the tee with only one real gimmicky hole; all others require a legitimate tee ball.

Preserve set the tone for the entire week. Fun, scenic, social, and just challenging enough to remind you that you’re not on a normal golf trip anymore. You’re at Bandon Dunes, and the magic starts the moment you put a tee in the ground.

And of course, the matches started immediately.
Kyle & Mike took down Kip & Tom, while Jago & Funk beat Dog & Curt, each team grabbing 0.5 points to start the tournament. Fun competition and close matchups - exactly how a Bandon trip should begin.

And its only right to hit putts on the last hole:

The afternoon was a completely different animal: Pacific Dunes. One of the crown jewels of the entire property and the US for that matter—raw, rugged, exposed, and spiritual in that way only true links golf can be. Pac Dunes doesn’t ease you in; it throws you straight into the elements with ocean holes, dramatic dunes, and wind that turns every shot into a negotiation.

And on this day, we got the full Bandon treatment.
When you go to Bandon, you expect weather. From holes 4 through 15, we played through on‑and‑off driving rain and whippin wing—the kind that soaks your gloves and makes you question your life choices for about three seconds before you remember, “This is exactly why we came.” On hole 13, a river was flowing through the green. You make do with the situation you’re in, and honestly, we wouldn’t have asked for anything else knowing the forecast for the rest of the week was sunshine.

The matches reflected the chaos.

The teams split points in the afternoon wave, and every hole felt like a mini‑survival test. Kip & Jago went into the 17th up one and the pin was all the way in the back left. Kyle and Jago went into the front greenside bunker after trying to take on the pin (dont do this) - jail - Kip hit what looked like a beautiful shot at the fat part of the green but got rejected and falls down the false front. Curt sees all this carnage and blocks it way out right never to be seen again. Jago and I traded multiple shots in the deep ass bunker, taking me out the hole. Kip smartly chipped his way onto the right side of the green and 3-putted, managing a double bogey to take the first match - sad way to end an otherwise great round at a great course.

Lesson learned: at Pac Dunes, the margin between hero and disaster is razor thin & the green side bunkers all around property are to be avoided.

Despite the rain, wind, rivers running through greens, and the bunker heartbreak, Pacific Dunes delivered exactly what it’s supposed to: beauty, brutality, and a round on a top 100 Golf Course you’ll talk about for the rest of your life. The weather was so relentless we couldn’t even get pictures—every phone stayed buried in a pocket. But honestly, that almost made it better.

The second morning started at Shorty’s, Bandon’s newest short‑course playground and named after Shorty Dow who was the original caretaker and protector of the land when Keiser purchased the property. If you read Dream Golf you'll find that he is a character that is well deserved of having course named after him. It’s quick, fun, and full of quirky shots to get creative with, and in my opinion has the coolest logo of the Bandon courses. Shorty’s is the kind of place where you can hit a flop, a bump‑and‑run, and a punch 8‑iron all on the same hole - dare I say ace one. It’s the perfect low‑stress warm‑up before diving into the toughest courses on the property - Bandon Trails.

I took the reins on matchups and formats, and Shorty’s was where he really rolled the dice. I paired up with Curt (high handicappers) against Tommy & Funk (low caps) in a format that doesn’t play nicely with handicaps — the only real drawback of an otherwise insanely fun, strategic setup. Somehow, Myself and Curt made it all the way to 17 with life, needing two aces to flip the match. Needless to say we came out on the losing end.

Dog & Mike squared off against Kip & Jago - Me thinking Dog and Mike would beat Kip & Jago to split the morning Par 3 round, but Jago continued his run as the par‑3 whisperer. After leading his team to a win at Preserve, he carried that momentum into this matchup, giving the bad guys another strong showing. They walked away with both 0.5‑point wins in the morning par‑3 sessions - Kyles gamble did not pan out - pushing the bad guys lead to 2.5–1.5 heading into the afternoon at Bandon Trails.

The afternoon matchup took us to Bandon Trails, a course that immediately feels different from anything else on the property. Where the other Bandon courses lean on coastline drama, Trails pulls you inland — into dunes, meadows, and quiet pine corridors — and shows off what Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw do better than almost anyone: routing, restraint, and pure strategic golf.

Architectural reviewers often call Trails the “connoisseur’s course” at Bandon. It’s the one that reveals itself slowly, the one that rewards thought over brute force, and the one that proves Bandon doesn’t need ocean views to be elite.

The first hole is that gentle handshake they always tell you about. The lines and visuals play similar to the other courses but you wont get another hole like it until 18. This hole is the gateway to the beauty of Trails.

The first hole is the classic Coore & Crenshaw handshake — wide, welcoming, and visually honest. Reviewers often note that Trails’ opener is one of the best introductions in modern golf: it eases you in, hints at the movement of the land, and then sends you straight into the forest. You won’t see another hole like it until 18 brings you back out.

If 1 is a handshake, 2 is an arm wrestle. The tee shot looks tighter than it actually is, and the 166 yards on the card feel like a lie. Architectural writers often point out how Coore & Crenshaw love to “hide width,” and this hole is a perfect example — once you get down near the green, you realize you had far more room than the tee suggested.

Holes 3 and 4 are classic Trails: use the land, avoid the bunkers, and chew off as much yardage as you dare. If you’re brave and precise, you’re rewarded with wedges and short irons. If you’re sloppy, you’re scrambling.

Hole 5 is one of the most photographed inland holes at Bandon — a forced carry, a massive undulating green, and a shot that looks simple until you’re standing over it.

This green is deceptively hittable but brutally difficult. You can’t really miss it, but if you’re not precise with your number, you’re staring at a 30‑footer with three different breaks. Trails’ greens aren’t fast, but they’re complex — and complexity is its own defense.

The walk from 6 to 7 is where the course earns its name. Reviewers consistently mention these transitions as some of the most peaceful in American golf — quiet, natural, and meditative. Whether you just made birdie or blew up, the walk resets you. It’s one of the reasons Trails is often described as “the most spiritual” of the Bandon courses.

Hole 9 is a long, flat par 5 framed by pines, and it’s one of the most serene spots on the property. It’s so removed from everything else that it almost feels like its own world. Many architecture writers call it “deceptively simple,” but that simplicity is intentional — it’s a breather, a moment to appreciate where you are, who you're with, and a reminder that not every great hole needs theatrics.

Starting at hole 11 is where I think Bandon Trails really ramps up the fun and garners its ranking as a Top 100 course. Holes 11-13 is one of the most unique and coolest areas on the whole property and then 14 is memorable for many reasons. 11 is a long blind dog leg right tee shot up and over a hill that you need to shave off as much distance as you can because of it being a decently long par 4 and not wanting a long iron into the green because a pushed shot puts you in the drink.

Hole 12 is a long ass slightly down hill par 3 that butts up against 13's fairway on your right side. Everyone in my group bailed out right because pitching from the immaculate fairway was much more appetizing than the waste area bunkers short and left. Another one of those risk reward plays which is so key in a ryder cup / matchup play match.

Hole 13 is one of the most straight forward and non-intimidating shots youll get on the hole course. Its the second shot on 13 that will have you shaking in your boots. You better be hitting a straight ball on your approach. Right is one of the most gnarly short sided uphill bunker shots you'll ever face and left will have your ball skating down a hill and knowing that bunker is in play if you skull fuck that chip. Short is the pro play here if youre not dialed in.

Like I said - 14 is memorable for multiple reasons. Its another one of those moments in the round where you can take a step back from the carnage that has most likely occurred to appreciate where you are. From 13 green you get picked up in a pickup truck to bring you up the hill to 14's tee box. At 14's tee box, as you'll read in Dream Golf, Mike Keiser finalized his decision on purchasing the initial piece of what is now Bandon Dunes, which he would slowly add to.

Hole 14 is the most controversial hole on the hole property, which is very ironic being the same place that caused Keiser to make his ballsy ass decision to buy the property. It plays 306 yards down hill - the green being a thin sliver. Everyone bails out right because there isn't much room left. Holding the green from right rough is hard but not impossible. The complainers say it is unfair but Mike would disagree - he hit a dart for a kick-in birdie. There is nothing gimmicky about the hole - it requires 2 solid shots - hit them. Buck up or shut up - I dont know Mike but I'd guess he'd agree.

Hole 16 is a beast — uphill, undulating, and framed by gorse and pines. If you weren’t tired yet, you are now. Mike, who carried me all round, closed out the match here against his brother Funk, the low‑cap assassin of the group. Jago and I were passengers, and honestly, that felt right.

Holes 17 and 18 are solid but not spectacular. 17 is photogenic and fun; 18 returns you to civilization. After the wild variety of the first 16 holes, the finish feels more like a gentle landing than a grand finale — and that’s okay. Trails isn’t about fireworks. It’s about the journey.

At the end of the day Bandon Trails is the course that proves Bandon doesn’t need ocean views to be elite. Every hole asks a question, and every mistake gets exposed. As a Ryder Cup venue, Trails delivered exactly the kind of grind you want in the middle of the trip.

If there’s one truth about Bandon Trails, it’s this: if you don’t have your best stuff, the course will expose you — and if you do have it, you’ll never have more fun. Trails is pure target golf. It demands numbers, discipline, and conviction. Miss your spot by five yards and you’re scrambling. Hit it, and the course opens up like a puzzle you suddenly understand.

Mike had it. He was flushing it better than he had all trip, and it couldn’t have come at a better time — we were up against his brother Funk, the low‑cap assassin of the group. Jago and I were basically spectators as those two traded blows. But the match flipped on 13, where Mike started a late charge, taking three of the next four holes and closing things out on 15.

It was the perfect ending for a course that rewards precision.

Curt & Dog took down Tom & Kip handily — their word, not ours. Great friends off the course, but when it comes to golf chemistry, the camaraderie doesn't translate.

After the second day: Kyle's team of Curt, Dog, and Mike are up 3.5 - 2.5 to Kip, Funk, Jago, and Tom

(Kyle & Dog play Tom & Jago at Sheep Ranch while Funk & Kip play Curt & Mike at Bandon Dunes due to the latter team needing to leave a day early. Latter team originally weren't going to play Old Macdonald because they needed to get home to their jobs (they squeezed it in) but if you're going to travel to Bandon, it's really worth it to play every course. Everyone you ask has varying rankings of the courses so you never know if the one you skip out on would be your favorite and you don't want to go through life questioning that.)

Day 3 brought us to Sheep Ranch - big fairways and more coastline exposure than any course on the property. Sheep Ranch feels like golf on the edge of the world. The wind is always whipping—sometimes helping, sometimes hurting, sometimes smarter hitting putter from the fairway.

Hole 1 is a straight away par 5 with a peak of the Pacific off the tee box and then a long downhill approach to the green. If you're going to miss off the tee box, blocking it out right is the move. My team put it in the trees to the left more times than we'd care to admit.

After the first hole and going down 1, I went on a 3 hole stretch heater and got my teams lead up to +2. I only bring this up because it was all down hill after that. Dog was nursing a gnarly hangover to begin the day, which turned into quite the buzz. We battled our asses off, but we didnt have it that day - Jago and Kevin were playing great team golf. One would put it into the gorse and the other would knock would down the middle. Sheep wasnt the hardest course but it required you to get off the tee - seems straight forward but the fatigue and drinks were catching up to Dog and I.

My group caught Sheep on a beautiful although windy day. It is a different test than the other courses. Almost a mixture of Old Macdonald with the wide fairways and Bandon with the coastline and gorse.

While Jago and Tom played me and Dog to a 5&4 ass whooping, Kip and Funk also took care of business over at Bandon against Curt and Mike. The 1-point lead for the good guys quickly turned into a 1-point deficit. From what we have learned ties are hard to come by in a buddies Ryder cup matchplay format, so no lead is ever safe. Going into singles matches Kip, Funk, Tom, and Jago are up 4.5-3.5 against Kyle, Mike, Curt, and Dog.

The singles match for the other group was played at Sheep Ranch (Kip v. Curt & Funk v. Mike) while my group played at Bandon (Me v. Jago & Dog v. Tom), the course that started it all. My team had to win 3 of the four matches to push the Ryder Cup. With Dog playing with an injury and Tommy playing lights out, Mike, Curt, and I knew we needed to win our matches.

Bandon Dunes is classic links golf—firm turf, rolling dunes, and ocean views that hit you right in the soul. Bandon Dunes has everything: drivable par 4s, long par 3s, and par 5s (18 in particular) that'll you'll remember forever. Playing singles here felt like the proper finale. The wind, the pressure, the scenery—it all came together for a perfect last day of the Ryder Cup.

Personally, Bandon Dunes was my favorite course of them all. I might be biased because it is where I shot my best round, but overall, I thought it had a great blend of character, rewarded good shots and punished bad ones, memorable inland and shore lined holes, and the last 3 holes are really fun finishing holes that test you and makes you hit the shots.

16, 17, 18 will forever be my favorite finishing holes until there not, but its going to be tough to beat.

At Sheep Ranch Curt beat Kip and Funk got his redemption over Mike after the Bandon Trails loss. Funk's win won it for the bad guys. They teed off earlier in the day than us at Bandon. I parred the par 5 18th hole to beat Jago not knowing at the time whether it mattered or not - could have been that much cooler.

Special shout out to Rack (Wind and Yardage Consultant). Probably wont ever come across a better caddy and overall dude. Got lucky getting the first ever caddy out at Bandon and he knew the place like the back of his hand and never reused a story or joke after walking 72 holes with him.

The final day was Old Macdonald, a round outside the Ryder Cup since some guys had to leave early. But for those who stayed, it was the ideal send‑off. Old Mac is big, bold, and unapologetically links‑inspired—massive greens, wide fairways, and design elements that pay tribute to the origins of the game. After four days of competition, Old Mac felt like a victory lap. No pressure, just pure golf on one of the most unique courses in America - grip it and rip it.

For 7 rounds of golf and 5 nights in the Chrome Lake Cottages we paid about $3,200 for golf and room. We made the first payment of $2,000 5 months prior to the trip and settled the rest at check-out. The Chrome Lake Cottages were great - a short drive to every course, comfortable beds, shoe driers, and the teams had connecting doors. We paid an additional $350 for a sprinter van from the Portland airport. Would highly recommend the sprinter van option if it's in your budget. Our driver allowed us to drink in the van and took away all our responsibilities and allowed us to focus on the golf ahead. And during our last round which we left immediately afterwards we werent thinking about that drive as much as im sure we would have had we had to drive.

My total cost:

Golf/Room: $3,200 (7 rounds, 5 nights)

Roundtrip Portland to Bandon transportation: $350

Boston Portland roundtrip flight: $400

Food/Booze: $850 - we had one big night at Ghost Tree Grill, drank well during the nights, and all other dinners were standardly priced.

All in: $4,800

Seems like a lot but 7 rounds of golf and 5 nights, I see it as a steal for a once in a lifetime trip.

Practice Center & Punchbowl