Why You Need To Plan A Golf Trip to Bandon Dunes in 2024

Introduction:

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon features five courses ranked in Golfweek’s 2023 Top 100 Courses You Can Play list and truly meets the definition of a “Golfer’s Paradise.”  In addition to world-class golf courses, this elite golf destination offers guests excellent dining, lodging, and leisure options.  Bandon Dunes is an absolute must-visit for any golfer at least once in their life and we’ll share why you should book a trip in 2024.

 

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Image / Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Offering perhaps the most visually stunning collection of golf holes you’ll find anywhere, Bandon Dunes has few peers when it comes to consistency and quality.  Each of the resort’s five championship golf courses ranks in the Top 100 in the U.S. and offers a playing experience you won’t soon forget.  The courses (Pacific Dunes, Bandon Dunes, Old Macdonald, Bandon Trails, and Sheep Ranch) are nestled along the rustic Oregon coastline and offer cliffs-meet-the-ocean views that are hard to beat.

 

Opened for business in 1999, with just its original 18 holes of golf, Bandon Dunes has steadily grown over the last two decades and become a gold standard for the best golf destinations anywhere in the world.

 

Bandon Dunes is a lot of things but one thing it is not easy to get to, especially for those coming from the East Coast or in the Midwest.  Direct flights into Southwest Oregon Regional Airport (OTH) in North Bend, Oregon (roughly 35 minutes from the resort) are nearly non-existent from most parts of the country.  So plan on arriving in OTH by connecting through another city.  If flying into North Bend is not an option, plan on getting to Oregon by flying into Eugene (EUG), Medford (MED), or Portland (PDX), and anticipate another 3 hours in the car once you have left the airport.

 

While we’ve heard of some folks getting lucky in the early spring months, a trip to Bandon in July or August is the sweet spot.  Not only are you maximizing your daylight hours but that’s also one of the best windows for decent weather as the Oregon coast is notorious for its unpredictable weather patterns.  Throughout the year it can be docile and sunny one minute and cold, windy, and rainy the next.  The late summer months offer your best hope for consistent sun and pleasant temps.

 

If your travel schedule gets you to Bandon Dunes on day one of your trip with a few daylight hours to spare,, consider booking a quick round on their fantastic 13-hole par-3 course, Bandon Preserve.  With breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean on every hole, Bandon Preserve is the perfect way to ease into the golf trip after a long day of travel.  Mapping out your schedule of rounds will be up to your group and your planning agent but, no matter your trip structure, Bandon has the process down to a science.  With shuttle buses servicing the entire resort, you’re a quick pick-up request and a 5-minute ride from everything inside the resort.

 

The Courses at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

 

As you think about planning out your Bandon tee times, consider the following:

 

Pacific Dunes: Mostly along the rugged Oregon coastline and exposed to the wind.  Many consider Pacific to be the most challenging of Bandon’s five courses and it only gets harder if the wind is blowing.  A visual masterpiece.

 

Bandon Dunes:  A mix of inland and coastal holes, the original course at Bandon Dunes is a golf purist’s delight.  Hit it well on Bandon Dunes and it’s a round that will stick with you for long after your golf trip has come to an end.

 

Old Macdonald: Unlike few courses you’ll ever play, the natural scenery of Old Macdonald makes it difficult to concentrate at times.  Deep bunkers, wild greens, and famous trees!

Image / Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

 

Bandon Trails:  This writer’s favorite round at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort was at Bandon Trails.  Perhaps because it came at the right time after being battered and bruised by the coastal Oregon winds for multiple days, Trails takes you on a spin through the inland forests and hills.  A true treat.

 

Sheep Ranch:  If you’ve ever imagined what golf on a different planet would look like, Sheep Ranch might offer the answer.  Without a single bunker on the entire course, Sheep still offers plenty of challenges if you decide to stop marveling at your surroundings and hit a golf shot or two.

Image Courtesy of Golf Digest

 

Before and After Golf at Bandon

When you aren’t being tested by one of Bandon Dunes’ world-class courses, this incredible golf trip destination offers several excellent dining options throughout the day.  Each course features its clubhouse and grill should you need to grab a bite (or beverage) before and between rounds.  And for dinner, The Forge Steakhouse features excellent steaks and chops and a healthy wine list.  Meanwhile, at Pacific Grill, you can switch it up to a seafood dish while overlooking players testing their luck on the Punchbowl Putting Course.

 

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is one of the most difficult golf destinations to get to but the payoff once you’ve arrived on the property makes the trains, planes, and automobiles all worth it and then some.  Easily one of the best golf destinations in the United States, Bandon continues to build and appeal to a larger crowd.  Their acclaim shows no signs of fading any time soon and a visit out to the Oregon coast comes with our highest recommendation.

 

What’s New at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in 2024

As if there wasn’t already enough golf to be played at Bandon Dunes, their new 19-hole Par 3 course, appropriately named Shorty’s, is scheduled to open in the spring of 2024.  With every hole measuring shorter than 160 yards, Shorty’s will be nestled between the perimeter of Bandon Trails and the Pacific Ocean.  Mother Nature will spoil us yet again as the site features natural rolling dunes and scattered shore pines that provide a picturesque backdrop for what’s sure to be a very fun short course.

Image / Bandon Dunes

 

And new to Bandon Dunes‘ already impressive list of dining options is The Ghost Tree Grill.  Named after the fabled Ghost Tree on Old Macdonald’s third hole, the restaurant features a Pacific Northwest-inspired steakhouse and raw bar menu along with an impressive wine cabinet.  The Ghost Tree Grill’s open kitchen serves two wings separated by a double-sided fireplace and features large televisions to broadcast sports and events throughout.  The restaurant opened in late 2023 and we can’t wait to try it later this year.

 

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is one of our favorite places to visit and once you’ve been, we think you’ll be hooked too.  From its world-class golf courses to its fantastic practice facilities, impressive dining and lodging options, and first-rate customer service, Bandon is a true treasure of golf and an experience that should not be missed.  Will you get there in 2024?