Rankings
Golf Digest: #70
Golfweek: #19 Modern
My trip to Bandon was such a whirlwind, these reviews will be short. I pulled off a late night flight from a conference in Vegas into Eugene - drove the 2.5 hours to Bandon in the pitch black - and rolled in at ~3am. First tee time at 9am...welcome to Bandon!
Trails was the third course I played, and the most traditional. It feels as you'd expect of a Coore/Crenshaw design. I may have enjoyed Trails the most - it was picturesque even though it sits a bit inland. Elevation changes and doglegs kept things interesting, and the wind was no joke - as you'd assume at Bandon. A caddie was critical for a first timer, and from what I understand most of them are solid at the resort. However, we had the same caddies the entire time, and they were a lot of fun. A lot of them are great players as well.
I spent three days at Bandon, and would have liked to have spent one more day. But, you take the invite when it comes. It's a special place for golfers - it's just golf, nothing else. I love it.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Dallas National
Rankings
Golf Digest: #61
Golfweek: #41 Modern
How I got on: I had the head pro from my home club call and set me and a friend up for a round. DNGC does not allow unaccompanied guests, so we needed to play with their assistant pro. That proved helpful since we didn't know our way around.
It was crazy hot and I have a hard time remembering the course because I was spent after the round. I do remember it being fairly typical Fazio with more elevation change than is typical for Dallas. Conditioning was superb, and is a must play if you get the chance. I'll have to take another whirl at this one when I'm not suffering from heat stroke!
Golf Digest: #61
Golfweek: #41 Modern
How I got on: I had the head pro from my home club call and set me and a friend up for a round. DNGC does not allow unaccompanied guests, so we needed to play with their assistant pro. That proved helpful since we didn't know our way around.
It was crazy hot and I have a hard time remembering the course because I was spent after the round. I do remember it being fairly typical Fazio with more elevation change than is typical for Dallas. Conditioning was superb, and is a must play if you get the chance. I'll have to take another whirl at this one when I'm not suffering from heat stroke!
Old Macdonald
Rankings
Golf Digest: #55
Golfweek: #5 Modern
I showed up at Bandon after having been told by many folks that Old Macdonald was their least favorite course of the four. Perhaps it was my low expectations - who knows - but I really enjoyed Old Mac. It was unique and offered some fun shots requiring creativity. Other than the blind shot over a hill on #16, it's all right in front of you other than all the elephants buried in the greens. The course is wide open and you can generally hit it anywhere, but I was able to find some gorse when I was WAY offline (it happens too frequently). With no real protection from the elements, the wind really whips across Old Mac. That also helped demand varying shots into the wild green complexes. I found myself numerous times waffling between various shot options, and that was the fun of it.
I'm not sure I have a ranking of the Bandon courses. I think I need to have another go at them. No favorites yet, they're all great.
Golf Digest: #55
Golfweek: #5 Modern
I showed up at Bandon after having been told by many folks that Old Macdonald was their least favorite course of the four. Perhaps it was my low expectations - who knows - but I really enjoyed Old Mac. It was unique and offered some fun shots requiring creativity. Other than the blind shot over a hill on #16, it's all right in front of you other than all the elephants buried in the greens. The course is wide open and you can generally hit it anywhere, but I was able to find some gorse when I was WAY offline (it happens too frequently). With no real protection from the elements, the wind really whips across Old Mac. That also helped demand varying shots into the wild green complexes. I found myself numerous times waffling between various shot options, and that was the fun of it.
I'm not sure I have a ranking of the Bandon courses. I think I need to have another go at them. No favorites yet, they're all great.
Scioto CC
Rankings
Golf Digest: #50
Golfweek: #56 Classic
How I got on: A good friend's stepfather set us up with a foursome during a golf trip that also included a round at Muirfield Village. I'm not sure how our round was arranged, but our caddie didn't seem to be too excited to forecaddie for four guests.
The course layout was challenging and would have played LONG from the tips, but our caddie wouldn't have any of that despite my friend and I shooting in the 70s from the tees we played (I don't recall which ones, but they were something of a hybrid between white and blue). The course has a modest amount of trees, but not dense enough to prevent you from seeing a lot of the course from most holes. The greens were very quick and in great shape. It was obvious the course would be a perfect "play every day" track.
Golf Digest: #50
Golfweek: #56 Classic
How I got on: A good friend's stepfather set us up with a foursome during a golf trip that also included a round at Muirfield Village. I'm not sure how our round was arranged, but our caddie didn't seem to be too excited to forecaddie for four guests.
The course layout was challenging and would have played LONG from the tips, but our caddie wouldn't have any of that despite my friend and I shooting in the 70s from the tees we played (I don't recall which ones, but they were something of a hybrid between white and blue). The course has a modest amount of trees, but not dense enough to prevent you from seeing a lot of the course from most holes. The greens were very quick and in great shape. It was obvious the course would be a perfect "play every day" track.
Erin Hills
Rankings
Golf Digest: #42
Golfweek: #127 Modern
Erin Hills was played after our 54 holes at Whistling Straits. I could have been wearing clouds on my feet and they'd have been sore after that much walking. So another 10 miles of walking was going to be great for my dogs. And boy is Erin Hills a trek. The caddies should've been sherpas.
I thought Erin Hills would be my least favorite course of the golf trip, but it was actually my favorite. The scale of it, the uniqueness of holes, the wildflowers and rolling terrain - it was a perfect setting. It may sound nerdy, but the clouds were like a postcard and the perfect background for some good golf photos.
The short par 3 9th hole was an epic experience. Only a lob wedge away, but our foursome of single-digit handicappers were a combined 9 over. Some spots are just not to be found on that hole.
The long par 4 10th was a BEAST! We all hit great drives, but from the tips into a nasty wind it was at least a par 5. I bombed a hybrid and barely eeked my way onto the green. A fantastic hole that presented a great challenge.
The only downside is that the course is in the middle of nowhere. While there are cabins on site, they were full when we booked. It's fine, but just a little obstacle to be aware of. The U.S. Open this year would have gotten better reviews if the leaderboard was packed with household names. I believe the runaway by Koepka made some look at the course with the same "eh" that the closing holes of the Open provided. It's too bad. I loved it even though it is new and has no golf pedigree.
Golf Digest: #42
Golfweek: #127 Modern
Erin Hills was played after our 54 holes at Whistling Straits. I could have been wearing clouds on my feet and they'd have been sore after that much walking. So another 10 miles of walking was going to be great for my dogs. And boy is Erin Hills a trek. The caddies should've been sherpas.
I thought Erin Hills would be my least favorite course of the golf trip, but it was actually my favorite. The scale of it, the uniqueness of holes, the wildflowers and rolling terrain - it was a perfect setting. It may sound nerdy, but the clouds were like a postcard and the perfect background for some good golf photos.
The short par 3 9th hole was an epic experience. Only a lob wedge away, but our foursome of single-digit handicappers were a combined 9 over. Some spots are just not to be found on that hole.
The long par 4 10th was a BEAST! We all hit great drives, but from the tips into a nasty wind it was at least a par 5. I bombed a hybrid and barely eeked my way onto the green. A fantastic hole that presented a great challenge.
The only downside is that the course is in the middle of nowhere. While there are cabins on site, they were full when we booked. It's fine, but just a little obstacle to be aware of. The U.S. Open this year would have gotten better reviews if the leaderboard was packed with household names. I believe the runaway by Koepka made some look at the course with the same "eh" that the closing holes of the Open provided. It's too bad. I loved it even though it is new and has no golf pedigree.
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