Bandon Dunes: 18 things you must know before planning your trip

A golf trip to Bandon Dunes is nirvana. It’s the only resort with five 18-hole courses ranked among our 100 Greatest Public Courses, and getting here is so coveted, Bandon Dunes recently instituted a lottery system just for the chance to make reservations.

Once you do secure time at one of golf’s greatest locales, what do you need to know? We’ve collected some of our best advice to help you fully enjoy your time in paradise. Enjoy this list of dos and don’ts for traveling to Bandon Dunes.

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1. Learn about Bandon Dunes' new lottery system

If you're reading this with the hopes of booking a trip to the Oregon resort, you'll need to understand the lottery. Bandon officials instituted a new system to offer an even playing field when it comes to booking trips. There are now windows in which interested travelers can apply for the right to reserve their spots. That's how popular the resort is. Learn more about the booking windows with our full breakdown here.

2. Schedule a late-afternoon round at Bandon Dunes

Playing the par-4 16th hole as the sun sets is one of the most memorable things you’ll ever do on any golf course.

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3. Play The Preserve or Shorty's before anything else

Enjoying one of Bandon's par-3 courses is a great primer for links golf, and it's the perfect way to cap off a travel day. Shorty's, a 19-hole par-3 course, opened in 2024, joining The Preserve, widely regarded as one of the best short courses in the world.

4. Request caddies

You’ll have the same caddie during the entire length of your stay, and you can use your credit card in the pro shop to withdraw cash. All the caddies are great, but you might ask other golfers who have been to Bandon to make recommendations on which loopers to request. We couldn't recommend Craig Gall and Tony Shuster higher. But there are hundreds of other great caddies. If you don’t want to splurge on taking a caddie for every round, know that caddies are most essential at Old Macdonald.

5. Bandon offers a replay rate

Your second round during any given day is half-price. If you play two rounds in a day, the third round will be free. And Bandon will pay you $100 if you play a fourth round in one day.

6. Take a group Links Lesson

All of the instruction at Bandon Dunes is very reasonable with half-hour rates at $75 and an hour at $150. The Links Lesson is a great opportunity to enjoy group instruction at $75 a player (or $50 if you have more than 12 people in your party). The lessons led by the team of Kevin Phillips and Grant Rogers is invaluable and a perfect chance to learn how to play different shots than you're used to on the firm and fast turf.

7. Picturesque views

Out of the first four 18-hole courses, Pacific Dunes and Bandon Dunes offer the most stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Old Macdonald is, by far, the most wide open. And Bandon Trails (pictured) presents the most intricate mix of risk-reward holes but is played entirely inland. And Sheep Ranch, which opened in 2020, boasts nine green complexes along the Pacific Ocean. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed Sheep Ranch, which was previously an unkept 13-hole routing done by Tom Doak and Jim Urbina in the early 2000s. Sheep Ranch might be the most fun course at Bandon.

8. Book a massage after one of your 36-hole days

You'll thank us for this later. The turf is tough on your feet and lower body, and walking upwards of 30,000 steps a day for three days straight will make the most fit golfers achy. If you have three days of 36 holes in a row, we'd recommend booking a massage for the afternoon after your second 36-hole day. You'll feel as rejuvenated as can be for that final marathon day.

9. How to maximize your day

Thirty-six holes a day is a very popular game plan if you can handle it. Playing 18 holes plus the 12-hole Preserve, or 18 holes plus the Punchbowl is an excellent alternative.

10. One possible downside …

One knock against Bandon Dunes, if you want to nitpick, is that there's not much in the way of non-golf activities. The town of Bandon has a couple of bars and restaurants, but if you're looking to build a trip around cultural activities, this might not be your spot.

11. Find this hidden gem

There’s a labyrinth on property, but nobody will ever tell you where it is, since it’s fun to try to find it. It’s a marble maze located in a wooded area—super peaceful.

12. Avoid the wind by playing in the morning

Unless you want to play one of the windiest rounds of your life, stick to a morning tee time at Old Macdonald—it’s the course that’s most open to all the elements.

13. There are multiple restaurants on property

The restaurants range from the no-frills McKee's Pub, to a selection of higher-end fare. You’ll probably never have better fish tacos than those served at Bandon Trails' Trails End.

14. Read Dream Golf: The Making of Bandon Dunes

Before you hit your first shot, this'll give you a better appreciation for the entire resort.

15. Understand your travel options

The biggest thing that can make a trip to Bandon daunting is literally getting there. The closest commerical airport is Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend, which is about 35 miles away by car. The trick here is you'll likely have to take a multi-leg trip to find a flight that flies into this smaller stop. Others prefer flying to Eugene, Ore., which has more flight options but requires a 2½-hour drive. There are also plenty of flights to Portland, Ore., or San Francisco, but these then mean you need to make 4½-hour drive (although if you drive along the Pacific Coast, it can be a lot of great sightseeing along the way). And if you can fly private, there is Bandon State Airport located in Bandon.

16. Visit the halfway house at Old Macdonald

The halfway house at Old Macdonald might be the most beautifully scenic halfway house you'll ever see.

17. Show up prepared for all the elements

You'll be playing lots of golf, and weather forecasts can change in an instant. Bring at least two pairs of golf shoes, stuff for chafing, a rain suit, chapstick, sunblock, cream, etc.

18. Utilize the shuttles

Shuttles take you everywhere, and you'll never have to wait more than five minutes to get one. Once you drive in from the airport, you can park your car and forget about it until it’s time to leave the resort.