Golf Travel iconGolf Travel Leaderboards iconLeaderboards Become a Member iconBecome a Member Shop iconShop , external linkTrade In iconTrade In , external link
Travel

10 Things to Know About Booking a Trip to Bandon Dunes

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

My brother Graham recently visited Bandon Dunes, the iconic Oregon golf destination, for a guy's trip. We knew it would be special.
What we didn't know, however, is how it would reignite his love for golf and helped us reconnect as brothers through the game.
Graham got into golf later than I did. He played on our high school team and was pretty competitive. After finishing college at St. Bonaventure University, where he studied Journalism, he also ended up working in the golf industry at Golfweek where he used his journalism skills before becoming an elementary school teacher.
I asked him to share his experience at Bandon and his rekindled passion for golf by dusting off his writing skills, and giving some helpful tips for anyone traveling there soon. Enjoy!
Just do it! That’s my advice for anyone who is on the fence about visiting Bandon Dunes. I had all the reasons not to go … cost, weather in December (pro tip – better than a good summer day if you get lucky), flights, hip replacement, bad knees and, really, I just don’t play enough to justify going.
Boy I was wrong. The trip was worth every penny, and I ended up playing some of my best golf.
The brainchild was put into action about a year prior while I was a guest at my buddy’s golf club. At the time, I only played a handful of rounds a year. It sounded cool, but it wasn’t for me. My life had taken a new direction 20 years ago when I left the golf industry (I was a writer/editor for Golfweek) and turned into an elementary school teacher.
In fifth grade, the students have a unit about space, and after taking several class trips to Kennedy Space Center to listen to astronauts talk about how they train for their mission and what space really looks like, I could finally relate. The research, time, effort and dedication to finally make that journey into space is worth every second they’ll often say. I now truly understand where they are coming from because Bandon Dunes is also worth it.
Like I said, the prep work and anticipation are part of the fun. How many times will you be looking at pictures prior to your trip? At least 1,000. How many minutes will you watch strangers play from the live feed? At least 2 hours.
Landing in Eugene, Oregon, after a cross-country flight, we still had a nice two-and-a-half-hour car ride. At one point I joked in the car about this really being a pilgrimage and when you finally see it, you get to feel like Alan Shepard landing and playing golf on the moon.
As much as I would like to get into every part of the trip, I really don’t want to spoil it. Instead, here is a top-10 list of things that stood out.
  1. Play as much as you physically can (at one point I didn’t think my body would hold up, but that is when I started playing my best; the golf gods knew).
  2. Go with friends because the photo ops are priceless.
  3. Enjoy the food, it’s all good, especially the breakfast sandwiches at Sheep Ranch.
  4. Use the practice facility, you are there to play as much golf as you can so just do it.
  5. The Punch Bowl is a must, get creative and hit the longest putts of your life.
  6. Talk it up with your caddies, the more you engage the better the experience. Nick gave me a perfect line on my eagle putt that I nailed.
  7. Talk to Shoe. He wasn’t there when we were there, but he is an amazing part of the Bandon experience. Follow him on X where he gives each day a rating.
  8. Consider renting clubs (only if you are a higher handicapper). You will be hitting the latest clubs and it's a good test run if you are getting new ones. Plus, you get six balls each day too.
  9. Eat at the Ghost Tree Grill for dinner. Splurge because you came this far.
  10. Don’t worry about over packing, even if you don’t wear it. The weather is very unpredictable. The shoe warmers in the room are spectacular.
If you are on the fence, say yes to Bandon. If you are returning, well, you already know.
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Remote Golf Coach, Founder & Golf Writer

Brendon Elliott, PGA, helps competitive teenage golfers improve through BE A GOLFER remote coaching, self-guided programs and digital practice tools. Shop self-guided digital resources: https://be-a-golfer-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/all **PRIVATE REMOTE COACHING** $400/month with a three-month minimum, $1,000/quarter or $4,000/year. Includes two live coaching hours each month, CoachNow communication and unlimited swing-video analysis, individual practice plans, SwingU performance tracking, selective SportsBox AI analysis, tournament preparation and review, and priority support. Apply and receive acceptance before paying. Parent or guardian involvement is required for minors. Apply for coaching: https://beagolfer.golf/apply-for-coaching **TWO DISTINCT 12-WEEK PROGRAMS** 12-Week Coached Remote Development Cycle — $1,500 one-time. Six scheduled live sessions, a private CoachNow space, weekly priorities and progress reviews. Application and acceptance required. 12-Week Self-Guided Development Plan — $1,500 one-time with 12-week access. Independent development with limited coach involvement; no scheduled live sessions or unlimited personal feedback. No application required. Explore both programs: https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching **DIGITAL PRACTICE TOOLS** Start at your own pace with instant-download practice plans, journals and tournament resources. The $59 Competitive Golfer's Practice Blueprint is a paid 21-day digital toolkit, separate from the free introductory practice guide. The $149 Competitive Golfer Bundle + Video Review includes one recorded review; ongoing coaching is purchased separately. Shop digital programs: https://be-a-golfer-shop.fourthwall.com/collections/all **IN-PERSON COACHING — WAITLIST ONLY** All in-person coaching is offered in packages: $600/month, $1,500/quarter or $5,000/year. Includes one private coaching hour each week in Longwood, with location and schedule confirmed by Brendon, plus remote support. Joining the waitlist does not guarantee acceptance or a start date. Join the waitlist: https://beagolfer.golf/waiting-list **EXPERIENCE, WRITING AND BUSINESS** Brendon brings more than 30 years in golf, more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors, and the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. His career includes coaching, club leadership, college golf education and mentoring. He founded Little Linksters in 2008 and led it for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching BE A GOLFER. He is Senior Golf Writer for Athlon Sports, with work also appearing in PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine and MyGolfSpy. Through One More Roll Golf Media, he provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and golf industry media services. BE A GOLFER: https://beagolfer.golf/home Athlon Sports writing: https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott One More Roll Golf Media: https://onemorerollgolf.com/ More about Brendon: https://brendonelliott.com/

We also recommend

Traveling Coast to Coast in 2023, Ben Bridgers, PGA, Shares His Best Golf Trip Tips
Travel
Traveling Coast to Coast in 2023, Ben Bridgers, PGA, Shares His Best Golf Trip Tips
Streamsong's Black Course. (Nile Young)
Travel
Golf Travel Destinations for the Ultimate Buddies Trip
World’s Most Beautiful Courses: Pacific Dunes
Course Spotlight
World’s Most Beautiful Courses: Pacific Dunes