My Titleist Golf Carry Bag Has Lasted 30 Years, This TaylorMade Carry Bag Lasted Less Than 30 Days!

I purchased a TaylorMade 2019 LiteTech 3.0 Stand Golf Bag on Amazon, having received it on July 30, 2020 and did not start using it for 2-3 days due to time constraints, likely on August 1st, 35 days ago. I paid $220 + tax ($238.47).

A week ago I noticed some fraying of the flimsy material covering the inside edge of the short club compartment where my wedges and putters rub against it while carrying, standing or laying them. 

I have been playing for 55 years, play 100+ rounds/year, am a 13 handicap, and have spent tens of thousands of dollars on golf products over the years. This is the first TaylorMade product I have ever purchased and I have to say that I am extremely disappointed. For the price I paid, the material should not be fraying after less than a month. After 6 months, the material will be gone and the sub-surface will be exposed. What a poor product design!

Additionally, the 'self-adjusting straps' constantly become entangled, requiring me to untangle them several times a round. I have had numerous carry bags over the years and rarely had this problem, so it must be another TaylorMade design flaw.

For example, I bought a Titleist carry bag while serving at Anderson AFB, Guam in 1992, 28 years ago, and my son is still using the bag! I NEVER had a problem with the shoulder straps and the design had held up for nearly 3 decades - 30 years versus 30 days, I will never buy TaylorMade products again and Titleist will most likely get my business from this point forward.

I told TaylorMade that I have photos and if they do not have a replacement product with a better design and equally light-weight design, I want a refund. We will see what happens.

CombatCritic Gives TaylorMade LiteTech 3.0 Stand Golf Bag 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My 'WALL OF SHAME' ... More Bombs Are Better!

One Bomb Equates To:

FUBAR

Translation for Civilians: "Fucked Up Beyond All Repair"

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Title: My Titleist Golf Carry Bag Has Lasted 30 Years, This TaylorMade Carry Bag Lasted Less Than 30 Days!

Key Words: Titleist, golf, carry bag, TaylorMade, Amazon, amazon.com, 2019, LiteTech, 3.0 stand, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, product, business, review, Google, Facebook

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Bandon Dunes, Oregon: Helen's Place (Airbnb) - A Bit Pricey, But A Good Place To Stay Very Close To Bandon Dunes

Airbnb Helen's Place

Entire Cottage - 1BR / 1 BA, Pull-Out Sofa, Kitchen

5 Minute Drive from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Price: $$$$

Airbnb Listing - Click Here

The cottage was rustic, but very nice and the proximity to Bandon Dunes was a big plus, just a five minute drive from the main clubhouse. The king size bed was very comfy and the kitchen/bathroom were well equipped for a short stay. The highlight of our stay was Peanut, the host’s sweet kitty who greeted us on arrival and stopped by to say hi throughout our stay.

It's the little things that make a host a Super Host, so here are some of the constructive suggestions I offered our hosts ...

Travelers assign 5-star ratings far too easily and do a disservice to subsequent travelers by not being honest. I have a popular travel website and owe it to my 80,000 readers each and every year to be completely honest, otherwise they would not return. Honesty and integrity are my top two core values, so I have to be truthful no matter what.

I travel all over the world and have stayed in many Airbnb's. Helen’s partner, Eddy, gave us a nice welcome, but Helen never introduced herself, even when I went to the door to find out where the sheets for the fold-out couch were. 

Many hosts leave a personal welcome note and something that shows that they are glad we are staying with them such as a bottle of inexpensive wine, homemade cookies, chocolates, coffee/creamers/Keurig/sweeteners and the like. Our welcome was just a single coffee filter and a bag of coffee beans (no grinder), so we had to go out and buy 200 filters and a bag of ground coffee. 

Finally, one or both of them could have come out on the morning we were leaving to say goodbye and thank us for staying with them, and paying $315 for 2 nights, but that did not happen.

As I said, I don't bring these things up to be mean or to insult the hosts, I'm hoping to help them become better hosts by offering some small suggestions to make future guests feel more welcome and appreciated, therefore enhancing the value of their accommodation.

We rarely pay more than $75 per night on Airbnb's and I'm talking about nice, private apartments in central London, Paris, Lyon, Lisbon, and Tel Aviv, just to name a few. At over $150 per night, I was not overly impressed by the cottage, but I think Bandon locals are taking advantage of tourists/golfers in general because this was actually one of the cheaper places in the area. 

CombatCritic Gives Helen's Place A Very Respectable 6 Out Of 10 Bombs, Leaving Room For Improvement ... More Bombs Are Better!

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Title: Bandon Dunes, Oregon: Helen's Place (Airbnb) - A Bit Pricey, But A Good Place To Stay Very Close To Bandon Dunes

Key Words: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Helen, Airbnb, golf, course, Bandon, Pacific, dunes, OldMacDonald, sheep, ranch, resort, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, hotel, accommodation, review, Yelp, Google, Facebook

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Coos Bay, Oregon: A Delicious Taste of Germany in Coos Bay

Blue Heron Bistro

100 Commercial Avenue

Coos Bay, OR 97420

German, Seafood

Website: blueheronbistro.com

Phone number: (541) 267-3933

Prices: $$$$

Hours on Yelp are wrong, they are open from 4pm to 8pm daily. Therefore, it is difficult to make a reservation, handy during COVID distancing requirements, because they only answer the phone during business hours.

It's a cute little place on a corner right on the main drag going south in Coos Bay. It has a Bavarian look inside and out, reminiscent of many a gästhaus I have been to in Germany. They even have a small biergarten out back with three large picnic tables.

They have a nice selection of traditional German favorites at reasonable prices. I had the Jägerschnitzel ($22), coming with a cup of goulash soup, a small salad, and bread before the main course arrives. The schnitzel was huge with a wonderful crispy batter that was light, not greasy and topped with a tasty mushroom gravy, accompanied by hot, crispy and light french fries. I normally like the more traditional fried potatoes with my schnitzel, but the fries were yummy and plentiful.

My only negative and a personal pet peeve of mine was that our entrees came out way too soon. We were not even halfway through our soup and salad when the owner arrived with our dinners. I have spent many years in the restaurant business and there is no reason the next course should arrive before the last course is finished and cleared from the table. They probably would have gotten my highest rating had they not screwed this one up.

The meal was a very good value, considering that we paid nearly the same amount we had at Foley's Pub in Bandon the night before, getting three times as much food and a much higher quality meal ... ACHTUNG!

CombatCritic Gives Blue Heron Bistro 8 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Eight Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "What-The-Fuck ... Over!"

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Read Chris S.'s review of Blue Heron Bistro on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

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Title: Coos Bay, Oregon: A Delicious Taste of Germany in Coos Bay 

Key Words: Coos Bay, Oregon, Blue Heron Bistro, blue, heron, bistro, German, Germany, schnitzel, Jägerschnitzel, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, destination, product, service, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, Google, Facebook

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Bandon, OR: Second Verse, Same As The First - Tiny Pub Grub For Big Bucks

Foley's Irish Pub

160 Baltimore Avenue

Bandon, OR 97411

foleysirishpubbandon.com

Phone number: (541) 329-2203

Prices: $$$$

There was a young barmaid named Heidi

Who greeted us and offered a pi-e

The Shepherd's was small

But Heidi was tall

And we paid too much, leaving angry.

Heidi was very nice and treated us well, but having arrived 10 minutes before posted closing, we were told that the kitchen was closed, so all we could get were a cup of Clam Chowder ($6), a slice of Shepherd's Pie ($15), and an IPA ($7.75). We didn't know the prices, having assumed by the decor that it would be fairly reasonable. It was not, having paid $70, including tip, for a cup of soup, a tiny slice of lukewarm shepherd's pie, and a decent size mug o' IPA.

How does a place close the kitchen before posted closing hours? If they are supposed to be open until 9pm, then the goddamm kitchen should not shut down until 9:01pm. With that being said, Irishman owner, Foley I assume, sat down at a nearby table around 9:30pm and polished off a plate full of Bourbon Marinated Pork Ribs and Fries ($19.95) while we ate our nearly cold shepherd's pie.

Beside being overpriced, the food was bland and not hot. From what I have seen, the city of Bandon takes advantage of its proximity to the world renowned Bandon Dunes Golf Resort where we played earlier that day (Pacific Dunes), overcharging golfers who have little choice of restaurants in the area.

CombatCritic Gives Foley's Irish Pub 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Read Chris S.'s review of Foley's Irish Pub on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Bandon, OR: Second Verse, Same As The First - Tiny Pub Grub For Big Bucks

Key Words: Bandon, OR, Foley's Irish Pub, Foley's, Foley, Irish, Ireland, pub, grub, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, hotel, accommodation, destination, product, service, business, review, Yelp, Zomato, TripAdvisor, Google, Facebook

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Naples, Italy: Airbnb - Viviana 'Entire Condo' Was A Single Room Shared With Two Others And She Threw Me Out For Being American!

Viviana's Zona Ospedale Condo?

Location was as described, but it was not an entire condominium as advertised, it was a small, single room and bathroom in a 3-bedroom condo that has been sectioned off. You do not get the entire apartment, you have to share it with at least two other people.

The host discriminated against me upon arrival, telling me that I had to leave because Italy requires Americans to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. My Airbnb profile clearly displays our hometown, Portland, Oregon, so there should have been no surprise after making the reservation weeks ago.

I did not have the COVID-19 virus, having tested negative for COVID BEFORE DEPARTURE and traveled for 24 hours with a medical-grade face mask and face shield. 

I was then forced to go stay with my 80-year old mother who recently had a stroke, the reason I traveled to Naples, potentially exposing her to the virus instead of self-quarantining in an isolated location. I checked several other Airbnb's and local hotels after she threw me out, but they refused to let me stay because Neapolitans are ignorant and apparently are able to discriminate against Americans like Viviana did.

CombatCritic Gives Viviana 1 Bomb Out Of 10 And A Spot On My 'WALL FO SHAME' ... More Bombs Are Better!

Gearhart, OR: Gearhart Golf Link's Sand Trap Pub Was Sub-Par

McMenamins Sand Trap Pub
1157 North Marion Avenue
Gearhart, OR 97138
(503) 717-8150
Click Here To View Menu
Prices: $$$$

Fairly typical McMenamins fare and service, mediocre at best. The building and view of Gearhart Golf Links, the oldest course west of the Mississippi, is wonderful, but the service was slow and my burger and fries sub-par, excuse the pun.

We sat on the veranda overlooking the golf course after an OGA Senior Pro-Am event on a beautiful, calm, mild July afternoon. It took forever for a server to greet us and take our drink order as was the case the rest of our meal even though there were very few customers seated.

My Bacon Cheeseburger ($16) came with cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles and their secret sauce as well as fries of tots. I got the fries and asked for grilled onion instead of red onion. When by meal arrived, the red onions were still there and there was barely a trace of grilled onions even though they up-charged me $1.50 them without telling me. The fries were few, burnt to a crisp, and barely warm, but the burger itself was OK, not great.

I have been to several McMenamins and have been unimpressed with the service and food overall. With tip, my burger, fries, and a beer ($6.50 for a 12-ounce glass) cost me over $25, a bit much for what I got and a poor overall value.

CombatCritic Gives McMenamins Sand Trap Pub 3 Bombs Out Of 10 ... More Bombs Are Better!

Three Bombs Equates To:

Translation for Civilians: "Situation Normal, All Fucked Up"

Read More Reviews By CombatCritic:

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Read Chris S.'s review of McMenamins Sand Trap Pub on Yelp

Tabelog - Official Judge - "Silver"

Zomato - #1 Ranked "VERIFIED" CONNOISSEUR (13) - Over  4 Million Review And Photo Views ... And Counting - #1 Reviewer in Portland, Oregon!

Booking.com - Frequent Traveler "Genius"

Google Maps - "Top Photographer" With Over 3 Million Views!

... And Don't Forget To Subscribe To TravelValue TV on YouTube and our sister channel, CombatCounselor Chronicles, with Over 1,250 Subscribers and 1,000,000 Video Views ... HOOAH!

Title: Gearhart, OR: Gearhart Golf Link's Sand Trap Pub Was Sub-Par

Key Words: Gearhart, Seaside, OR, McMenamins Sand Trap Pub, McMenamins, Sand, Trap, Pub, hamburger, fries, beer, CombatCritic, TravelValue, travel, value, restaurant, menu, review, Yelp, Zomato

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