Two Decades of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

August 10, 2018 by Bandon Dunes

David McLay Kidd thinks back to when he first started conceiving the design that would become Bandon Dunes. Created and built over 1997 and 1998, Kidd finds it hard to imagine that nearly 20 years have gone by since Bandon Dunes opened to the public. But one thing is for certain: the Bandon Dunes that Kidd designed in the late 1990s was very different from the version currently being played.

As seen in Bandon Dunes Magazine.

EVOLVING PHILOSOPHY

Change has occurred for Kidd as well. The success of Bandon Dunes put him on the map as a designer, commanding commissions all over the world, from Hawaii to Asia. Over time he altered some of his design philosophy, creating courses that were more complex and challenging.

Then in 2014, Kidd created a course called Gamble Sands in Washington that featured wide fairways with an emphasis on playability. In many ways, it was a move that harkened back to Kidd’s early design days at Bandon. This year, Kidd returns to work with the Keiser family to open Mammoth Dunes at Sand Valley, another of the Dream Golf facilities run by Bandon Dunes’ owner Mike Keiser. It also features significant width—an element Kidd says started at Bandon Dunes.

“People have said how wide the mown grass areas are at Mammoth Dunes, but truthfully there are more short grass areas at Bandon Dunes,” he says, noting there are 110 acres of short grass at Bandon versus 107 at Mammoth Dunes. “I think width gives the player confidence, which is why a lot of people enjoy Bandon.”

Links golf is constantly evolving, constantly changing as Mother Nature alters the course. —David McLay Kidd

TWEAKING GREATNESS

While there’s been a regular spot for Bandon Dunes in the Top 100 in the world since it opened, Keiser and Kidd recognized that even the best could be a touch better. With that in mind, he has set upon making slight alterations to three holes—11, 15, and 17. In some instances, the changes were made to adjust the holes based on the way they played for Bandon visitors, while others were altered to have them fit with Kidd’s initial strategies.

On the 11th hole, for example, Kidd felt the bunkers on the left pushed golfers too much towards the right gorse from where they could not recover and played into the hands of big hitters who would blast drives up to the right rough.

“What I had to do is lessen the defense on the left-hand side so people couldn’t avoid my strategy, because that’s what they were doing,” Kidd says.

Kidd also altered the mid-length 15th, changing some mounding on the left, which kicked running shots into the sprawling bunker in front of the green.

“There was nowhere to miss,” Kidd explains. “Mike allowed me to reduce the mounds that were six feet high and steep to 18 inches high and soft. It is important that visitors to Bandon realize that the hole isn’t easier to make birdie. But now making double-bogey takes a lot more screw-ups.”

The other element that has changed at Bandon Dunes is the gorse. The battle with the thorny bushes is ongoing, and it has been removed, only to grow back nastier than previously.

“People have different takes on the gorse,” Kidd says. “But how they perceive the course often depends on what they think of the gorse. It is fascinating to see.”

STANDING THE TEST OF TIME

Sometimes, despite the changes to the game brought about by new equipment, a golf hole simply stands the test of time. Kidd points to the 14th as an example. Only 359 yards from the tips, and 332 yards for most mortals, the hole appears benign. Kidd says many people look past the hole. After all, you can’t see the ocean on it, and the land is relatively flat. But a little pot bunker placed strategically near where many hit their drives wreaks havoc on many golfers.

“The tee shot dictates everything there,” Kidd says. “There’s a cross-wind that makes it particularly challenging to find the right line and I’ve played that hole with a lot of golfers who can’t figure out what went wrong for them.”

As for Kidd, the hole isn’t an issue. “I know exactly BANDON DUNES—HOLE 16 where to hit my driver,” he says with a laugh.

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CHANGES TO BANDON DUNES Pt. 1, AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID MCLAY KIDD

June 18, 2018 by Bandon Dunes

David McLay Kidd’s work at Bandon Dunes is never quite done, something the architect, who designed the original course nearly 20 years ago does not at all seem to mind. Kidd recently returned to adjust the 11th, 15th, and 17th holes at Bandon Dunes. Each he says needed a tune-up to return them to their original strategic intent. We caught up with David recently in his DMK Golf Design office, set in his adopted hometown of Bend, Ore., about 250 miles northeast of Bandon, to talk about the changes and some of his other thoughts about Bandon Dunes. Below is an abridged version of the interview. To read our 2014 interview with David McLay Kidd, click here.

What was the impetus of the changes at the 11th, 15th, and 17th holes?

The nature of any golf course is that they adapt, they morph, because of maintenance practices, golfers, and especially the weather over on the coast. So over the last two or three years, I’ve been over at Bandon thinking, ‘It’s time for a little tune-up. There is stuff we should look at.’

A year and a half ago or so, I took the time to go around all the holes at Bandon and I wrote an architectural review. I took pictures and I really thought about the golf course, and what I had in my mind 20 years ago and how it looks and plays today. I gave that to Mike (Keiser) and I said, ‘Hey, I’d love to be able to chew off pieces of this review over the coming years. So last summer, Mike and I agreed that we would meet in October and we would look at the first few items. … He asked me, ‘Which things do you think we should do first?’ And I said the 11th, the 15th, and the 17th holes.

Were there other considerations?

As well as being 20 years on from finishing construction, we’re also two years shy of the (2020) U.S. Amateur coming to Bandon. Selfishly, I am obviously very hopeful that the final match will be played on the original Bandon Dunes golf course. If it doesn’t, it won’t be the end of my world. But I’d surely love it if it were. It would be a highlight to my career to have the U.S. Amateur played on one of my golf courses. Short of having a U.S. Open, a U.S. Amateur would be pretty high for me. So I am hopeful.

Is there a common theme among the three holes?

11, 15 and 17 all had strategic intents 20 years ago that my execution didn’t quite hit the mark on. When you are designing a golf hole, you almost always start designing from the green and work back to the tee, even though the player plays it from the tee all the way to the green. It’s like a chess match. If I’m a chess master, I’m probably trying to think how to get you into check and then checkmate. But I have to start at one side of my board. So as I designer, I am considering that checkmate position first, and then I’m bringing it back to the tee, where you as the golfer are starting your offensive push.

Walk us through the changes at the par-4 11th hole.

Coming in from the left side, the green is relatively open — there is a small pot bunker on the right-hand side — and the green is very long. You’ve got lots of room, and it falls away from you. So to get to any pin on that green you kind of have to come down the left-hand side, land it short if you’re in the winter time with the wind behind, or land it pin high in the summertime with the wind in your face. In order to defend that attacking line, I ran three bunkers across the left side of the fairway. What then happened was those three bunkers provided such good defense that no one could go down the left side. It was overly defended, so that pushed players out right where there are gorse bushes and they could lose a ball.

What I had to do is lessen the defense down the left-hand side to persuade players to go down that way, while letting that rough come back a little bit left of those bunkers, so people couldn’t avoid my strategy. Because they were avoiding it before. They were just hitting it in the rough. So what we did was we took out the middle of the three bunkers and we extended the fairway by maybe 15 yards. And then we put chunks of beach grass all through the rough, so the rough is now randomly unfair. You can hit down the left on purpose, and you can either be in a chunk of beach grass and barely find it or you could have an open lie. But to a good golfer, that’s not a chance worth taking. I’m trying to persuade them to go down the left side as I had originally intended by weakening my defenses a little bit and giving them a chance to go down the left side.

And the par-3 15th?

When I did 15, I knew that hole was relatively long, slightly uphill, into the wind, a small target, giant bunker on the front-right corner. Difficult hole, one of the most difficult on the course. However, I left these mounds down the left-hand side of the hole that I had intended to help a golfer hit a low-running shot and use those mounds to work a ball back into the green or to allow someone to hit it down the left side of that green and if the ball didn’t cup back onto the green it would be left, short left, or pin-high left, with a relatively recoverable shot off the green. That’s not how it worked out. ...

So what I suggested to Mike (Keiser), and he allowed me to do it, was I reduced all those mounds down the left-hand side to a mere hint of their former selves. Those mounds that were 6 feet high and really steep are now 18 inches high and very soft, so a running shot would have a chance of being slowly pushed to the right and actually fold onto that green. And a high shot would land and stay, and not be rejected into the bunker. All of that material from those steep mounds was then put on the left side of 15 green. Whereas before you’d have missed that green and the ball would roll down low into a hollow and you would be left with a lob wedge up and onto the top of a green that is falling away from you — and you could end up back in that bunker again — now that area is much flatter. It’s still below the green, but you could recover with a rescue club, a Texas wedge or maybe even with a putter.

The par-4 17th?

Almost the same issue as 11. The green is best approached down the right-hand side this time. It forces you to have to hit over the gulch, or at least the corner of the gulch, that is ahead of you. But that green is 80 yards long. It’s really, really deep. When I put in all those little pot bunkers on the left-hand side, it stopped anyone from hitting down the left. And if they hit it down the middle or the right with a driver they’d run out of space and run over the edge and they’d be in that long bunker and they were done. ...

To bring the original strategy of that hole to bear — and it’s important that people understand that this was my original strategy, it’s not changing it, it’s just putting back to what I had originally intended and hadn’t quite executed correctly — the two bunkers in the fairway that stuck out the most are now gone. The shapes that they sat in are still there, so you could get some wicked bounces. But you’re not going to end up in a pot bunker. Now my hope is that players will hit 3-woods and drivers at the bunkers on the far-left side and then they’ll use the slope of the fairway to work the ball back to the middle. It will naturally bounce the ball back to the middle, and now they’re hitting short- and mid-irons into that green if they attack it correctly. Because now they can aim 10 or 15 yards left of where they were able to hit before. And with a driver, they could get it down there. Obviously, if they hit a driver and they push it too much, they could still end up off the fairway right. So there is still a risk, but in match play, if you’re one down, you have nothing to lose, you better go for it. And hitting a 9-iron into 17 is a lot easier than hitting 6-iron.

What are your feelings on going back to Bandon, a course you will always be most known for, as you say?

It was funny this time going back there. The course is held in such reverence that I kind of had to remind myself that it was me who originally did it. I can’t think of a good analogy. Every decision that is out there is me anyway. I’m not renovating back to somebody else’s vision. I know what my vision was. And sometimes that vision has been lost because of wind and rain and players and maintenance. And sometimes it never got actualized as well as I’d have hoped. And now 20 years later I have the opportunity to fix it.

Is there a hole at Bandon Dunes where golfers often get the strategy wrong?

Hmm, that’s a good question. Yeah, there’s lots. The first hole. They step up and hit driver. If you’re a reasonably a good golfer, a driver puts you in that giant hole before you can get up on the green. I would much rather hit 7-iron from a flat lie looking at the pin than a wedge down in the hole and not able to see it. And it’s a lot less pressure to hit a very soft driver, or a smooth 3-wood, or even a rescue club up the first fairway than trying to kill a driver. So right there, they hit driver and now they’re told they’re 60 yards away. What do they go for next? An L-wedge! The club they need to hit the least. That is frustrating.

Then they get to (No.) 2. I say to them, ‘Hey, what yardage have you got?’ And they say, ‘Well, I’m 160.’ And I say, ‘OK, what would you hit 160?’ And they say, ‘Well, that’s my 6-iron.’ And I go, ‘OK, hit a smooth 5.’ And they go, ‘Well, what do you mean?’ There is a huge backstop back there and the pin is in the back half of the green. Overclub it. Use the slopes. Giving you a yardage to the pin is not that useful at Bandon Dunes. The yardage to the pin is the beginning of the intellectual thought process about how you’re going to get the ball close. The fact that it’s 160, you might only hit 120 in some situations, you might hit 180 in another situation, depending on the wind and the slopes and everything that is going to factor into what is going to happen next. And a lot of players don’t understand it.

Is that a product of American golfers not being used to the (links) style?

They’re so used to seeing target golf at their home club and on the PGA Tour week in and week out. So that’s a challenge. The next thing is to get them to understand that wedges are not your friend. I get to No. 3, and I hit driver off the tee, and then I hit a little mid-iron, 6-iron, to a hundred yards out. And I’m right in the middle of the fairway 100 yards out, and I’m playing with people who never played (Bandon) before, and I take my rescue club out and a long putt it 100 yards, and I put it to 6 feet and hole it for birdie. And they’re like, ‘Well, how’d you do that?’ And I say ‘Easily.’ It was a much simpler shot than trying to hit a wedge in a 20-mile-per-hour wind off a tight lie. This was a super-simple shot. It’s not even a half swing. It’s a long putt and the ball will run all the way on. And what’s the chance of me missing the green? Very slim. I might not get it as close as I would like, but the chances of thinning it or chunking it are pretty slim.

I could go on through the whole golf course where they just don’t stop to think, ‘What other options could there be that would have less risk and more reward?’

Is it still fun for you to go out to Bandon?

Oh sh*t yeah. And I fly my plane out there.

How often to you get to go back?

Quite often. I’d say three or four times a year. I might go back there next week and check up to see how things are. It takes me 40 minutes. And if Bandon Airport is clear, that’s 40 minutes here to Bandon landing. And it’s 10 minutes in a cab.

Bandon Dunes Magazine

May 23, 2018 by Bandon Dunes

Bandon Dunes Magazine arrived on property in early June, but you can check out the digital version by clicking here! When you arrive on property be sure to take home a print copy. We've also inserted a couple of pages below for you to enjoy.

Thank you for your interest and enjoy the read!

~ Bandon Dunes Staff

Our Favorite #GuestPic Moments from 2017

December 27, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

Our Favorite #GuestPic Moments from 2017

DOWNLOAD BANDON DUNES IMAGES FOR YOUR DESKTOP BACKGROUND | 2017 EDITION

December 20, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

We've been releasing Desktop Backgrounds since 2014 and have had such great feedback that we've decided to do it again! Below you will find one image from each course taken in 2017. Each photo will include a link to a high definition image that can be used on desktops or cropped to be used on your mobile phone. All you need to do is right + click on the image and save to your computer. Feel free to access the whole Flickr album here. Our only ask is that you do not sell or print these images professionally, but instead share the link with family and friends.

Let us know which holes to include next year in the comments section below!

Click here for full resolution image on Flickr.

We truly wish that your holidays are merry and bright and hope to see you in 2018.

Shoe Doesn't Just Go Handing Out 10s

October 30, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

Shoe doesn't just go handing out 10s.

FEATURED INTERN: The Magic Man | Lucas Beaudoin

September 27, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

Lucas Beaudoin can be a tough man to reach. As one of 14 interns currently in Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s six-month professional golf management internship program, Beaudoin’s days are busy.

Beaudoin, a junior in Ferris State University’s PGA Golf Management program, is receiving a crash course in all that goes into running the operations of a public golf resort. From learning the business of merchandising to tournament operations, instruction, and problem-solving.

But that’s not all that keeps Beaudoin’s calendar filled. On this day in late August, the 20-year-old from Lawton, Michigan, is anxious to get out and go play yet another round. By the time he rolls in his final putt this day it will mark a staggering 100th round at Bandon Dunes since beginning his internship in mid-May.

“At one point I played 77 rounds and I had only been here 76 days,” says Beaudoin, who has an easy-going charm. “I always wanted to play links golf, so it’s been fun out here.”

Despite his time on course, Beaudoin is all about the golf business. The PGM program, a PGA of America-accredited program at 19 universities across the country, is no charm school. It’s an intensive golf-specific program that educates the industry’s future head golf professionals, golf sales professionals, clothing designers, and more.

Beaudoin hopes to one day be a head golf pro at a public golf resort, so “I’d say I have a pretty good setup here,” he says with a laugh.

What got you started in the game?
I didn’t start playing until my freshman year of high school. I hadn’t done any kind of sports and heard that my high school had a golf team. So I wanted to try that. I got hooked, and by sophomore year I pretty much knew I wanted to be in golf (professionally). I heard about all the PGM programs, and I applied to a couple and ended up going to Ferris.

What compelled you to apply for an internship at Bandon Dunes?
I talked to two other Ferris guys, who are actually out here with me right now, and said to them ‘This place looks pretty frickin’ sweet.’ I had known about it for a couple of years by then, so we all applied, went through a few interviews, and got it.

What has working at a resort like Bandon Dunes taught you?
I really needed to get in the shop with this internship and learn more merchandising and retail. It’s been EXACTLY what I’ve been able to do. There have been a lot more responsibilities on this internship than some of the others. Bandon Dunes gives interns the opportunity to close down the shops at all of the courses here.… There is a lot of responsibility and a lot of stuff to learn in order to be able to close a shop down.

Working at Trails I was able to do a lot of kid's clinics with Scott Millhouser, something I had never done. There are also many things this resort does that I want to take back to the PGM program. For example, we keep track of pace of play for every group on every course, every day. That is something that could be useful for our PGM tournaments in order to keep things moving. No future pro wants to be known as a slow player.

100 rounds of golf in a little over three months is pretty incredible. Do you ever tire of playing? 100 rounds is quite a bit, but it's funny, it doesn't feel like it's been that much. I have yet to be burned out on golf. People say it might happen to me, but so far in my life, I have always been itching to get on the course.

What are your impressions of links golf, now that you are so familiar with it after never playing it before?
Links golf is a totally different ball game. I didn't think it would be so different coming out here. My favorite tournament to watch has always been The Open (Championship), but watching them on TV I would often see them hitting similar shots to what I'm used to in Michigan. When I got out here I played terribly the first month. I was not expecting links style to be so much more difficult.

Now that I'm used to it, though, it is so much fun. The wind and firm ground make it so there are many more shots you can pull off. I’m definitely a more well-rounded player because of these golf courses. My weakness coming out here was ball-striking. Being able to constantly practice off super tight lies has done wonders and helped me pass my PAT (the PGA Playing Ability Test, a requirement to become a PGA pro, which he recently passed).

What do you like best about working at Bandon Dunes?
Access to the courses is probably the biggest perk out here. But one of the things I enjoy the most is all the guests who come out here. It is all about the golf, and there are a lot of die-hard golf fans. It’s really fun to talk to them.

Do you have a best day?
One day, (Director of Communications) Michael Chupka had me playing with one of his media guys and I had been playing really, really poorly. I started with a three-putt bogey and I topped a 9-iron in the fairway, and I thought I was going to die in front of these guys. But I ended up shooting my best round at Pacific Dunes that day.

Do you have a favorite course?
Bandon Trails. Each hole looks like a signature hole to me. I've always been a fan of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and they certainly did a great job with Bandon Trails. In terms of views, though, it's tough to beat holes 10 through 13 at Pacific Dunes. That is an unreal stretch of holes.

You’re also a magician. How did you get started and does it help your golf game?
In third grade, I was out of school for nearly two months due to sickness and my birthday happened to be in that time frame. One of my uncles bought me a magic kit and I had nothing else to do but sit at home and practice card tricks. I got hooked pretty easily and haven't stopped since. I do somewhere between 15 to 30 shows a year when I'm back home. Magic for me is all about the reactions I get from the spectators. No matter what mood someone is in or what’s going on around them, good magic, for at least a brief moment, is able to wipe away a person’s thoughts. They are stunned at what they just saw.

Magic relates to golf in a few strange ways. The one that sticks out to me is how you have to practice. Both take an immense amount of practice to get good at, but you also have to practice in the right way.

Overall, what would you say about your experience at Bandon Dunes?
Overall my experience at Bandon so far has been a blast. I will be sad to leave this place come November. There are so many great people here that make Bandon Dunes a special place.

Ensuring a great walk is never spoiled

July 19, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

The sun fades over the Pacific Ocean as you relax with friends, enjoying a beverage, and trading memories made over the course of a very long day. After walking 36 of the most beautiful holes most golfers will ever see, you’re inevitably tired but overcome with a sense of joy.

The moments to cherish at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort differ with each Bandonista, but few are as universally satisfying as those following a 36-hole day. It’s a rite of passage, woven into the fabric of what makes this place special. (It’s also a pretty great way to save a bit with our replay rates.)

Of course, no easy journey is ever as gratifying. Walking 36 holes at Bandon Dunes, a journey that can stretch to around 12 miles requires endurance and preparation. In the end, you don’t want to be the player who fades down the stretch or worse yet, quits before the day’s journey is complete. Take if from us, your buddies will never let you hear the end of it.

So what is a Bandonista to do to get ready? Well, it comes down to three things: Preparation, fueling up properly on and off the course, and rest before and after your round.

Preparation

It’s funny, when taking a big golf trip most any golfer will take the necessary steps to sharpen their golf games. But many will neglect a pre-trip fitness routine. They should not.

More than half of all golfers in a recent USGA study say they opt for a cart if one is available. With that in mind, it’s fair to say that walking 18 holes, much less 36 holes, is hardly standard operating procedure for many golfers.

You don’t have to become a workout warrior to get ready. But before making a trip to Bandon, consider changing your cart habit and walk your rounds. In addition, whether it be a brisk cruise around the neighborhood or some extended time on the treadmill, make a habit of walking as much as you can in the weeks ahead. Simple things like opting for the stairs instead of the elevator at work, or parking at the back of the grocery store lot, can make meaningful contributions to your pre-visit fitness regime.

Trust us, your body and your golf game will thank you once at the resort.

Fueling up

Eating properly is a crucial piece that is often taken for granted by recreational golfers, but not eating right over 36 holes at Bandon can leave you feeling sluggish and your golf game in a heap (or vice versa). After all, a walking golfer burns on average twice as many calories as a golfer riding a cart.

When you play 36, chances are you’re going to have an early start and you will have time between rounds for lunch. Eat a full meal before both rounds, opting for lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables, for extra energy. Bandon Dunes has no shortage of restaurants, of course, and both breakfast and lunch options are available at each golf course.

A refuel during each round is typically necessary, too. Be sure to tuck some energy bars, fruit or your favorite snack in your bag from the on-course turnstands. You’ll find quick eats (and your favorite cold beverages, of course) at Bandon Dunes (at the turn), Bandon Trails (accessible on Nos. 7, 8, 10 and11), Pacific Dunes (near No. 4 tee and No. 12 green, with incredible views), Old MacDonald (off No. 7 and 15 greens, and serving the best “snack shack” views in the world), and The Preserve (accessible on Nos. 4, 8, and 11).

And whatever you do, don’t forget to drink plenty of water.

Proper rest and stretching

On the course, it’s time to exert yourself. But before, during, and after a 36-hole day, golfers should take extra care of their bodies. Stretch and warm up before each round, including the second round of the day, and stretch after the final round. We have all heard of the breakfast and lunch ball off the first tee but don’t rely on them for your warm up session!

After the day is done, enjoy a Swedish, deep tissue or sports massage from a certified therapist in our massage center. Bandon Dunes guests have access to our workout facilities, Jacuzzi, and sauna. And a trip to The Labyrinth, a maze intended for walking meditation, will return a golfer to a relaxed state of mind.

Do it all right, and you’ll be ready for another 36 the next day!

Bandon Dunes Solstice 2017

June 21, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

On behalf of all the staff, thank you for coming out to play in the 7th Annual Bandon Dunes Summer Solstice. Congratulations to all on accomplishing this incredible challenge. Whether it was your first time or your seventh time, we enjoyed having you on the South Coast of Oregon playing links golf from sunrise to sunset.

Check out some of the impressive stats and Twitter Moments below...

Bandon Solstice Event

We hope your recovery goes well and we look forward to seeing you again soon. Only 364 more days until the next Bandon Dunes Summer Solstice! For those who didn't play, if you are interested in entering the Bandon Dunes Solstice lottery for 2018 please call our reservations team at 866.311.3636!

CADDIE FEATURE: Ray B

May 9, 2017 by Bandon Dunes

Count yourself lucky if Ray Bursey — or Ray B as he is best known here at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort — has ever been on your bag. There may be no better caddie anywhere than the easygoing and friendly 73-year-old from Texarkana, Texas.

Ray B earned his first loop at age 11 and became a professional caddie in 1981, really by accident. His career includes loops on the PGA, LPGA, and developmental pro tours in addition to stops at famed country clubs such as Bel Air and Riviera.

Ray B arrived at Bandon Dunes in 2002, when he left the pro tours for what he initially thought would be a couple of weeks. It turned out Ray B would never leave Bandon Dunes again. The father of three and grandfather of five has spent most days during the last 15 years playing his trade on what he calls “God’s green acres.” Along the way, he has become one of Bandon Dunes most beloved figures.

So Ray, what was your first loop as a kid like?
I could only do it once a week on Saturday at Texarkana Country Club. … The first time I went out on the course I was maybe 11 years old. The bag was bigger than I was. It was almost dragging on the ground I was so small. But every Saturday I would go out and make that $1.25. That was a lot of money to me back then.

How did you get into caddying professionally, and what has kept you doing it all these years?
I was working for the FAA during the (1981 air-traffic controller) strike, and I was playing out at Rancho Park (Golf Course) there in LA. And one of the guys made the statement, “They need caddies tomorrow at Brentwood Country Club.” They were having a big tournament. As a kid, I made $1.25 to caddie, and I said, “Man, I’m going to go out there and chase that little white ball for a dollar-and-something?’” He told me that I would caddie for a foursome and make a good salary. So I did it. … When I finished, the caddie master said, “The guys were really impressed with you and I could use you on the weekends.”

I started going on Saturdays and Sundays, and (the caddie master) said, “I could use you full time.” I saw that I could make a living doing it and I have been doing it ever since. I love it.

Do you have a most memorable person you caddied for?
John Candy (the famed late comedy star) at Bel-Air and Riviera. He used to have a Monday game at Riviera and he was a member out at Bel-Air. It was always memorable with him because he was always joking. He was just a funny loop to have.

When did you first hear about Bandon Dunes and decide to caddie there?
I had heard from some guys about this place called “Bandon Dunes,” that it was great and it was links golf. I had never worked links golf. I had never been to Europe to caddie or anything like that. And so my pro (Brad Fabel, who was then on the Nationwide Tour) was going to be out three or four months with a hurt wrist. I thought I would go and get another bag (on tour), but then I decided to to go to Bandon and see what they were talking about.

I really had intended to come for only two weeks. And the first time I saw around the corner on No. 4 at Bandon Dunes and that ocean hit me, I was hooked. Matter of fact, at the time Matt Allen was the Assistant General Manager and in the group that day. He said, “you’re not going anywhere, now.” He was right. I haven’t been anywhere else since.

What is the toughest challenge caddying at Bandon?
Bandon is unlike country clubs or even the Tour. You are constantly changing personalities. Each individual has his own agenda, his own way of doing things, and his own personality. Some guys want you to be talkative. While other guys want you to be as mum as possible. You have to figure that out the first couple of holes. You learn that fast. And if you learn that, you’ll never have any problems.

You say you had never caddied at a links course before arriving at Bandon. Have you gained an appreciation for Mr. Keiser’s vision?
I thank him every day of my life now. It’s just great golf. It’s kind of corny to say, “It’s golf as it was meant to to be.” But it’s right. It’s just GREAT golf.

Six or seven years ago we had a caddie who left to go out on Tour. He’s doing well. And I tell the young guys that if you can caddie here you can caddie anywhere in the world, on any tour, for anybody. You can’t memorize these greens. You’ve got to look from both sides, front and back if you have the time, to really get the proper read. You can move the cup a half inch from one day to the next and it will change the whole complexion of the read.

Do you have a favorite course at Bandon Dunes?
Pacific. I think Pacific is one of the greatest courses that I’ve been on and No. 1 in the world. I’m very fortunate.

Do you have a favorite regular you caddie for?
Uncle Tony (Kielhofer) and the Ginella group (who host the annual Uncle Tony Invitational), that’s the highlight of my year. Those guys are just great. Just really great. Uncle Tony has been ill (he is battling cancer), but I’ve talked to him a couple times in the last two months, and he says he is going to make it this year. He says he’ll be here.

You’re known throughout the resort as an avid sports fan. Do you have a favorite?
I like it all. Football is my favorite, and I like whoever I bet on that week.

You were the honorary starter when The Punchbowl opened and designed the first 18 hole layout. What are your memories of that day?
That was a great experience, man. Before opening day, I spent like seven hours with Mr. (Tom) Doak. Just to hear him talk about the grasses at Bandon and the Trails and Pacific, it was just a wonderful experience.

What qualities make a great caddie?
First of all, I would say they might not start out loving it. But they have to acquire a love for it. Just loving the job, it shows. You can feel it yourself. If you love the job, you’re going to do the best you can possibly do.

Your thoughts on the Chick Evans Caddie Scholarship (which offers full tuition and housing college scholarship for golf caddies)?
It’s a great thing. It gives kids work experience and we’ve had some good Evans Scholars each year come out here. They’ll never forget the experience.

What advice would you offer a junior caddie on his/her first loop at Bandon Dunes?
Be honest. A golfer will help teach you if you explain to him that you’re new. Golfers as a group always want to be helpful to another golfer or to a new caddie… they will teach you. Instead of trying to go in there not knowing and trying to guess, it’s best to say, “I’m new at this and I’m learning.”

If you could give one piece of advice to a first timer who visits Bandon Dunes what would it be?
I tell most of the people, you give up distance for accuracy on these courses. The more you can stay out of trouble, the better you can score. If you think a driver will bring trouble into play, it’s better for you to hit 3-wood or 4-iron and keep it in play and putt for par. Bogey is sometimes good in all this wind. And you will enjoy it much better than spraying it all over the gorse and hitting out of these crazy bunkers.

UPDATE: We are saddened to share that one of our great ambassadors and caddies, Ray B, passed away on the evening of Tuesday, October 3rd. The outpouring love and support that has come in from Ray B's family, caddies, staff, guests, and community members has been amazing to witness.

The feature above of the legend himself will live on forever to memorialize his impact on our family. We hope those who knew him share their stories in the comments section below and those who didn't, discover a friend they had yet to meet. Rest easy Ray B. Your wisdom, positivity, and smile will be greatly missed around what you often called, "God's green acres." Enjoy your heavenly loop in the sky.