STAFF FEATURE: BILLY THE DOG

October 22, 2015 by Bandon Dunes

We recently shadowed one of our favorite four legged colleagues to get a unique look at the Pacific Dunes agronomy operation and what makes being the Superintendent's best friend such a pivotal role. At first look, you might assume the position our newest employee feature holds is quite the cushy spot. When we finally got him to sit down with us (yes, it took treats), Billy begged to differ and brought along his official job description to back him up.

Position Title:
Course Dog | Superintendent’s Best Friend

Job Location:
Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Agronomy Department

Reports To:
Marcus Lakey, Assistant Superintendent of Pacific Dunes

Facility Description:

Pacific Dunes is located just minutes from the quaint town of Bandon by the Sea on the southern coast of Oregon. Designed by Tom Doak, opened in 2001, Pacific Dunes is consistently ranked one of the top-3 public courses in the country. In addition to the world class golf, there is a newly created putting course called the Punchbowl, patterned after the Himalayas putting course at St. Andrews. The clubhouse features a top-100 golf shop as well as the Pacific Grill, a full service restaurant and bar with patio.

Position Summary:

In this position, you’ll oversee the day to day agronomy activities, working closely with the Assistant Superintendent, as well as other key personnel in the Agronomy Department. As a liaison between the Agronomy staff and the Golf Operation staff, you’ll communicate with various department heads, as well as greenskeepers, to ensure a smooth operation. Only when consulted, your animal expertise will be called upon to resolve any bird (specifically Canadian Geese) or other animal conflicts/issues as needed.

Position Responsibilities:

Monitor the general activities and driving standards of the agronomy team in the morning as they arrive, as well as when they come back in for lunch.
By standing directly in the middle of the doorway, manage the flow of greenskeepers as they move around the lunchroom on a daily / weekly / monthly basis.
Analyze body language for both the prospects of possible food items and the potential for a belly rub on a routine basis.
Prepare warm sandy spots against various Agronomy buildings to lay down on during sunny afternoons.
Approval of various projects by wagging your tail, hanging out your tongue, and by generally inspecting all activities.
Assist with the overseeing of general golf course maintenance by riding in a cart, sitting still and avoiding playtime in the sand bunkers.
Boost employee moral by not biting or growling and the occasional demonstration of skills, such as balancing biscuits on nose, running wildly around in circles for personal reasons, and returning various items thrown or kicked by staff in random directions.

Qualifications:

1-3 years of companion puppy experience.
Outstanding communication skills not required, but encouraged.
Demonstrated proficiency sitting, riding in carts, and laying on the floor.
Helps to have persuasive techniques with department managers to test food items either left carelessly on the floor or placed directly into your mouth at anytime throughout the day.
Advanced proficiency riding in the front passenger seat of a maintenance vehicle preferred.
Ability to ignore problems, multitasking, and basically any kind of work in general is required.
Must be able to turn around in a circle three times before lying down and sleep unattended for long periods of time.

Tom Doak’s Hole-By-Hole Description Of Old Macdonald, Back Nine

September 30, 2015 by Bandon Dunes

We've made the turn from last week's hole-by-hole description of the front nine on Old Macdonald. In case you missed Tom Doak's thoughts on holes one through nine, click the link at the bottom of the page! Enjoy the back nine and don't forget to comment on your favorites below!

10. "Bottle” -- As at Macdonald's eighth hole at National Golf Links, two sets of fairway bunkers narrow the driving zone, forcing you to make a carry to the left side of the fairway or funnel into a narrow area in the right side of the hole. The second shot is one of the most difficult on the course, with the green sitting well up above the fairway and not much room through the back; chipping from the base of the green for your third is the best way to avoid a big score, while par is a great score. Precedent: Sunningdale (Old) #12, National Golf Links #8.

11. "Road” -- The line of the fairway and green here are almost identical to the famous Road hole at St. Andrews. Although the tee shot is visible instead of blind, a long drive down the very right of the hole opens up an angle to the green; any approach played from the left or center is threatened by the deep revetted bunker at the left, and a bank falling away at the back right. Precedent: St. Andrews #17, National Golf Links #7, Piping Rock #8.

12. "Redan” -- The most-imitated hole in the world is the par-3 15th at North Berwick, Scotland, known as the Redan, after a Crimean War fortress in Russia which was in the news when it was built. The plateau green runs away from a high shoulder at the right front to the back left, with a deep bunker guarding the left flank of the green. Our Redan is a bit different; the left bunker does not come across the front of the green as far as would be typical for the hole, but the bank of the green feeds short balls out to the bunker. Only a straight fade will work here. Precedent: North Berwick #15, National Golf Links #4, Chicago Golf Club #7.

13. "Leven” -- One of Macdonald's favorite short par-4 holes was at the old Leven Golf Club, whose course has since been split in two; the hole is now the 16th at Lundin Links, Scotland, a few miles south of St. Andrews. The hole is almost drivable, but the green falls away dramatically from the base of a big dune at its front left, down toward the right; so you would like to play your second shot from the right-hand side back up into the slope. Precedent: Lundin Links #16, Chicago Golf Club #5, National Golf Links #17.

14. "Maiden” -- This short par-4 climbing up to an elevated green is named after the famous Maiden at Royal St. George's, the largest dune on any of the Open Championship links. The original Maiden hole was a blind par-3 over the dune which Macdonald sharply criticized, however he admired the size and scale of the hill. The green has elevated wings at the left and back right which demand a precise approach; the nature of the approach can be altered by driving well out to the right, so that the green lays out from front to back. Precedent: none.

15. "Westward Ho!" -- This long par-5 plays back into the setting sun to a green up on the primary dune, overlooking the ocean. The heaving contours of the fairway are like ocean swells; the key shot is the second, which must either get past a deep bunker on the right or be aimed safely short and left of it, which makes the uphill third shot much more difficult. The green is sharply two-tiered, so the correct length of the approach is paramount. Precedent: National Golf Links #18.

16. "Alps” -- Macdonald's third hole at National Golf Links was not just an homage to the Alps at Prestwick, but an improvement on the hole -- instead of making the approach over a dune completely blind, his arrangement of the hole allowed a long drive down the right to get a peek at the green, while allowing a way around the dune for short hitters trying only to play the hole in three installments. Our version is faithful to Macdonald's hole, except that we left a narrow open approach for blind shots from the left, instead of building a bunker all the way across that line as at Prestwick and National. Precedent: Prestwick #17, National Golf Links #3.

17. "Littlestone” -- One of Macdonald's most daring ideas came from the par-4 16th at Littlestone, England. The hole in his day was a long dogleg to the left, but Macdonald imagined an alternate fairway among the dunes on the direct line to the hole, which would enable daring players to cut the corner and get home in two. His version of the hole was the par-5 fourth hole at Lido Golf Club, Long Island, a great course which closed its doors in the Depression. On our seventeenth, driving over a small wetland yields an open approach to the green, but the carry is so long that most players will have to be content with playing away to the left off the tee and taking a three-shot route home. Precedent: Littlestone #16, Lido #4.

18. "Punchbowl” -- Many greens on Scottish links were hidden away in natural bowls between the dunes. Macdonald had a very stylized version of this concept, with a huge green surrounded by small hills sweeping down from left to right; our home green is an outsized version of the Macdonald concept, so that the scale and drama of the course will stay with you right until the last putt is holed. Precedent: Chicago Golf Club #12, The Creek #6.

Check out the front nine of Old Macdonald (Part One)

Tom Doak’s Hole-By-Hole Description Of Old Macdonald, Front Nine

September 24, 2015 by Bandon Dunes

Every golf course has its own personality. This is an abstract idea, but what does a course's personality look like? Is it aggressive? Does it reward specific behavior? Is it classical, or modern? Widen the lens on golf and famous courses come into focus. Widen the lens a little farther and the architects behind them appear. From that perspective, focus in on a modern course like Old Macdonald and you'll find a succession of holes based on interpretations of other famous holes.

An important distinction to make is, the holes are interpretations not replicas. They were designed to pay homage to CB Macdonald and some of the most notorious architectural concepts around the game of golf.

Ever wondered where the inspiration for each hole came from and how Tom Doak would describe each hole? For insight into the character of Old Mac as it relates to the complex tapestry that is golf as a whole we offer the first nine holes as described by Tom Doak.

Check in next week for Doak’s thoughts on the back nine with more descriptions and insights!

1. "Double Plateau” -- This is my favorite opening hole that we've ever built. There is an ocean of fairway to hit at, but several choices on where to go. Straight up the middle is fine, but a drive up to the plateau on the right or wide to the left gives a better look at the green surface, and some strong hitters may even risk the bunkers to try and drive it up near the front of the green. No matter which way you go, getting your second shot onto the front left or back right plateau when the flag is there is an excellent shot. Precedent: National Golf Links #11, Yale #17.

2. "Eden” -- This par-3 hole into the wind is based on the 11th at St. Andrews, judged by many in Macdonald's day as the ideal short hole. The green is defended by a deep revetted bunker at the front right [the Strath bunker] and another fearsome bunker left, with just enough fairway in between that a carefully judged running approach can be played. The green has a severe back-to-front pitch, so playing over the bunkers is never a safe option. Precedent: St. Andrews #11, National Golf Links #13, Mid Ocean #3.

3. "Sahara” -- A short par-4 up and over a huge dune ridge, based on the old 3rd hole at Royal St. George's in England, which in Macdonald's day was a blind par 3. The safe line to the right requires only a 150-yard carry, but you can get near the green with the drive if you dare to flirt with the big tree on the left. The green is enormous for a short pitch yet it is still sometimes hard to get close to the hole, especially when the hole plays downwind. Precedent: Royal St. George's #3, National Golf Links #2.

4. "Hog's Back” -- This hole is inspired by the par-4 seventeenth at Lundin Links, Scotland. The tee shot is up onto a narrow ridge that falls away sharply to both sides -- a perfect drive will either stay up or kick forward for extra yardage, but anything less will kick away to the side, leaving a very long second shot down the valley toward the green. There is a small plateau on the left of the green that's very hard to hold; when the flag is on that side, four is a great score. Precedent: Lundin Links #17, National Golf Links #16.

5. "Short” -- Our shortest hole plays to one of the biggest greens on the course, but the green target is divided into several distinct areas and it is essential to find the right one to avoid a circus lag putt. The right-hand hole locations are especially severe because of the deep bunker to that side. If in doubt, miss toward the center of the green and take your chances from there. Precedent: Royal West Norfolk #4, National Golf Links #6, Chicago Golf Club #10.

6. "Long” -- The longest hole on the course plays directly into the summer wind, so three solid shots will be required to get home. The dominant bunker 100 yards short of the green is modeled after Hell bunker on the 14th hole at St. Andrews, Scotland, and should be avoided at all costs. The green is also modeled after the 14th at St. Andrews, with a steep rise at the front right making it difficult to pitch from that side; a running approach might be more successful here. Precedent: St. Andrews #14, National Golf Links #9.

7. "Ocean” -- This stout par-4 into the wind is not modeled after any particular Macdonald hole, but we were sure that Macdonald would have moved heaven and earth to site a green on the dune ridge overlooking the Pacific. Between the elevation change and the prevailing wind, the second shot will play much longer than the yardage, and it is best to hedge to the left as any shot to the right of the green will tumble well back down off the dune. Precedent: none.

8. "Biarritz" -- A long par-3 playing from a high tee by the ocean, down to a wild green with a deep swale running through the middle of it. With the flag at the back, many players may opt to land just in front of the swale and let the ball run through it and up to the hole; with the hole in the front of the green, it's a much shorter shot but your ball must stop quickly to avoid running down into the bottom. The original version of this hole was built by Willie Dunn in Biarritz, France. Precedent: Yale #9, Piping Rock #9.

9. "Cape” -- A sharp dogleg to the right, with bunkers and gorse on the inside corner keeping you honest on the tee shot, but if you play away from the corner you may be left with a fairly long approach to a narrow target that runs a bit away from you. This hole is based on Macdonald's 14th hole at The National Golf Links of America, though we substituted the gorse and bunkers in place of a pond which guards the dogleg at National. Precedent: National Golf Links #14, Chicago Golf Club #14.

Check out the back nine of Old Macdonald (Part Two)

STAFF FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH GRANT ROGERS

July 8, 2015 by Nick Martin

For fifteen years Grant Rogers has been sharing his golf wisdom with guests and fellow employees as the Director of Instruction here at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

If you're lucky enough to know him, or to have taken a lesson from him, then you are familiar with his epic stories and his zen like approach to the game. Golf, much like Grant, must be experienced to be fully enjoyed. Experience is at the heart of what makes Grant such a great instructor. Like the Tao Te Ching, what he says sometimes might seem obvious on the surface, but if you listen closely he's speaking to the larger picture of things.

Recently, we sat down with Grant to pick his brain and to glean some insight into how he approaches the game. The following video is a snippet of our larger conversation. We hope you enjoy it.

Watch our in-person interview with Grant Rogers below or on our Vimeo account. You can also visit our Instruction">Instruction Page for instruction details and more videos from Grant.

Read the extended interview below and please share your Grant stories with us in the comment section!

So Grant, how long have you lived in Bandon?

I've lived in Bandon almost 15 years. The time has really gone fast. I can't believe I've been here 15 years but someone told me that yes I have. *Laughs

I've been here 6 years and it seems like only a few days have gone by.

I know it. What is the deal with that?

I don't know why that is.

I do. Someone told me when I was little that time accelerates as you get older. I said, "No it doesn't. Time is a constant!" So, I was convinced I was right. Then as I got a little older I became convinced he was right. I do think it accelerates. *Laughs

So Grant, what's your "Bandon Story?" How did you discover the resort?

I do have a Bandon story. I'm glad you asked that question. My Bandon story starts at Royal St. George's Golf Club in England. Somehow I ended up there and as soon as I played that golf course my whole attitude about golf changed. I realized this style of golf I really like to play the best.

Links golf?

Yeah, links golf. I had never really played golf like that before and then instead of coming home I decided to play more golf like that in Scotland. So then I kind of vanished in Scotland for a while. But, when I got back to the United States I started realizing that I was constantly scheming on different ways to get back to Europe to play golf. I was pretty successful because I was able to go there 20 different times to play golf. So that's when I got really hooked on links golf. As soon as I discovered that they were building Bandon Dunes I came over and took a look at what they were doing. At that time they were just building the fifth hole at Bandon and they were really excited to have someone to show the golf course to. Which was basically just the fifth hole. I took one look at that golf hole and thought, "This is going to be a fantastic golf course, just like those courses I used to play in Europe."

No. 5 on Bandon Dunes is a beast!

Yes. One of my favorite holes on property!

Do you like it because it plays so differently from day to day? You could play it in a north breeze, south breeze and benign day and have a different experience each time.

That's true. Something is different every time you play it, usually it's the elements. The great thing about playing Bandon Dunes golf is the wind. I think it's the X factor. You never know exactly what's going to happen wind-wise. I've been sending notes to people I give lessons to, telling them, "I'm pretty excited that the northwest wind is back." It really does add a lot of interest to golf in the summer here.

Aside from being aware of the wind and such, what do you think is the secret to a low score on our links courses?

You have to know when to play offence and defense. Sometimes it makes sense to go for the green, for example, and sometimes it makes sense not to go for the green. It's almost kind of irresistible [to go for the green] because there it is, and if you hit your best shot you're going to get on the green and maybe a birdie putt, right? And then all of a sudden, people are really surprised that the ball didn't go where they aimed, they ended up in a sand dune and they made a 10. So they may have been better off hitting a 7-iron, getting on the green that way, and then 1 or 2-putt to get a par or a bogey. So, you just have to take your time and look at what makes the most sense. The greens here are really well guarded, for one thing, especially against long shots. And that's what gets the more agressive, low-handicap player in trouble because they are pretty aggressive here when they don't need to be.

Do you have any nicknames?

Well, lately people have been calling me "The Wizard" because of The Wizard of Bandon Dunes article that appeared in Golf Digest. If you haven't read it there are a few stories people might enjoy if they read it. The other day someone was kind of teasing me about that nickname and I told them, "Be careful, as a wizard I can make you disappear!" *Laughs. He hasn't called me the Wizard lately.

How do people sign up for links instructions?

We do have a page on our website that has all the information about what we offer. Basically we can help people with anything related to their golf game. Our Practice Center is the best. So, it's unlimited in terms of what we can do to help people with their golf shots or with their golf game in general. Then of course we give lessons out on the courses because a lot of times people will tell me, "Great you have me hitting the ball really well on the range but I can never do this on the golf course." So then we suggest to go out there together because sometimes they just need a guide out there to be with and help them out with a little more about strategy and maybe a little bit about how to putt well out on the golf course. That makes a big difference because it has a lot to do with scoring.

What's the most common question a student will ask you?

A lot of people here at the resort are intrigued and want to know more about links golf. They also want to know what's different about links golf and how do they play their best golf here in Bandon. Links lessons are really popular. We give those to small or big groups where we talk about specific links shots, how to play in the wind, how to survive in the bunkers, and how to putt well. If they can learn a little bit in each area they're going to play better, for sure.

How can individual lessons be different than links lessons?

A lot of times their swing problems are pretty simple to fix. It's not like a band-aid lesson, it's more like, "This is how you fix this problem." I have a lot of people try to tell me, "It can't be that easy" and I tell them to hit another one. Then they hit another good golf shot because what ever they have been trying to do has been way to complicated. Golfers have trouble doing something that's really complicated with a golf club in their hands. It just doesn't work.

I've heard that too. It's best to simplify, right?

Yeah, this idea of "less-is-more" is actually true. You can't be thinking about 19,000 things. It just doesn't work.

Do you think there is an ideal swing?

That's a really good question. There is an ideal swing actually... it's the one that works best for you. That's where an instructor has to figure that out, "Okay, what swing will work best for you?" A lot of times people have natural swings too. We've done some interesting experiments with swinging a golf club and filming it. It's amazing how good their swing really is. If you introduce a golf ball who knows what they're going to do. They put it in a different mode. They go from swinging a golf club mode, to hitting a golf ball mode. It's really different. Sometimes I'll have to tell people how good their practice swing really is and that they should sneak up to the golf ball and really use it. *Laughs. Because if they do, they hit this really good golf shot, ya know?

Do you have consistencies you look for from address through the swing that you like to follow?

Yeah, I do. A lot of times when someone is waiting for me at the Practice Center for a lesson and as I'm walking up to them I see their swing from a distance, before I even talk to them I know the problem with their swing. Just watching them take a few swings I can tell a couple of the things that they're doing that are really good, but we have to add a few things to it to make it really good. If the rhythm and balance is good for a golfer, they're gonna have a better chance of hitting a good golf shot. That's for sure. So a lot of times if they have a problem it's related to one or more of those areas. So my focus becomes, let's get the balance right, now let's get the rhythm right then we'll see what happens. A lot of the time the results are really good.

What are your thoughts about luck? What do you think about the saying, "luck is just preparation meeting opportunity?"

Well... sometimes it is just luck too. Sometimes you just get lucky. That golf ball could've gone in the water but it didn't or the ball could've gone out of bounds but it didn't. Or you went in the bunker but had this perfect lie, then all of a sudden a putt went in that you thought you missed. Luck is on your side sometimes. Luck is definitely a factor in links golf. So if you're playing your best golf on any of our golf courses you're having a lucky day. The reason I'm saying that is once your golf ball leaves the club then you have zero influence on that golf ball. So then, that's where the luck comes in. If you want to find out if you're a lucky person or not, just hit a golf ball somewhere and you'll find out.

*Laughs. That's a pretty good line to start wrapping up. Anything parting thoughts you'd like to add?

I think that anyone who's interested in golf is interested in playing a little better. They want to know more about their potential. I know I've had some really good golf lessons myself. I think golf lessons can be very valuable. So, I would encourage anyone that wants to get better to get together and come out and see us. We'll do our best to help you.

I haven't seen a problem that someone has had with a golf club that can't be fixed. Sometimes they have to be a bit more patient and have a little more sense of humor about the whole situation but they can definitely get better. I just encourage all golfers to get some help if they need it and just enjoy whatever is going on. Be glad you're on the golf course.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is really an amazing experience. And it really is amazing every day.

ICYMI: Don't forget to check out our Employee Feature on Bob "Shoe" Gaspar from early 2015!

STAFF FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH "SHOE"

February 18, 2015 by Nick Martin

If you've ever had the good fortune of visiting Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, no doubt you've likely shaken hands with one of Bandon Dunes' icons in front of the lodge. His smiling face and laid-back charm are not easy to forget, but did you know his name is Bob? Chances are you remember him by the nickname, Shoe.

Well if you are wondering how he was officially tagged "Shoe" or what his secret is to great customer service you are in luck. We pried him away from the podium for a few minutes to get an inside scoop.

So Shoe, tell us how you got your nickname.

Before the resort opened in 1998, a friend of Josh Lesnik was covering the PGA Championship in Washington. Josh invited his friend (Jeff Rude) down here to tour the new facilities and when he showed up he brought along some of his friends from Golfweek magazine including his editor, Dave Seanor. When Dave and the rest of the crew exited the van, he took one look at me and said I looked like the jockey, Bill Shoemaker. Dave said, "We'll just have to start calling you Shoe". I didn't think it would catch on but, Josh affectionately kept calling me Shoe every time he needed something or wanted me to go somewhere with him, like to lunch. You get the idea.

Hard to imagine that was almost twenty years ago already. Have you lived in Bandon a long time?

Faith, my wife and I moved to Bandon in July of 1980.

What did you do before coming to Bandon Dunes?

I was a driver for UPS in the Los Angeles area for twenty years prior to moving to Bandon. Then I worked as a driver and manager for Silver Eagle, a small regional freight carrier, for sixteen years. I semi-retired in 1997 with a combined thirty-six years as a teamster. I also belonged to the United States Coast Guard reserves in Charleston for eighteen years. That plus my six years in the Army allowed me to retire in 2001 with 24 years combined military service.

Wow. LA to Bandon in the 80's must have been quite the culture shock. Thank you for your service, by the way. How did you ever get involved with Bandon Dunes in the first place? Is it true that you took the very first reservation for golf at the resort?

(Hear Shoe tell in his own words how he became a member of the Bandon Dunes crew and other anecdotes in the "Bonus" content audio portion below)

I did take the first reservation. It was Greg Popma from Portland. I was so excited and couldn't wait to tell Josh. Josh's reply was a classic. With a twinkle in his eye, he jokingly said, "Shoe, we're going to need a lot more than one."

We've had more than one alright. I think the secret's out. I know Josh would agree Bandon Dunes' success, apart from the world class golf experience, is due in no small part to the world class hospitality and customer service provided by you and others. What do you think is the secret to great customer service?

There's no secret to great customer service. Just make the guests feel welcomed and at home. Be helpful and friendly and above all be sincere, and genuine. Josh told me long ago to try and see things from the guest's perspective and that has really worked.

Sounds like great advice not only for great customer service but for life. You must get asked a lot of the same questions, especially about the weather.

The day we opened, our first guest stepped out of the door and asked, "what's the weather going to be like today?"

I'm sure it's been the same ever since. You have your own Twitter account now, @GolfShoeBandon where you tweet out the latest weather situation and give it a ranking. It's very interesting and informative. You've adapted to the new technology quite well. Do you see yourself as a kind of weather man now?

Twitter is new to me and I'm trying. I've received some positive feedback, but there's always room for improvement. Ever since my first day, I have been very interested in the weather and the role it plays with the guests. If I had more time and energy I would go back to school and study Earth Sciences.

(Follow Shoe on Twitter below)

If only we had more time and energy. I hear you there. That's interesting about studying Earth Science. Who would you say the most interesting person is you've welcomed to the Resort?

That's an easy one. The most interesting person I've ever welcomed to the resort is the next one.

Don't forget to check out Shoe's Weather Report via Twitter:

Tweets by @GolfShoeBandon

Check out the audio portion on our Soundcloud!

DOWNLOAD BANDON DUNES IMAGES FOR YOUR DESKTOP BACKGROUND | 2014 EDITION

December 15, 2014 by Bandon Dunes

Happy Holidays from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort! As a token of our appreciation we would like to offer you some digital backgrounds for your desktop computer or mobile device!

Click on the image to open it in a new window/tab. Then right + click on the image and use "Save Image As..." to download the background-image wallpaper (press + hold for mobile):

*These images are for personal use only and may not be reprinted or resold without permission from Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Interview with David McLay Kidd

September 16, 2014 by Nick Martin

David McLay Kidd is the architect of Bandon Dunes, which opened in 1999 and was the resort’s first course. At the time Mike Keiser hired him, Kidd was an unheralded designer in his 20s. Today he has more than a dozen courses on his résumé. We hope you will enjoy this insightful Q&A with Kidd, the man who brought Bandon Dunes to life.

(Photo by Larry Lambrecht)

How were you approached by Mr. Keiser about the Bandon Dunes project?

I was working for a Scottish Company called Gleneagles Golf Developments as their in-house golf architect. Mike is friends with Rick Summers who was also in partnership with this Scottish company. Mike asked Rick who he should hire and Rick told him a Scottish designer. Mike said there aren't any but Rick knew differently and I'm very glad he did.

What were your thoughts when you saw the site for the first time?

It sure looks like the west coast of Scotland, and when the wind blows and rain follows it is exactly the same!

How involved was Mr. Keiser throughout the project?

Mike was very involved. He was on site every few weeks to approve every piece of the golf course, debating every decision, challenging every suggestion, but with knowledge not ignorance. He is the best and most tasking client I’ve ever had.

When you began the project on site, how did you get started?

In 1996 the clearing started and I made various visits but wasn't on site full-time for that. The gorse was a real challenge and in the end we had to pull it out by the roots one plant at a time! We started golf construction in 1997 on the bluff edge at No. 12 and worked inland as the weather got more challenging.

How long did the project take, from start to finish?

We started in August 1997 and worked through until Thanksgiving then took a break until mid-January completing in June 1998 just in time for a group of us to go to the U.S. Open at Olympic Club with Mike.

Which hole took the least effort to build?

A few holes could compete for this title but I'd pick No. 11. Everything was there, only the tee and fairway bunkers required any shaping. The green as you see it today was basically there.

Which hole took the MOST effort to build?

No competition here, No. 5. It had no fairway and the dune to the right was moved back to give a wide fairway. The sand used to plate the fairway at this part of the site had a red clay on top, not sand.

Which hole turned out differently than initially planned?

All of them! The most notable is probably No. 16, which Mike had agreed would be a dogleg par-4 around a group of trees. Once he left I had a better idea and built what you see now. It was a key moment because if he hadn't liked it I think he would have fired me!

Which hole gets less credit than it deserves?

When I get credit for the oceanfront holes I always feel a bit like the cockerel taking credit for sunrise. Where I get the greatest joy is where my imagination created a hole that didn't obviously exist and No. 14 is in this group. It has a great natural green site but no obvious tee or fairway. I positioned a number of simple pot bunkers that frame a wide fairway while guarding a tight line. It’s a fun hole that entices the player to be aggressive without risk of disaster.

How much different does the course look and play now versus when it first opened?

In reality, barely a thing has changed, but often in the eyes of the guests it's all about the gorse. This weed grows about 18-36" every single year and it is a constant battle for the resort to keep it under control. So if a player sees holes freshly cleared and then returns 3 years later and that part of the course hasn't been cleared again he sees a forest. I have players talk to me and complain about the gorse either being removed and ruining the course or having been allowed to grow and ruining the course… it’s amusing, really!

Where did the phrase "Golf as it was meant to be" originate?

When the resort first opened in 1999 I was at the lodge and the telecoms company wanted Mike to record the wakeup call for guests but he asked me to do it with my Scottish accent. The engineer said you have 20 seconds – no more, no less – so I wrote myself a script and adjusted it to get the timing down to 20 seconds. The final line of the script was "Golf as it was truly meant to be " The script was used as the intro on the course guide and has become the tag line for the resort. Mike has teased me often that I should have trademarked the line!

Why do you think Bandon Dunes is truly golf as it was meant to be?

Because it’s natural, unabashed, simple, honest, uncontrived, beautiful, adventurous and a thousand other things that man cannot dictate, design or affect.

What elements of Bandon Dunes are quintessential DMK?

As the first designer on site I got to work with Bruce Johnson and Howard McKee to figure out the master plan of the entire project – the access roads, the clubhouse location… I got to play a part in designing the major parts of Bandon Dunes. I persuaded Mike not to put the clubhouse out on the bluff as it would have meant roads and car parks and all sorts of other 'stuff' on the most valuable land that is pure golf. No. 16 at Bandon Dunes might not have existed had I not fought for the clubhouse location we see today.

How much did the use of caddies influence your design?

We had no idea if people would walk, much less if there would be caddies. Many said players would never walk. There were many debates over cart paths and carts! I guess we assumed that caddies would not be as widely available as they actually are and so at Bandon Dunes the strategy is maybe a little more self-explanatory than on the other courses.

What are some elements of the design people may not know about?

I once had a golf pro tell me he didn't like Bandon Dunes because he hit many great shots that ended up in bunkers. He just didn't understand that the bunkering is defending the aggressive line being attempted by the birdie-chasers.

What did you learn during the Bandon Dunes project that you have applied to future projects?

I learned that playability is the key to golf being fun and the key to playability is wide fairways, playable rough and strategy that defends the Tiger line and little else.

Did you have any idea Bandon Dunes would become such a phenomenon?

Never! None of us did and if they say they did they're lying. It wasn't Bandon Dunes when I worked on it, but rather a course on the remote Oregon Coast owned by a greeting card guy from Chicago who hired and unknown kid from Scotland. No one could have known or even suspected what would happen next.

Do you think the success of Bandon Dunes has influenced the future of golf course architecture in America?

Without a doubt Bandon Dunes has educated the golfing public in America and around the world that natural golf is the purest and best example of the game; everything else is a wannabe. Simplicity and minimalism in every facet of design, construction, maintenance and operations are heralded as a return to a long pastime.

Guest Makes Two Aces in One Round at Bandon Preserve

September 7, 2014 by chupka

BANDON, Ore. – According to HoleInOneInsurance.com, the odds of an amateur golfer making an ace are 12,500 to 1. For casual golfers it’s the ultimate achievement. Perhaps the only thing better than making an ace is making one at Bandon Dunes.

Now let’s take it one step farther by introducing a man that didn’t just make a hole-in-one at Bandon Dunes. He made two. In the same round!

Meet Wayne Courtney, 63, a Byron, Minn. resident who was visiting the resort with his three golf buddies and their wives. It was their first trip to Bandon Dunes.

After rounds at Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald, they concluded their trip – as many guests do – with one final sendoff at Bandon Preserve, the resort’s 13-hole par-3 course.

Playing as a fivesome on a perfectly breezy August afternoon, the group arrived at the third tee a collective 8-over-par. Courtney, a 14-handicapper who had never made an ace in his 30-year golf career, grabbed a 9-iron and hit his shot to a front-left hole location.

“It just sort of flew up there, bounced and rolled in the hole,” Courtney recalled with a humble chuckle. “All my friends turned to me and said, ‘Well, we know who’s buying drinks!’”

Courtney bought a round for everyone in his group at the snack shack next to the fourth tee box. Little did he know he’d be reaching for his wallet again in less than an hour.

At the 142-yard 11th hole, which is protected by a fir tree front-left of the green and is one of the toughest holes at Bandon Preserve, Courtney grabbed his 11-wood and set his sights on the back hole location.

Courtney’s fade up the left side got through the fir tree and after a favorable bounce, his ball rolled up the ridge at the back of the green and started trickling back toward the pin. Moments later it disappeared into the hole.

"My first hole-in-one after playing golf for many years, and then a second one a short time later made it unbelievable," Courtney told his local newspaper, The Post Bulletin. "Coincidentally, the ranger witnessed both aces and immediately called the pro shop and said 'You're are not going to believe this.'"

After their round, in which Courtney was 1-under-par, the couples all met at Trails End Restaurant where Courtney bought a round for everyone inside. Later that night the group went to The Bunker Bar. While they were enjoying a drink, Courtney’s friend, Dave made an announcement to everyone in the bar.

“Attention everyone,” he exclaimed. “You’re not going to believe this, but my friend made two holes-in-one today so I’m buying drinks for everyone in here.”

Needless to say everyone cheerfully obliged.

Congratulations, Mr. Courtney. We’ll look forward to seeing you and your friends again soon. Next time, let us know when you’re about to make an ace so we can bring a camera out to capture it on video.

VIDEO: All Course Videos

June 19, 2014 by Bandon Dunes

Thank you for all the great feedback we've received on our online course videos. We decided to put them all in one place so you can watch them at your leisure. Tell us what your favorite shot is on your favorite course and mention the time code! What could we do better with our course videos? We are listening. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below and don't forget to share them with your closest golf buddies. Then come experience Bandon Dunes in real life!

Bandon Dunes

Pacific Dunes

Bandon Trails

Old Macdonald

Bandon Preserve

The Punchbowl

VIDEO: Classic Bunker Shot with Grant Rogers

November 19, 2013 by Bandon Dunes

"On the beach..." "Fried egg..." "Trapped in the bunker..." We've all been there. The ball leaps off the club face, tracing a perfect arc across a crisp blue sky. It sails pleasingly over a sea of green, glides back to Earth toward the intended target and then lands with a flump against the lip of a deep and ratty bunker. No need to worry. Sand, especially in a links setting, can be your friend. The following is another video in an ongoing series with Grant Rogers, director of instruction at Bandon Dunes. The videos are designed to give you quick tips to help you become a better golfer. In this video Grant suggests three tips for successfully escaping a greenside bunker. With a few simple techniques and a little confidence, you'll be hitting out with ease and maybe – just maybe! – incorporating a bunker or two into your overall strategy.