A GOLF DESTINATION

GOLF AS IT WAS MEANT TO BE

The Bandon Dunes Golf Resort has coined the phrase “golf as it was meant to be.” Located on the Pacific Coast, that slogan fits as players can immerse in the spirit of Scotland’s ancient links.

The resort is just outside the small town of Bandon, Oregon and has 90 championship golf holes situated on miles of the Pacific Coast shoreline. I recently spent four glorious days attending the 2020 PGA Magazine Golf Professional of the Year Conference and was fortunate enough to play three of the five championship courses.

We stayed in the Grove Cottages that accommodated four guests comfortably with individual rooms, bathrooms and a large parlor with full amenities and a fireplace. The property has several different lodging accommodations available ranging from two bedroom, standard guest rooms featuring two queen beds, single rooms with views of the Dunes of the

STORY AND PHOTOS BY PAUL LEAHY

Pacific Ocean, rooms with views of the course and the cottages where we stayed.

Bandon’s vision started with one man’s dream of building a destination course that people would flock to, where traditional golf was the focus, and everyone would walk and experience golf as it was decades ago. Mike Keiser bought the property and the locals thought he was throwing his money to the wind when he said he was building a golf course. Situated 2.5 hours from the closest commercial airport in Eugene they thought “who in their right mind is going to play?” He proved them all wrong, as Bandon is now recognized as one of the premiere golf destinations in the word.

The original course at Bandon Dunes opened to rave reviews in 1999. Over the next 20 years Pacific Dunes opened in 2001, Bandon Trails in 2005, Old McDonald in 2010 and in June 2020 Sheep Ranch opened to complete the 90 holes. Over these 20 years, five different lodging facilities were opened with another under construction currently. A 13-hole par-3 course opened surrounded by the 50 acre practice facility featuring two full practice ranges, one allowing you to hit balls from the North and the other from the South, depending on the wind. A 100,000 square foot 36-hole putting course called the Punch Bowl was also added.

I was fortunate to attend the conference and experience this special place first-hand with other golf professionals from around the country. I played Sheep Ranch first and was amazed at how beautiful the landscape was. On the fourth hole my playing partner, Bill, turned to me and said “I have played all of the other courses and if the rest of the course is this good it’s now my favorite.” High praise after a few holes and it certainly did not disappoint. We lucked out with partly sunny conditions, low 60 temperatures and only 10 to 15 mile winds. For November we were told this was a great weather day. Four birdies on the back nine made me an instant fan and I couldn’t wait for the next two days.

Day two found me at Pacific Dunes, the

sister course of Bandon Dunes and one of two courses that were played during the 2020 US Amateur. The weatherman was not as kind however, as we started around noon and were faced with 40-mile-anhour winds consistently with gusts up to 60. The first 10 holes were partly cloudy but as we made the corner to head toward home the rain began. Five of the next eight holes were played in a downpour with rain pelting us from all sides. We got to have the full Bandon experience that day — plenty of rain and wind. Most would ask “why on earth would you play?” “It is Bandon” is all you can say. I met some guys at the halfway house, and they said it was worse that morning and we lucked out, as they were on their second 18 of the day. Wet and tired I got to use the in-room shoe heaters provided to dry out my gear for the next day.

Pacific Dunes was a different course than Sheep Ranch which provided a much different experience. Bunkering, longer approaches to greens, and, of course, the elements made it a considerable challenge. The spectacular views of the Pacific were still the same and the experience of walking alongside our caddy was still worth it.

Bandon Dunes was my final course and the weatherman cooperated again. The course that hosted the final match in this year’s amateur awaited us. A light breeze of 10 to 15 mph greeted us under partly cloudy skies. The course that gets most of the recognition did not disappoint. Undulating fairways, well bunkered green complexes and extraordinary views awaited us for our four hour and 20 minute walk around the links. Every round accompanied by one of the 300 caddies on property just enhanced the experience at each course. Each caddie had their own stories and favorite courses and made the experience all the better. One caddy had played college basketball, another college baseball, but all had a love of the game, found their way to the great northwest and fell in love with the area and Bandon. One had been looping since 2004 and wouldn’t want to do anything else. Thankfully I was able to hit some quality shots, make a couple of birdies and shoot the best round of the week — a respectable 75. Bandon is just a special place. If you love golf, want to experience spectacular views at a one-of-a-kind property then you need to plan a trip. One of the sponsors for the event from Premier Golf who books golf packages all over the world said she is booking golf trips for 2022 since 2021 at Bandon is sold out.

If you’re thinking of a trip to Bandon you better start planning it today! I had the good fortune to make some great new friendships and to renew old ones. I learned more talking with the other attendees over dinner, in our cottages, and our time on the courses than I did in the formal meetings we attended. I will cherish this experience and I hope to take back with me ideas and best practices that can enhance the golf experience at Lake of the Ozarks for years to come.