Travel
tourists throng. We watched a half-decent
production of Shakespeare’s “A Winter’s
Tale”, one of Shakespeare’s lesser-known
plays, at the roofl ess Allen Elizabethan
Theatre. And then on to Bandon Dunes.
Originally a desolate, diffi cult-to-reach,
scruffy property along the Oregon coast.
Golfer Mike Keiser, owner of Recycled
Paper Greetings Inc., picked up the
enormous tract of land for a little over a
million dollars. And converted it into a golf
resort meant for the true golf lover.
With 85 Links-style golf holes on
offer today, including four 18-hole
championship-standard courses (Bandon
66 G o l f P l u s
JULY
Dunes designed by Scotland’s David
McLay Kidd, Bandon Trails designed by
Ben Crenshaw, Pacifi c Dunes designed by
Tom Doaks, and Old MacDonald designed
by Tom Doaks and Jim Urbine). And a
13-hole par-3 course (Brandon Preserve
designed by Bill Coone and Ben Crenshaw)
where the net proceeds go to charity to
support conservation, the community and
the economy. Bandon captures something
very similar to the classic golf courses
of Scotland and Ireland. Retaining the
towering sand dunes, abundant gorse and
bluffed perch overlooking the Pacifi c.
Following the natural topography as much
as possible. Where many greens are simply
extensions of the fairway, allowing for
mile-long putts, bump-and-runs, and long
pitches. And where wind is a key factor
in planning your shots. In the words of
Michael Whitmer of the Boston Globe
(August 15, 2015), “Keiser preferred the
minimalist look, had no interest in adding
homesites or providing golf carts, and
wanted to spoil his guests with a place that
valued and emphasized golf’s history and
traditions.” George Peper and Malcolm
2017
Campbell in True Links (2010) rate three
of Bandon Dune’s four courses among only
four courses nationwide that can accurately
be called ‘Links’. Golf Digest rates all four
courses at Bandon Dunes in the Top 15 in
America, with Pacifi c Dunes ranked #2
behind Pebble Beach. And Whitmer even
rates Bandon Dunes as the very best golf
course in all of the USA! How’s that for an
endorsement?
Jim and I played two courses. While
Harinakshi and Rupal ambled on the
nearby beach and took a nature walk.
We thoroughly enjoyed the look and
playability of both Bandon Dunes, a course
that blended with the coastal landscape,
and Bandon Trails, with its several coastal
pines. Even with needed help from amiable
caddy Rick Jurgenmeister, we found each
course rather challenging: I may be an
11-handicapper with 50 years of playing
experience, but I was barely able to par
a handful of holes. But, best of all, it
provided us with a rare taste of authentic
Links golf.
We also had to deal with the Bronte-
style pea soup-thick rolling fog that comes