Louis Franyi, one of our long time rangers fell in love with Bandon back in May, 2007. While he spends most of his time helping our guests and caddies climb to the picturesque 14th tee on Bandon Trails, Louis also has a passion for photography and has an excellent eye for catching some of the South Coast’s natural beauty. Check out our interview with him as well as some of his work below.

Photography by L.E. Franyi

Foliage Along Bandon Trails No. 13

Moth on a Rhodie Flower 

Peeling Madrone Tree

Wild Flowers

October Sunsets

The Trails

Spring at Bandon Trails

Bandon Trails No. 7

Thanks for sharing your passion with us, Lou! You are a great example of what makes working and experiencing Bandon Dunes incredibly special. Keep up the great work!

Update (11/6): We received the sad news that Louis “Lou” Franyi has passed away. Lou joined our team in May of 2007 and will be remembered for his warm smile, light-hearted personality and his love for his friends, family, and community.

Lou was a long time staffer of Bandon Dunes. He worked as a ranger for over 11 years and was well known as the tram driver, helping our guests and caddies climb to the 14th tee on Bandon Trails. Lou had a passion for the Southern Coast, photography, and people. His warm personality and friendly demeanor made him a joy to be around. He will be greatly missed by the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort team and our guests.

He will definitely be missed but never forgotten.

The post STAFF FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS FRANYI appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

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!

The post STAFF FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH GRANT ROGERS appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

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! 

The post STAFF FEATURE: INTERVIEW WITH "SHOE" appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

Whether you truly start to see strokes shaved off your score after playing at Bandon Dunes is tough to prove but playing a round here certainly helps you appreciate the game.   We’ve started the list of potential game changing benefits and need your help adding to it…

1. The caddie dynamic- Nothing ties all the factors of a links experience together better than a good caddie who knows the course and more importantly understands links golf. Jeff Simonds, Director of Golf at the resort believes, “golfers, like other athletes can get into a rhythm, producing shot-after-shot. Walking and talking with a caddie and others in your group can help keep you in that rhythm. The game comes to you on a consistent pace without the start/stop feeling of playing in carts.” Additionally by keeping an open mind to their suggestions, you often discover a new way to navigate obstacles that present themselves during your round and in turn, expand the overall creativity in the golf game you take home with you. Their ability to calm your nerves and prepare you for any shot is contagious, making it easier to deal with the challenges of the game no matter what course you are playing.
2. Course design and creativity- All four of our 18-hole championship courses were designed to defend par, with turf that plays firm and fast. The tight lies and undulations around the greens promote a wide variety of shot selection, all of which could have a successful outcome. Most of us have that trusty wedge we use for any situation around the greens but at Bandon Dunes you learn to develop your entire repertoire of short game shots and how much fun it can be when you have more than one option to play a successful shot.  This creative gene will be challenged, opening a new way to playing the game when you arrive back home.
3. Score is an arbitrary number- Often times we become so overwhelmed by what we shot last Saturday or why our handicap is increasing that it consumes our mind while playing. This distraction makes it nearly impossible to stay in the present and remain focused on the task at hand while standing over the ball.  One way to combat this challenge is to forget about score and play match play but if you ask the majority of guests at Bandon Dunes what they shot, the topic seems to be an afterthought to the overall experience. What does this all mean? The less we worry about our results the more we find ourselves pleasantly surprised by the outcome.
4. Your turn- Leave your own comments in the comment field below.

The post Can Experiencing Bandon Dunes Help Make You a Better Golfer? appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

(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. 

The post Interview with David McLay Kidd appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

A rainbow appeared as Tim Scott finished his 85th hole of the day. (photo by Nick Martin)

BANDON, Ore. – The sun had just begun to illuminate the low-lying clouds. Everything was bathed in a silvery glowing haze. The clouds were lifting like a curtain and mid-morning sunlight came pouring down on the glistening turf.

By this time Tim Scott, professional golfer and executive director of Speedgolf International had already played 36 holes and was approaching the halfway point of an epic 85-hole journey. Scott's goal was to play every hole of the five courses at Bandon Dunes in one day. It just so happened, “that day” was December 21 – the shortest day of the year.

The experiential journalist in me decided it would be fun to run alongside Scott for one of his rounds. Shortly after I arrived at Old Macdonald, Scott was coming from Pacific Dunes, having already completed his rounds at Bandon Trails and Pacific Dunes. It was approaching 10:30 as Scott readied to play Old Mac, almost an hour ahead of his estimated pace. Scott had already played 36 holes in less than three hours.

I stood by the bag drop in front of the Old Mac clubhouse stretching my hamstrings and nervously re-checking my camera gear for the umpteenth time. The Oomba video crew was going over notes and strategizing for their live-streaming internet broadcast. We had just enough time for some quick introductions.

The Oomba cameraman and I shared a couple laughs. This was unlike anything either of us had experienced and suddenly, it was happening.

Scott strolled leisurely but intently toward us with one eye focused on the path ahead – that’s right, one eye. I almost couldn’t believe it.

On April 19, 2012 Scott was diagnosed with Ocular Melanoma, a rare form of eye cancer that often goes undetected because there are no symptoms. Scott received radiation treatment in his right eye to kill the tumor, but it left his vision poor. He experiences flutters, flashes and has pronounced double-vision, thus the eye patch. It wasn't until I saw him that I fully understood the impact of what he was trying to do.

Scott was not only drawing attention to speedgolf, he was trying to raise awareness of the silent killer, ocular melanoma.

"I've wanted to do something for quite some time to raise money and awareness,” Scott later told me. “Speedgolf seemed the perfect vehicle for me to do both and Bandon was the perfect place to do it."

As we walked to the first tee I introduced myself to him and his wife, Lori, who was running alongside in support. "I love having my wife run along with me when I play speedgolf," Scott said. Lori also ran with him at the 2013 Speedgolf World Championship last October at Bandon Dunes.

After a brief interview with Oomba, Scott turned and aimed down the first fairway. He piped it down the middle and we were suddenly off and running – literally.

The first three holes went by fast. Then, on his second shot from the fairway on No. 4, a long par-4, Scott snapped the shaft on his driver. Lori looked concerned as she picked up the two halves. The next longest club in his bag was a six-iron but there wasn't time to think about how he would finish the round. As a few spectators and I stood there stunned, Scott was already running toward his next shot.

Jeff Simonds, director of golf at Bandon Dunes was following us in a cart and he immediately radioed the golf shop. Scott kept on playing and 12 minutes after his driver died, a fresh one was delivered to him by a Bandon Dunes staffer who emerged in a golf cart from behind a gorse bush.

In what seemed like a matter of moments, we were running up to No. 14 green with the big tree by No. 3 (nicknamed "Snag") in the background – a stark silhouette against a white sky. Soon thereafter, Scott was ringing the bell on his way to No. 17 tee, and almost as quickly as his round at Old Mac began, it was already ending. Scott and Lori kissed on the 18th green, 54 holes of golf behind them. Only 18 holes at Bandon Dunes, plus the 13 par 3s at Bandon Preserve remained.

While Scott made his way through his round at Bandon Dunes, I took a much needed break. Playing 54 holes while running is warrior-like. Apparently, following 18 holes while running, taking photos and jotting notes takes its toll on mere mortals.

Fast-forward to Scott’s final round: Bandon Preserve.

Scott made Bandon Preserve look more like a cool down, as he made short work of the par-3 course. After his last putt, seeing him walk off the green felt unreal, like witnessing some form of magic. Scott and Lori had run more than twenty miles, raised more than $20,000 and played 85 holes of golf in less than seven hours.

As he walked off that final green there were congratulatory hugs and handshakes. Almost on cue, a rainbow appeared out of nowhere. Scott picked up his young son and gave him a hug. Jess, Tim Scott's dad was there taking photos like any proud dad would. There were media interviews and more handshakes. Nobody wanted to leave the green, it seemed. We were just milling around soaking in every moment, trying to wrap our minds around what just took place.

“How are you feeling?” I asked Scott.

"Fantastic,” he exclaimed. “I'm very grateful that I was allowed to do this at Bandon and appreciative of all the support from Bandon Dunes, Oomba for covering the event and greatly helping in the raising-awareness end, all those who donated to the cause, and my family for being there to support my efforts."  

Click here to learn more about Ocular Melanoma and to donate to the cause.

Click here to learn more about Speedgolf International.

The post Eighty-five holes and $20,000 for charity in under seven hours appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with golf course architect Tom Doak about his latest project at Bandon Dunes, an 18-hole putting course at Pacific Dunes called The Punchbowl. Situated next to the first tee at Pacific Dunes, behind the newly renovated patio at Pacific Grill, The Punchbowl travels north and south in a crescent, hugging the base of a hill and fans out to the west. From the patio, there is a clear view not just of the putting course, but of the Pacific Ocean.The grand opening for The Punchbowl is May 2014 (UPDATE: opening day video below). 

The post Interview with Tom Doak on Punchbowl, Opening May 2014 appeared first on Bandon Dunes Golf.