{"id":166,"date":"2021-11-30T16:53:41","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T16:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/?page_id=166"},"modified":"2025-10-07T15:31:44","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T22:31:44","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/golf-resort-info\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7e3d6\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:82px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center constrained-width-narrow\" id=\"decades-ago-another-guy-fell-in-love-with-the-game-of-golf\">Decades ago, another guy fell in love with the game of golf.<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:60px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center constrained-width-ultra-narrow\">That wouldn\u2019t have made for much of a story, except this wasn\u2019t just any guy. Mike Keiser had achieved great success in business and had the resources to pursue his passion. He traveled to the birthplace of the game to absorb the traditions and heritage of the last 500 years of golf and to play in the elements where the game was invented. He was so inspired that he decided to build a golf course on Lake Michigan, a nine-hole course that would eventually become the highest-ranked in the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:82px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_8f46861a527800bc117f9a6fa2b52e8f\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-big\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/mike-keiser-timeline-scaled.jpg);\">\n\t\t<style>\n\t\t@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {\n\t\t\t#bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_8f46861a527800bc117f9a6fa2b52e8f {\n\t\t\t\tbackground-position: -500px center;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"264\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-top\" alt=\"Ripped paper texture going from smaller to bigger left to right\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left.png 3840w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left-1536x106.png 1536w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-right-to-left-2048x141.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-bottom\" alt=\"Sand-colored torn-paper decorative element\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png 1920w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1536x106.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-wrapper constrained-width fg-white slide-up\" data-speed=\"1800\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-empty\"><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-text\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">1999<\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-big-text\"><p>Over the years, he played many of the world\u2019s best courses, most of which were private clubs, and became committed to the principle that every golfer should have the opportunity to play great courses. It was then that he decided to build his own vision of what golf should be.<\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-small-text\"><p>He discovered the ideal property in the sand dunes near Bandon, Oregon, and then made three important decisions. First, he hired friend and confidant Howard McKee to develop a land plan and work with City and County officials to move the vision forward. Second, he retained KemperSports to manage the construction phase and to assume the overall management of the project when completed. Third, he hired an untested young Scotsman, David McLay Kidd, the son of the legendary head agronomist at Gleneagles in Scotland, to design the first course. David spent 18 hours a day studying the land in order to fulfill Mike\u2019s vision of a true links experience. Bandon Dunes opened in 1999 to unprecedented reviews and remains one of the finest links courses in the nation.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_c549ad72209cf1965813f260fc533cd6\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-left\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">Mike wasn't finished ...<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p>The first course alone put Bandon Dunes on the map of favorite American golf destinations, but Mike wasn\u2019t finished. He retained the services of Tom Doak, noted minimalist golf course architect and one of the world\u2019s foremost authorities on links golf, to work the dunes just north of Bandon Dunes to create Pacific Dunes. Opened in 2001, the course has consistently ranked among the very best courses in the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:&#x2f;\/&#x62;&#97;&#x6e;&#100;o&#x6e;d&#x75;&#110;&#x65;&#115;g&#x6f;&#108;&#x66;&#46;c&#x6f;m&#x2f;&#119;&#x70;&#45;c&#x6f;n&#x74;&#101;&#x6e;&#x74;\/&#x75;&#112;&#x6c;&#111;a&#x64;s&#x2f;&#50;&#x30;&#50;2&#x2f;&#48;&#x32;&#47;&#x62;&#x69;t&#x6d;&#97;&#x70;&#64;3&#x78;-&#x35;&#56;&#x35;&#120;6&#x39;&#53;&#x2e;&#106;p&#x67;\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"Two men talking on a golf course\" srcset=\"https:\/\/&#98;&#97;&#110;&#100;&#x6f;&#x6e;&#x64;&#x75;&#x6e;es&#103;&#111;&#108;&#102;&#x2e;&#x63;&#x6f;&#x6d;&#x2f;wp&#45;&#99;&#111;&#110;&#x74;&#x65;&#x6e;&#x74;&#x2f;upl&#111;&#97;&#100;&#x73;&#x2f;&#x32;&#x30;&#x32;2\/0&#50;&#47;&#98;&#x69;&#x74;&#x6d;&#x61;&#x70;&#64;3x&#45;&#53;&#56;&#x35;&#x78;&#x36;&#x39;&#x35;&#46;jp&#103; 585w, https:\/\/bandondune&#115;&#103;&#111;&#108;&#102;&#46;&#99;&#111;&#109;&#47;&#119;&#112;&#45;&#99;&#111;&#x6e;&#x74;&#x65;&#x6e;&#x74;&#x2f;&#x75;&#x70;&#x6c;&#x6f;&#x61;&#x64;&#x73;&#x2f;&#x32;&#x30;&#x32;&#x32;&#x2f;&#x30;&#x32;&#x2f;&#x62;itmap&#64;3x-253&#120;&#51;&#48;&#48;&#46;&#106;&#112;&#103; 253w, https:&#x2f;&#x2f;&#x62;&#97;&#110;do&#x6e;&#x64;&#x75;&#x6e;&#101;&#115;go&#x6c;&#x66;&#x2e;&#99;&#111;&#109;\/w&#x70;&#x2d;&#x63;&#111;&#110;te&#x6e;&#x74;&#x2f;&#x75;&#112;&#108;oa&#x64;&#x73;&#x2f;&#50;&#48;&#50;2\/&#x30;&#x32;&#x2f;&#98;&#105;tm&#x61;&#x70;&#x40;&#x33;&#120;&#45;86&#x32;&#x78;&#x31;&#48;&#50;&#52;&#46;j&#x70;&#x67; 862w, https:&#x2f;&#x2f;&#98;an&#x64;&#x6f;&#110;&#100;u&#x6e;&#x65;&#115;&#103;o&#x6c;&#x66;&#x2e;&#99;om&#x2f;&#x77;&#112;&#45;c&#x6f;&#x6e;&#116;&#101;n&#x74;&#x2f;&#117;&#112;l&#x6f;&#x61;&#x64;&#115;\/2&#x30;&#x32;&#50;&#47;0&#x32;&#x2f;&#98;&#105;t&#x6d;&#x61;&#112;&#64;3&#x78;&#x2d;&#x37;&#54;8x&#x39;&#x31;&#50;&#46;j&#x70;&#x67; 768w, https:&#47;\/&#x62;a&#x6e;d&#x6f;n&#x64;u&#x6e;e&#x73;&#103;&#x6f;&#108;&#x66;&#46;&#x63;&#111;&#x6d;&#47;&#x77;&#112;&#x2d;&#99;o&#x6e;t&#x65;n&#x74;\/&#x75;p&#x6c;o&#x61;&#100;&#x73;&#47;&#x32;&#48;&#x32;&#50;&#x2f;&#48;&#x32;&#47;&#x62;&#105;t&#x6d;a&#x70;&#64;&#x33;x&#x2d;1&#x32;9&#x33;&#120;&#x31;&#53;&#x33;&#54;&#x2e;&#106;&#x70;&#103; 1293w, https:&#47;&#x2f;b&#97;&#x6e;d&#x6f;&#x6e;&#100;&#x75;n&#101;&#x73;g&#111;&#x6c;&#102;&#x2e;c&#111;&#x6d;\/&#119;&#x70;&#45;&#x63;&#x6f;&#110;&#x74;e&#110;&#x74;\/&#x75;&#x70;&#108;&#x6f;a&#100;&#x73;\/&#50;&#x30;&#50;&#x32;\/&#48;&#x32;\/&#98;&#x69;t&#x6d;&#x61;&#112;&#x40;3&#120;&#x2d;1&#x37;&#x32;&#52;&#x78;2&#48;&#x34;8&#46;&#x6a;&#112;&#x67; 1724w, https:&#x2f;&#x2f;&#98;&#97;n&#x64;&#x6f;&#x6e;&#100;un&#x65;&#x73;&#103;&#111;l&#x66;&#x2e;&#x63;&#111;m\/&#x77;&#x70;&#45;&#99;o&#x6e;&#x74;&#x65;&#110;t\/&#x75;&#x70;&#108;&#111;a&#x64;&#x73;&#x2f;&#50;&#48;2&#x32;&#x2f;&#48;&#50;\/&#x62;&#x69;&#x74;&#109;&#97;p&#x40;&#x33;&#x78;&#46;jp&#x67; 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2001<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_f55b93e9af4b8f4e018e2f507a6f786c\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-right\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">Howard McKee<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p>Most visitors to Bandon Dunes make their way to McKee&#8217;s Pub at some point during their stay. Many will think that it honors a magical watering hole somewhere in Scotland or Ireland &#8211; and therefore is a fitting tribute to the birthplace of the game. But it is actually named for the man who pioneered much of what is seen at the resort today.<\/p>\n<p>Howard McKee was Mike Keiser&#8217;s partner and one of his most trusted advisors on the development, design, and vision for Bandon Dunes. Howard earned three degrees at Columbia University in New York City and became one of the finest land use and urban design experts of our age. He passed away on December 8, 2007, after a long battle with cancer.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-585x695.jpg\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"Two men hugging in front of a helicopter\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-585x695.jpg 585w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-862x1024.jpg 862w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-768x912.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-1293x1536.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee-1724x2048.jpg 1724w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/howard-mckee.jpg 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f0ecde\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<div id=\"gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1\" class=\"gcom-spacer-wrapper\">\n\t<style>\n\t\t@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 0px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 50px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 769px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 0px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 0px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 1601px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_cf82c118c44c10d04da5c46374a70db1 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 0px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center constrained-width\" id=\"a-thinker-and-a-visionary\">A thinker and a visionary<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877\" class=\"gcom-spacer-wrapper\">\n\t<style>\n\t\t@media only screen and (max-width: 768px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 25px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (max-width: 600px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 25px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 769px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 50px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 1201px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 50px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t\t@media only screen and (min-width: 1601px) {\n\t\t\t#gcom-spacer-wrapper-id-block_152e353f102879d62a0f9de00061f877 {\n\t\t\t\theight: 50px;\n\t\t\t}\n\t\t}\n\t<\/style>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group constrained-width-narrow\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">During his illustrious career, Howard helped create Oregon's land use laws and led teams that designed innumerable projects around the globe - each challenging conventional thinking to preserve the human spirit in urban design. Howard maintained a home on the Oregon Coast and spent much of his time at Bandon Dunes. Over the past two decades, he located the pristine stretch of sand dunes on which Bandon Dunes was developed and then led the team that secured permits to move forward. He helped design every structure on the property and clarified how all the pieces fit together. His was a vision of golf and infrastructure honoring the environment in which it is created, of a pure challenge in the spirit of the game, all uncluttered by manmade amenities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Howard was a thinker and a visionary. Some had the opportunity to work directly with him and continue to be amazed at how affable - and at the same time uncompromising - he could be on the vision. Some know him only through the golf experience that he leaves behind for all of us to enjoy. We ask you to join us in loving memory and respect of Howard McKee and his indispensable contribution to the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort you know today. Maybe with a toast to him the next time you're in McKee's Pub. Or perhaps more fittingly, a slight nod as you finish the 18th hole the next time you play.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:82px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7e3d6\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\"><div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_5e40ee59460483418d6c0d7f3701c3dd\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-big\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/dusk-over-bandon-dunes-scaled.jpg);\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"264\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-top\" alt=\"Ripped paper texture (top side, left to right, tall)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right.png 3840w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right-1536x106.png 1536w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/top-rip-left-to-right-2048x141.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-bottom\" alt=\"Sand-colored torn-paper decorative element\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png 1920w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1536x106.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-wrapper constrained-width fg-white slide-up\" data-speed=\"1800\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-empty\"><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-text\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2005<\/div><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-headline h1\">His vision is not yet complete<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-small-text\"><p>Mike then turned to renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to design the third course, Bandon Trails. Opened in 2005, the course offers a journey through the same kind of land where the game of golf was born. Starting on massive sand dunes, working through open meadows to an upland coastal forest, then finishing again in the dunes, the course was the perfect complement to Bandon and Pacific Dunes.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_71d8fd679e0c113da3e2e39d4630851b\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-left\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">The fourth course opened in June 2010, and it came from special inspiration.<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p>Of all the incredible tracks around the world Mike has had the opportunity to play, his favorite remains National Golf Links on Long Island. Designed by Charles Blair Macdonald, the course opened in 1911 and ushered in the Golden Age of Golf Architecture in the U.S. One question burned inside Mike Keiser: What would his favorite golf course architect have done with the pristine land at Bandon Dunes? Mike asked Tom Doak and Jim Urbina to return, this time to work the sand north of Pacific Dunes and design a course in the tradition of C.B. Macdonald\u2019s masterpiece at National Golf Links.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-585x695.jpg\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"Two men walking the course grounds\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-585x695.jpg 585w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-862x1024.jpg 862w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-768x912.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-1293x1536.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course-1724x2048.jpg 1724w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/walking-the-course.jpg 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2010<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_9f34b79da606044a536f854f987e0297\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-right\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">\u201cA unique experience in every way\u201d<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p>is a perfect description for the resort&#8217;s fifth course, Bandon Preserve. Opened in 2012 and designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, the masterful routing of this 13-hole par 3 course is matched with ocean views on nearly every hole delivering a level of enjoyment you may never find elsewhere. All net proceeds from the green fees go directly to the <a href=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/golf-resort-info\/bandon-dunes-charitable-foundation\/\">Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation<\/a> supporting conservation, community, and economy on the Southern Oregon Coast.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-585x695.jpg\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"Bandon Preserve lodge\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-585x695.jpg 585w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-862x1024.jpg 862w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-768x912.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-1293x1536.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge-1724x2048.jpg 1724w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/bandon-preserve-lodge.jpg 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2012<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_9e9408c14d43957347023ce0c54e90bc\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-big\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/teeing-off-sheep-ranch-scaled.jpg);\">\n\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"3840\" height=\"264\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-top\" alt=\"Top border decorative torn paper pattern, color #f0ecde\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde.png 3840w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde-1536x106.png 1536w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/top-border-torn-paper-f0ecde-2048x141.png 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3840px) 100vw, 3840px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"132\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png\" class=\"bd-timeline-border-bottom\" alt=\"Sand-colored torn-paper decorative element\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right.png 1920w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-300x21.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1024x70.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-768x53.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/border-bottom-left-to-right-1536x106.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-wrapper constrained-width fg-white slide-up\" data-speed=\"1800\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-empty\"><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-content-column-text\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2020<\/div><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-headline h1\">The sixth course,  Sheep Ranch,<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-small-text\"><p>was also designed by the world-class design team of Coore &amp; Crenshaw who worked tirelessly to bring the Par-71, 6,785-yard 18-hole layout to life in June of 2020. Co-founded by Phil Friedmann and Mike Keiser, the Sheep Ranch was for many years a mysterious golf landscape just north of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Located on Five Mile Point, and originally designed by Tom Doak in 2001 while he worked on Pacific Dunes, the property was renovated for full public use in conjunction with the adjacent Bandon Dunes property. With one mile of ocean frontage, nine green sites right along the edge of the continent, and stunning Pacific Ocean views on every hole, the Sheep Ranch continues the legacy of \u201cGolf As It Was Meant to Be\u201d on the Pacific Coast.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull has-background\" style=\"background-color:#e7e3d6\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_cf51e832f9669c05a83eb792b0fddfd2\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-left\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">Honoring Mike's close friendship with Shorty Dow<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p>There&#8217;s no question in Mike Keiser&#8217;s mind that the latest gem at Bandon Dunes is truly special. Shorty&#8217;s, the new 19-hole short course\u2014designed by the team of Rod Whitman, Dave Axland, and Keith Cutten\u2014is located between the opening holes of Bandon Trails and the ocean to the west. Paired with a unique routing unlike any other on property, the incredible site winds you through rolling natural dunes and scattered shore pines as far as the eye can see.<\/p>\n<p>Honoring Mike&#8217;s close friendship with Shorty Dow, the first caretaker and self appointed &#8220;governor, mayor, and sheriff&#8221; of Bandon Dunes, Shorty&#8217;s, along with it&#8217;s neighboring links, Bandon Preserve, will again be a &#8216;course with a mission,&#8217; directly funding the Bandon Dunes Charitable Foundation&#8217;s grant-making efforts on the Southern Oregon Coast.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-585x695.jpg\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-585x695.jpg 585w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-862x1024.jpg 862w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-768x912.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-1293x1536.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card-1724x2048.jpg 1724w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Shortys-Card.jpg 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><div class=\"bd-timeline-year\">2024<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<section id=\"bd-timeline-wrapper-id-block_4f9aad47d0da3fd91bd2c537eccf7844\" class=\"bg-bd-sand-light bd-timeline-wrapper bd-timeline-type-two-column\">\n\t\t<div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-wrapper constrained-width slide-up layout-image-right\"><div class=\"bd-timeline-text-column-wrapper\"><h2 class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-headline h1\">If you've made it this far keep going!<\/h2><div class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-text-block\"><p> Check out our Best of Bandon page for some of the latest videos, written stories, podcasts, and more about the resort.<\/p>\n<\/div><a href=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/best-of-bandon-dunes\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"bd-timeline-cta slide-up\" data-speed=\"1900\">Best of Bandon<\/a><\/div><div class=\"bd-timeline-image-column-wrapper\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"695\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-585x695.jpg\" class=\"bd-timeline-two-column-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-585x695.jpg 585w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-253x300.jpg 253w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-862x1024.jpg 862w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-768x912.jpg 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-1293x1536.jpg 1293w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree-1724x2048.jpg 1724w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/OM-Tree.jpg 1755w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 585px) 100vw, 585px\" \/><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"align-wrap align-wrap-full\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"104\" src=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-1024x104.png\" alt=\"Torn paper border decorative element\" class=\"wp-image-798\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-1024x104.png 1024w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-300x30.png 300w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-768x78.png 768w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-1536x156.png 1536w, https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde.png 1921w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Decades ago, another guy fell in love with the game of golf. That wouldn\u2019t have made for much of a story, except this wasn\u2019t just any guy. Mike Keiser had achieved great success in business and had the resources to pursue his passion. He traveled to the birthplace of the game to absorb the traditions [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":0,"parent":6139,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-166","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Bandon Dunes Story | Bandon, Oregon Hotel<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"One day, a man fell in love with golf. Not very unique, but it wasn&#039;t just any guy. Read the Bandon Dunes story and see why our Bandon, Oregon hotel is special.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/golf-resort-info\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Bandon Dunes Story | Bandon, Oregon Hotel\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"One day, a man fell in love with golf. Not very unique, but it wasn&#039;t just any guy. Read the Bandon Dunes story and see why our Bandon, Oregon hotel is special.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/golf-resort-info\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Bandon Dunes Golf\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-10-07T22:31:44+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/bandondunesgolf.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/footer-border-f0ecde-1024x104.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Bandon Dunes Story | Bandon, Oregon Hotel","description":"One day, a man fell in love with golf. Not very unique, but it wasn't just any guy. 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