Welcome To Bandon Visitors Guide 2010

• Bandon Dunes: An Extraordinary Experience

Published: Thursday, May 21st, 2009 Bandon Dunes: An Extraordinary Experience Bandon Dunes Golf Resort guests have the opportunity to experience 10-hole preview rounds on Old Macdonald, the resort's fourth 18-hole course, through the month of October.

Work will then continue on the new course through the winter, preparatory to a June 2010 official opening.

The resort, built by Chicago businessman Mike Keiser and opened in May 1999, draws tens of thousands of enthusiastic players from around the country and beyond. It features three top-rated, public 18-hole Scottish links-style golf courses - Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes and Bandon Trails.
Keiser commissioned Pacific Dunes architect Tom Doak and Jim Urbina to design the resort's newest course using classic principles incorporated by C.B. Macdonald (1856-1939), the father of American golf architecture.
Doak and Urbina made extensive use of the existing terrain, integrating natural contours, sandy pockets and grassy dunes into a layout that will deceive and challenge the best of golfers.

Keiser's goal was to create a place where players could experience golf as people did a century ago, General Manager Hank Hickox explained. Resort staffers and other observers have said they believe the links at Old Macdonald are as close to Scotland and Ireland as a golfer can get in this country.

The resort's first course, Bandon Dunes (par-72, 7,435 yards), was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd and opened to rave reviews in 1999. Pacific Dunes (par-71, 6,600 yards), designed by Doak, a noted links authority and minimalist course architect, opened in 2001 just north of the first course and has consistently been ranked among the best in the country. Renowned architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed the third course, Bandon Trails (par-71, 6,765 yards), which opened in 2005, also to excellent reviews.

Bandon Dunes and Pacific Dunes each feature a number of holes that run along the bluff overlooking miles of sweeping, undisturbed shoreline. Bandon Trails begins on a massive dune, works its way through open meadows and upland forest, and then finishes in the dunes. Old Macdonald moves through dune to ocean revealing breathtaking views throughout.

Facilities expanding
Guest accommodations and food and beverage options at the resort have expanded as more and more golfers add the resort's courses to their must-play lists.

The newest of these, the Inn at Bandon Dunes, a 39-room facility located just across Cut Creek from the main lodge, opened in 2008. The inn's opening brought the resort's total guest rooms to 186, and its total beds to 372.

Also newly opened in 2008 was the 4,500-square-foot clubhouse at Pacific Dunes. The Gallery restaurant, the Tufted Puffin Lounge, the Bunker Bar, McKee's Pub, the Trails End clubhouse and The Pacific Grill give guests and visitors many choices, from casual to elegant fare.

Extensive learning facilities
Many local golfers visit the resort just to take advantage of its practice facilities. The original 32-acre practice area now includes a challenging nine-hole, par-3 course known as Shorty's.
The resort's PGA Professionals are available for a wide range of golf instruction, and various clinics and academies are offered.
The resort is scheduled to host OGA's 2009 Oregon Amateur June 22 to 27.

Others say
The resort's first three courses have been highly rated by golfers and golf writers almost since the days they opened. The resort, itself, also has been highly praised, earning a coveted No. 2 ranking on Golf Digest's list of the 75 Best Golf Resorts.
Bandon Dunes is located five minutes north of Bandon, just off U.S. Highway 101, and just 25 minutes from the Southwest Oregon Regional Airport in North Bend, served daily by flights from Portland and San Francisco.
More information on the resort, its golf courses and accommodations is available by calling 347-4380, 1-888-345-6008 or by visiting the Web site at http://www.bandondunesgolf.com.

Greens fees
From May 1 through Oct. 31, greens fees seven days a week are $220 for registered resort guests, and $275 for all others. The replay fee is $110. (Hotel guests can switch courses for their replays.)
Fees from Nov. 1 through 19 are $130 for hotel guests, and $175 for others. Replays are $65. From Nov. 20 through the end of 2009, hotel guests pay $75, and others pay $100. Replays are $40. Oregon residents receive the same rates as hotel guests during November and December.

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