[Rob Rigg]

Pete - Thanks for the heads up - I just looked at the routing map and you are absolutely correct, it was getting late when I finished it up (lame excuse).

Sorry I didn't get in touch but my friend had all kinds of flight problems - I followed a bit of that match but did not want to disturb you or any of the other officials.

Glad you were able to get out for a round amidst all of your duties with the Oregon Am - sounds like it was a great tournament this year.

The winds were really something!

Tom - Thanks for the response. Ocean is an epic hole.

OM is definitely one of those courses that will be wonderful to play several times over a visit with different strength winds and such wide avenues of play that allow strategy to abound.

I would encourage anyone visiting the course (who has not been to Bandon before) to schedule a round one morning and another in an afternoon, because usually the wind is much stronger later in the day.

[David Botimer]

Rob,

Your photo tour is awesome!!  A minor detail needs to be corrected.  You stated that the Hell's Bunker on #6 (current #1) Long Hole is 200 yards from the green.  It's actually 135 off center from the trailing edge and 105 from the leading edge.  This is VERY relevant to the hole's strategy as depending on the wind a player MAY be able to get over in two if the wind is down.

With the wind like it's been recently (30-40 mph) clearing it is not an option on shot 2, thus the most important strategy shot of the hole.  That generally gives your second shot three choices; 1) leave it short of bunker straight at it with a blind 3rd shot to green, 2) leave it short but to the left of the bunker at a fairly small target allowing a clear view to the green on shot 3, or 3) swing away / left of bunker to a fairway that is 35 yards wide.

IMO it's the most strategic 2nd shot on the preview round.  The other 2nd shots offer challenging yardage decisions with the winds, but few offer the options this one does.

[Rob Rigg]

David,

Thanks for the yardage correction and props on the tour. I have updated the review (next time I publish the site it will be fixed - BD and PD should be up tomorrow evening).

We were playing into a wicked wind on Monday morning that must have really clouded my memory. I just love this hole - tremendous strategy and aesthetics, and there are a bunch of other FW bunkers lurking around to gobble up balls as well. Awesome stuff.

[Ross Tuddenham]

JC Urbina

I did consider that it would look out of place and especially if you consider that it would be very difficult to get a genuine weathers look.  I was think a sort of 4-5 metre long crumbling dry stone dyke with some of it semi buried and most of it crumbling.  I think it would only work if it really had been there 200 years.


But when I think about it more I do accept your point that a tough chip shot may be all the defence over the back of the green needs.  In a way would it make it a tougher hole because without the obvious danger over the back more players may be tempted to go for a shot at the green that is not really on?  So therefore more people face the tough chip from the back rather than a chip from a laid up shot short of the green?

On the original the danger over the back is famous and well known so people already know to avoid it.  But is it a Road hole without the road?

[Tom_Doak]

Ross:

I'm curious to see how that works out, too.

I can tell you when we were filming little pieces about the holes this spring that I hit a few chips and putts from off the back of the green to demonstrate the shot, and had trouble keeping the ball on the green when playing to a front hole location ... it was very easy to wind up back off the front of the green.

[Emil Weber]

"The 'Hell Bunker' crosses the fairway about 200 yards from the green. It is probably the most intimidating man made feature I have ever seen on a golf course."





You've never been to Westward Ho!

Great course Tour, thank you.

[Adam Clayman]

What?
No love for the committee?

Bradley, George, et all, deserve some credit, don't they?

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

My nothing like pictures of Vail and Bandon Dunes on a hotter than all hell summerday to wet ones desire for a trip back to Bandon. I might add it is always closer to hell in Oxford Mississippi and Tuscaloosa Alabama.

[Rob Rigg]

Adam,

Since I do not know exactly what the other members of the committee have contributed it is difficult to know who or who not to single out for thanks/priase. Based on the info I received from the resort, Tom Doak and Jim Urbina are the architects. I do not know anything specific beyond that. If someone would enlighten me in a concise format I would be happy to provide credit to a wider group.

I did not intend to "slight" anyone for their efforts on this majestic project.

If someone knows the details, please pass them along - thanks!

[Rob Rigg]

More cowbell!!!

Eric - My addition was wrong - these threads did get more than 2000 views

They are running JK neck and neck!

[Pete_Pittock]

Rob,
The others were Karl Olson, longtime superintendent at NGLA; Brad Klein and George Bahto. The committee and their functioning has been discussed on
previous threads.

[Rob Rigg]

Thanks Pete - I have updated the review

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