Bandon Trails Coverage

[Steve_Roths]

As I was clearing out of my golf magazines today I was surprised how nearly every golf magazine had done a profile on Bandon Trails.  Just from my own stack I have:

The Golfer (cover)
Sports Illustrated (Sheep Ranch article)
Golf Week (The Man Out Front)
GolfWorld
Golf Magazine
Links
Fairways and Greens

I am sure I am missing one or two.  Plus I believe GolfWeek ie Brad Klein has an article in the works.  I guess the only one that is missing is Golf Digest.  

Other than Pacific Dunes, I can't remember a course being this hyped before.  Even Wynn which opens at the same time has very little hype behind given how much money was put into it.  

[Lynn_Shackelford]

This thought has occurred to me more than once.  They seem to have the best hype when opening a course of anyone in golf.  I am not talking about on Golf Club Atlas, but in the main stream media of golf.  Who does their PR?  They are amazing.  I don't think they spend that much on advertising to warrant that many freebie articles.  Having a 3rd inland course open wouldn't seem like that big a deal to me, but you would think it is the biggest opening course of 2005.    Are writers comped with great trips there or what?

[Scott_Burroughs]

you would think it is the biggest opening course of 2005.    

You mean it isn't?  

Only half-joking, really.

[Brad Klein]

Just got back and turned in my story. I got a modest discount on the green fee but otherwise payed handsomely for the room, all meals and my caddie - plus my airfare and car rental. And it was worth it. Story due out soon. How does Bandon do it? By treating all writers the same - they all pay. And by offering quality across the board.

[Brad Klein]

Jonathan, please don't assume anything. In any case, it's not up to me where we have such meetings.

[Steve_Roths]

Brad-How many pages will your article be?  

Shivas- I agree with you about all these preview rounds.  I think its a load of crap that they are having an big opening day when everyone else has already played all 18 holes.  I had no problem with the preview 7 holes but it seems like all the people out there on June 1st should be the 400 or 500th persons to have played the course.  

[Tom_Doak]

Shivas:

That's pretty simple really ... everyone who gets to play before the opening day feels like they got a special treat, and at the same time, the general public gets a chance to play in the big grand opening festivities, which they do up nicely.

They also do it this way because it's difficult to schedule something where a lot of VIP's can attend ... so they treat all of May as VIP month.

They are also doing it because it's been very successful before.  We didn't have quite so many groups before the official opening at Pacific Dunes, but I did have Archipalooza I out there in March 2001, and was back for a press day in mid-May.  They also had a lot of preview rounds on Bandon Dunes because they were waiting until they finished the lodge to officially open the golf course.

(And count me as one of the people who will get to play Bandon Trails before opening day.)

[Steve_Roths]

I guess I should add TL Golf to this list now.  I wonder if SI's Golf Plus or Golf Digest has anything in the works about this course.  I would love to see a compare and contrast against the Wynn golf course.  Hopefully there will be more coverage of that course now that is open.  

I am not sure if anyone saw the Today's show coverage of the Wynn, but I was suprised at how good the course looked.  I really think the waterfall actually worked given its tie into the entire hotel/resort.  Maybe just maybe it will get a pass by the GCA's who play it.  

[JohnV]

Shivas,  If you watch closely, many books are available weeks before their "official" publication date.  This allows time for a buzz to happen and for them to make the best seller lists at publication time.

[George Pazin]

Maybe Bandon does it the old fashioned way - they earned it.

Why must we have a conspiracy behind everything?

As to the marketing theory behind it, John & Tom receive A+'s.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Add Golf Digest to the list.  Took a quick peak in the grocery store yesterday and there's a big article on Bandon Trails in the U.S. Open issue, with some very nice aerial shots of the course.  The article was written by Sandy Tatum.

There also was an article related to the Open by Ron Whitten on Pinehurst #2's greens and how Ross wouldn't recognize them.

[Joel_Stewart]

They have had 7 holes open for play since last year.  When I played there last week there are a number of holes that are just barely grassed in enough for play.  There is no way the general public could play it now.  The bunkers still need to be topped off with sand and they haven't rolled the new greens yet.  The greens are rolling at about a 4 (seriously) and are very fuzzy.

Scott:
I seriously doubt that Sandy Tatum played the course when he did his review since that article had to be written at least 2 to 3 months ago.  The caddies told me that the first few complete rounds started about 3 weeks ago.

[Mike Benham]

What I find amazing is the hundreds of people going to play it before its open.  What's the point of an opening if by the time you open it, everybody who cares about or would be likely to attend an opening has already played it?

This is sort of like having a full month of "special sneak previews" in 50 different cities for a movie before its official opening, isn't it?  Even excluding people from this board, I know of a handful of people who will be playing it before June 1.  That's just amazing to me.

If you're going to try to make people feel special for getting to play it before the opening, why not just never open it and make everybody happy!

In the software world, it's called Beta ...

In the NFL, it's called preseason games ...

In the Baseball, it's called Spring Training ...


(ps:  anyone want a Google Gmail invite? It's still in Beta )

[Tom Jefferson]

Joel; I can vouch that Sandy Tatum did indeed play two 18 hole rounds at the Trails, as I saw him each day, spoke to him the first day, and confirmed his round with a fellow staffer the second.  He still has that distinctive swing that produces the low running shot, and can, at 85 years, outwalk most of us.  A pleasure of a man to know!

The greens on the east side of the ridge are now being mowed at nearly the height of the other courses' greens and have received a topdressing this week.  While of course slow, as you note, they will be brought along nicely by the most able of Superintendents, Ken Nice (sorry for the pun!).

I appreciate all the comments about the marketing efforts here....my opinion is that, as noted above, it is done the 'old fashioned way' with high standards and hard work.

Also Joel Stewart, I also appreciate your very balanced comments about the design/layout/shot values of the Trails course.  I believe that as the course begins to mature and develops the speed and firmness we associate here with well managed fescue, that the course will greatly increase in difficulty, that the many subtleties in the shaping will emerge, and that the summer winds will establish the Trails as a true test of golf, as beautiful and as enjoyable to play as any in my memory.

Regards to all,
Tom

[Steve_Roths]

Tom,

Do you know if they will be opening the Kidd Par 3 course in June?  Thanks for your comments on the Trails course.  I am looking forward to playing it.  

[Tom Jefferson]

Steve;

The practice facility expansion comprises two separate functions in essentially one area;  It's first function, expected to open when the Bandon Trails course opens this June 1st, is a practice range, orienting to the southeast, approximately the same length and comprising approximately the same tee area as the existing range.  It's purpose is to provide additional long game practice/warmup.  

The second function is the par 3 course you asked about. 5 of it's greens comprise target greens for the new long range, and two other greens comprise an expanded short game practice area.  While details remain to be worked out, it is believed that the area will function as a range and short game practice area in the morning, and a short course in the afternoon/evening.  As of now, there is no definite timetable for it's opening.  The turf was seeded in winter/spring, and much growin/development remains for it to function as a short course.

David Kidd did the routing/design, Jim Haley shaped it, and Troy Russell, Resort Superintendent, got it all done.

Hope this fills in some of the blanks.

Tom

[Brad Klein]

I did say it clearly in print: BT is better than BD but not quite as good as PD.

Brad

[cary lichtenstein]

I see nothing wrong with a big Public Relations campaign vs. spending millions on advertising.

That's what a successful pr campaign is all about, especially if you have the product to back it up.

[peter_p]

Here is a link to an article in the Coos Bay World. It tells about additions at the resort other than the new course. New dining areas, clubhouse expansion, practice area, future plans.

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2005/05/21/news/news01.txt

[Patrick_Mucci]

Brad Klein,

I enjoyed the write-up.

I also thought you made an interesting comment about Spyglass Hill.

I've often wondered if Spyglass Hills finished where it begins what kind of status it would enjoy.

Having three world class golf courses in the same location, as part of the same resort, with terrific accomdations and caddies is a powerful attraction.  I'm looking forward to returning.

What's your best guess for architect # 4 ?

Mike Keiser deserves high praise for his efforts.

[PThomas]

is Bandon the best, stictly in terms of golf, resort in the U.S.??  off the top of my head I can't thing of a better one...

perhaps the whole world???

Pat -- a great question re Spyglass...I've never played there, and at $325 it's not cheap, and frankly i wonder if it's worth it...lots of discussion re it on GCA.....I wonder if I'd be disapponted after those first 5 holes

are the last thirteen truly special?  the course is very highly ranked, so some people must think so....

I've been to BD twice, and stayed in the little rooms in the lodge both times, which is great, stumbling out of your room and onto the first tee

I also cannot wait to get back, hopefully this fall!?!???

[Steve_Roths]

You can now add Robb Report to the list of magazines covering this course.  In the latest issue it has a picture of the 14th hole and a decent write up.  

[Craig Sweet]

I hear Bandon is using the same PR firm that is handling Michelle Wie