News around Bandon

[Norbert P]

 The following quote pilfered from Coos County, Oregon, financial report.

 "The Coos County Airport District received a $10 million grant from the State of Oregon to construct a new airport terminal. The architects are now working on the plans. Other airline carriers are also showing an interest in the area."  

"Bandon Crossings is the newest golf course in Bandon. They have staked out the fairways, greens, and tees. This will be the fourth golf course in the Bandon Dunes Complex. . . ."

  (The statement that BC is part of the Bandon Complex is news to me.  I thought it was a financial venture separate from BD.  From what I heard, the designer is the primary investor. Can't remember the name though, but I believe he is an ex-superintendant. (Take that with a grain of salt.))  

 My source says that they want to open early next Summer.

From the Army Corp website :

 Public Notice 200600118, requested by Bandon Crossings. The proposed project is located on South Twomile and Lower Twomile creeks in Bandon, Ore.

The applicant proposes to fill about 2.37 acres of wetland to construct a new 18-hole golf course, including a clubhouse, parking lot, golf range, irrigation pond, pump station and utility lines. Comments must be received by April 27, 2006. A copy of the public notice may be found at . . .
 https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/g/docs/notices/200600118%20.pdf      ( 1.97 MB )


 

 

[PThomas]

i wonder who the designer is?

[cary lichtenstein]

Dan Hixson is listed on the pages as the golf course architect out of portland, oregon.

Anyone know his work?

[Tim Pitner]

My initial instinct is to doubt that this development is affiliated with Bandon Dunes resort.  It looks like the course would be on the east side of Hwy 101.  Why would the resort build there?  I've always heard that the 4th course would be on the ocean, north of Pacific Dunes.  I suppose anything's possible though.  Interesting that another course, not affiliated with the resort, might be built.  

[Tom Jefferson]

The proposed course, Bandon Crossings, is located several miles south of the city of Bandon.  No affiliation with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Rainy weather here in Bandon!

Tom

[John Kirk]

So beliieve it or not, I was eating lunch with my wife at a local Newport Bay restaurant a couple weeks ago, and I overheard the two guys sitting across the aisle from us discussing golf architecture.  After we finished lunch, I introduced myself and said I noticed they were talking about one of my favorite subjects.

After a few well placed questions, I found they were discussing a golf course to be built a few miles south of the Bandon resort.  One of the diners was Dan Hixson, and he is the architect.  Dan comes from a golfing family.  Both his brother and father are (or were) PGA professionals in Oregon.

I think the golf course is a bit away from the ocean.  I don't remember many details about the land.  The land is somewhat sandy, but not true dunesland.  There are mature trees, and not too much gorse, which is very prevalent down there.  I don't think the course is connected with the resort.  

[Tim Pitner]

Rainy weather here in Bandon!

As long as it's not raining there in mid-June.  

[Joe Hancock]

After a few well placed questions, I found they were discussing a golf course to be built a few miles south of the Bandon resort.  One of the diners was Dan Hixson, and he is the architect.  Dan comes from a golfing family.  Both his brother and father are (or were) PGA professionals in Oregon.

John,

Did you talk him into signing up here at GCA.com?

Joe

[tonyt]

If somebody reckons they can make the business model work, it can be a good idea.

Lots of golfers to the area.

Many less fastidious archie freaks who are looking to play multiple rounds might welcome a $50-70 game amongst a few more expensive ones.

His big point of interest is that it must be considerably cheaper to play or easier to get on at short notice than any of the Bandon trio. If these ideals hit, it could be a winner.

[John Kirk]

John,

Did you talk him into signing up here at GCA.com?

Joe

Never crossed my mind.  Both of them said they tune in occasionally.

[Tim Pitner]

I don't know, Tony.  Most people have gone out of their way to get to Bandon.  Do you really want to play a course that might not be on the same level as the resort courses and one that's away from the water.  Plus, when compared to the replay rate, $50-75 wouldn't be that great of a bargain.  It would have to be a pretty decent course to tempt anyone.  Maybe it will be.

[Mike Erdmann]

The proposed course, Bandon Crossings, is located several miles south of the city of Bandon.  No affiliation with Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

Rainy weather here in Bandon!

Tom

Tom, what's the property like for their proposed course?  It's been a few years since I made the drive between Bandon and Gold Beach and I just can't recall the terrain.  Is the property as hilly as my untrained eye leads me to believe from the topo maps in the Corps of Engineers report??  

[peter_p]

Cary,
 He was the head pro at Columbia Edgewater and mostly has done re-design according to what I can find out. He did some work at Emerald Valley near Eugene OR and I like what he has done there. Here is a link to comments about his work at Moses Pointe, in Moses Lake WA.
http://www.mosespointe.com/htm/linksReviews.htm

[Garland Bayley]

He did Moses Pointe?

I played Moses Pointe and liked it. There were some very average holes on the front nine. The terrain for the back nine was more interesting than for the front nine, and he used it well making the back nine more interesting than the front nine. I hope he has some interesting terrain near Bandon to work with. My biggest question about Moses Pointe was how can this course make it in this remote location with the 90s boom ending?

[peter_p]

The more I look at the article he is leading a project which is reworking the bunkering, etc.. I don't think he designed the original course.

[Jim Adkisson]

I don't know, Tony.  Most people have gone out of their way to get to Bandon.  Do you really want to play a course that might not be on the same level as the resort courses and one that's away from the water.  Plus, when compared to the replay rate, $50-75 wouldn't be that great of a bargain.  It would have to be a pretty decent course to tempt anyone.  Maybe it will be.

On our bi-annual Bandon expeditions from Portland, we used to stop on the way down for a less expensive round at either Sandpines or (preferrably) Ocean Dunes in Florence...now we just bite the bullet and race all of the way to Bandon for one round on the first day and 2-a-days for the rest of our time down before driving home in the dark...I can't see spending any of my time outside of Nirvanna when I have spent all of the time driving to get there.

[Tom Ferrell]

This is indeed a city of Bandon project.  I had dinner with Dan Hixson a few months ago regarding a project in Walla Walla, WA.  He is thrilled (clearly) about this Bandon project.  This will be his first 18-hole design, but he is well schooled in strategic GCA.  He understands that his work will be closely scrutinized and associated with Bandon Dunes even though the project is not.

[cary lichtenstein]

How does someone get a plum site as his first 18 hole project? Did he intern or work for anyone? Background?

[peter_p]

Cary,
I don't know the "how", but if you go to the link in reply #12 and scroll down to the last item in the yellow section you can get some insight on Dan.

[paul cowley]

... this 'plum site area' was quite the opposite 12 years or so ago for Mr Kieser and his crackteam of designer 'nobodies' on his first two courses.....

[peter_p]

They should be breaking ground in May. The grow in superintendent is Brent Hathorn, who is leaving the Reserve Vineyards.

[Joel_Stewart]

The semi annual GolfWeek raters conference just finished at Bandon Dunes.   Did anyone attend or see the new course?

As for the 4th course at Bandon Dunes, I heard Mike Keiser is still considering his options.  

[Sally Livingston]

I just read in July / August Links Magazine that Mark Parsinen, who partnered with Kyle Phillips on Kingsbarn " He has a handshake with Mike Keiser for the fourth course at Bandon Dunes".

[Steve_Roths]

I think and I maybe wrong but that was with the intention that Kyle Phillips would be doing the design.  Since Kyle and Parsinen are no longer buddy buddy I think that may have thrown a wrench into the deal.

I would still like to see Kyle do the fourth course aka Pacific Trails (the worst possible name EVER!!!!)

[Joel_Stewart]

Although I think Kyle would be one of a few that would be perfect for the job, the handshake deal that Mike has with Mark is that he puts together the Kingsbarn team.   Since Mark and Kyle have been vocal that they won't work together, Mike could still hire Mark who would work with someone like Gil Hanse.  I think Kyle is completely out of the picture.

The other option Mike is still considering is a tribute course to Macdonald/Raynor or he has talked about trying to rebuild the Lido course.  I would assume Brian Silva then would be a front runner on that project?

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