A July 4th to Remember

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

It is plain to see that many of the GCA guys march to a somewhat different drum. I woke at 6AM on July 4th with ease, after 27 holes and a few bourbons, as opposed to a normal day at home. Upon arrival at the clubhouse at Bandon Trails for Breakfast, I note one Mike Kaiser eating. Naturally I joined him to confirm his basic vision of Bandon Dunes had not changed one bit from 5 years ago when I shared dinner with him. He was off for golf and I enjoyed the rest of breakfast and the views, and yes Dan Taylor I bought a shirt, before playing 18 wonderful holes on the Trails course. It was my second time around and I loved it even with very poor play. A bit of lunch then off to Pacific Dunes for 18 during the afternoon. The play was great as was the day. naturally the gods smiled on me for one Tom Brown wanted to play more holes. So off we went into the evening to play 9 more holes on Pacific Dunes with moments to  chip and play creative shots around 6 and 8 greens. I might add the tee shot from near 5 tee to 10 green is closer to 155 than 165. By now it is 8PM and a great discussion of golf photography  , a few bourbons along with some food followed making for the best of 4th of July's. I am a true fan of the golfers life at Bandon Dunes.

[Tom Huckaby]

That is one hell of a great day.

So did they have fireworks for you when the sun went down?  Or were the on-course fireworks during the day enough?

 

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Yes They did in the town of Bandon. I watched fireworks from Boston on TV. The feet were talking to me by then. lol You could see them from 16 green or 17 tee.

[peter_p]

If anyone is doing future planning, the 4th of July is one of their slow weeks.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Peter, they told me that as well. It makes my summer plans oh so much easier now.

[Craig Sweet]

 "The feet were talking to me by then. lol You could see them from 16 green or 17 tee."


Tiger...your feet or the fireworks?

[Tim Pitner]

If anyone is doing future planning, the 4th of July is one of their slow weeks.

Very interesting . . .

[peter_p]

Slow enough that the Oregon Junior Match Play (5 days) is there in 2008.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Craig, the feet were talking big time after 45 holes. In fact it was 36, 27, 45, 45, and 18 and then 18 at Astoria on Friday. I was so happy. lol It was like Ole Miss week every day.

[Craig Sweet]

That's a pile of golf...my hips would be in agony after the first 18!

[Geoffrey Childs]

Craig, the feet were talking big time after 45 holes. In fact it was 36, 27, 45, 45, and 18 and then 18 at Astoria on Friday. I was so happy. lol It was like Ole Miss week every day.

John

Now that's what I call a GREAT way to get into shape!

Sorry I missed everyone - next time.

[Mike Erdmann]

Tiger, your day would have been capped off just a tiny bit more perfectly had you joined Evan Fleisher, Ralph Livingston and I as we wandered out to the clifftop 16th green at Bandon Dunes in the pitch dark with glasses of wine in hand to watch the fireworks set off from the Bandon jetty.

[Brad Klein]

It was a pretty good week for all at Bandon. One  high note for me was playing the Sheep Ranch with Ralph Livingston and his hickories. Too bad he never brought a niblick! I had to work hard to get loft on that mashie, but it was a hoot being with everyone out there that week.

[Lyman Gallup]

The Bally Bandon Sheep Ranch was a treat and the par 3 course they set up at the practice facility was special too.  

Brad:  Sorry I didn't get you the newspaper article I brought about Osprey Meadows at Tamarack in Donnelly, Idaho, I missed you on Wednesday morning.  I'll send it via snail mail.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Brad, You are so right. I really enjoyed hitting a few shots with Ralph's hickories. Mike, I would have loved to have made the trip out 18 and 17 to the point for fireworks but you might have needed a rickshaw and Kramer to pull it to get me there.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Geoffrey, I hope to see you in the city before long. You know the rule, when anyone says go to Bandon Dunes then you have to go, except in February Barny.

[Evan Fleisher]

Tiger, your day would have been capped off just a tiny bit more perfectly had you joined Evan Fleisher, Ralph Livingston and I as we wandered out to the clifftop 16th green at Bandon Dunes in the pitch dark with glasses of wine in hand to watch the fireworks set off from the Bandon jetty.

I'll second that Mike!!!  You beat me to the punch.

After a 36 hole day on Bandon Trails with some GREAT guys...taking Bushmills shots on the inward nine that afternoon with Paul Richards...followed by a beautiful BBQ supper put on by the Bandon staff...too the outdoor fireplace (with no door!!!, inside joke) and wine flowing...to the grand finale of the fireworks display over the Pacific Ocean viewed from the 16th green at Bandon Dunes...what more could you ask for in a golfing life.

What a day, what a trip...

[Thomas_Brown]

To keep my perspective of a interested observer of GCA philosophy - Bernhardt doesn't mention a late birdie on the cliffside 11th(our 42nd hole I think).  Instead he's waxing poetic about bump and runs, different hole locations on Doak's Pac. Dunes 8th green.  Great fun, indeed.

I'm still most impressed by the different strategies in play on the 6th hole at Pac. Dunes.  Look easy and simple.  Green seems awkward.  It's fantastic - I'd love to play in the opposite wind condition next time.

I also have to say that seeing Pac. Dunes made me appreciate just how exceptional Apache Stronghold's par 3 holes really are.

Has anyone ever considered the size of Dan Taylor's closet?

[Tom Jefferson]

John;

I hope all those numbers include that memorable trip around the wee dunes!!!!

Enjoyed meeting you.........that afternoon round on Pac was a pleasure, in spite of the weary golf that came out of me.

Tom

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Tom Jefferson was the best of friends. He put in a hards days work and then played 18 while suffering the pain of watching me butcher  Pac Dunes. He then took me over to his pride and joy, the new par 3 course. Each of you will love the unique and creative green complexes Tom and partners created there. It was delightful and a splendid way to cap off another great day at Bandon Dunes. Tom Brown is very kind to point out the thrill of a well played hole on the ocean in the twilight of a glorious day. We both played pretty good that afternoon and evening. There were a number of well played shots. The 6th hole at pac dunes is one of the great par 4's anywhere. A note on the Sheep Ranch. It is still one of the great spots on earth. It is becoming a little too much like a real golf course for me though. You can still play from point to point but now they charge you $90. It is getting plenty of water and attention as well.

[DTaylor18]

Tiger, I'm glad you had such a great time.  We'll try and outdo that this winter.  Congrats on the shirt purchase, I remain your protege.

Tom, some things are better left in a shroud of mystery.  There are some that have seen it, but they have been sworn to secrecy.  

[Jin Kim]

It seem like half of the posters here were in Bandon last week.  I too was out there with some friends, and it was even better than I remembered.  To a man, we agreed that there was no reason to go to another place for a guy's golf trip.

[Mike_Sweeney]

Has anyone ever considered the size of Dan Taylor's closet?

Tom,

Not sure if you are aware, but Dan moved to a new bigger house over the winter!

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Dan, It was funny to see my reciept upon checking out. My shop purchases were more than the hotel, golf, eating and drinking combined. Sadly I thought I was using restraint. It is a good thing I did not like the pint and highball glasses they have now. It is good to have curbside checkin and $20 on the way home to avoid the heavy bag discussion.

[John Kavanaugh]

Dan, It was funny to see my reciept upon checking out. My shop purchases were more than the hotel, golf, eating and drinking combined.

It's good to be King....One reason I loved Bandon was that I thought they were above this crap..