Revolutionary Bandon Dunes turns 25

[Steve_ Shaffer]

In 1999, Chicago businessman Mike Keiser created a remote golf destination along Oregon's southwest coast and forever altered the golfing experience in the process.
 By Bradley S. Klein
Editor’s note: The author is attending the resort’s 25th anniversary celebration this week due, in part, to his having written extensively about the resort over the years and for being a design consultant on the resort’s fourth golf course, Old Macdonald.
Read more:

https://www.firstcallgolf.com/features/feature/2024-04-30/revolutionary-bandon-dunes-turns-25


 

[cary lichtenstein]

Before I retired my clubs, my wife and I had been to Bandon 3 or 4 times, we loved the experience

[Tommy Williamsen]

Mike Keiser has done more for public golf than anyone. Happy Anniversary.

[Peter Sayegh]

Mike Keiser has done more for public golf than anyone.

Tommy,


I wholeheartedly disagree.

Surprised you posted such hyperbole.

Respectfully,

Sheep in Scotland
Every local muni player (architect) in history
Anyone who doesn't have air miles.

[Tommy Williamsen]

Mike Keiser has done more for public golf than anyone.

Tommy,


I wholeheartedly disagree.

Surprised you posted such hyperbole.

Respectfully,

Sheep in Scotland
Every local muni player (architect) in history
Anyone who doesn't have air miles.

Of course you're right. Should have said recent American golf.

[David_Tepper]

One can certainly argue that the creation and success of Bandon Dunes is one or the 2 or 3 most impactful events events in golf (or at least the business of golf) in the past 30-40 years. Other than Tiger Woods, I can't think of anything else that comes close.

[Thomas Dai]

Resort type golf has a long history with the earliest one being I believe at Rosapenna in Donegal in the early 1890’s.
Atb

[Ira Fishman]

Mike Keiser has done more for public golf than anyone.

Tommy,


I wholeheartedly disagree.

Surprised you posted such hyperbole.

Respectfully,

Sheep in Scotland
Every local muni player (architect) in history
Anyone who doesn't have air miles.

Of course you're right. Should have said recent American golf.

Given that this is a golf architecture site, there is no question that Bandon opened the way to some wonderful courses that are not private. We have enjoyed both of our trips to Bandon and on our one trip to Streamsong. We are fortunate.


But the proper analysis of the impact of Bandon is its impact on high end destination resort courses. Those are a very small subset of "public" golf. And before Bandon, there was Kohler and the Broadmoor and the like.


I could actually make the argument that the trend has adversely affected the availability of public golf in places like Southern Pines--we have played MP and PN for nearly 20 years and have watched the fees increase.


The one counter example that comes to mind is Common Ground, but we have not played it yet so I am limited in my ability to speak about it. Nor have I had the pleasure of playing The Fields.


Ira

[Peter Sayegh]

Mike Keiser has done more for public golf than anyone.

Tommy,


I wholeheartedly disagree.

Surprised you posted such hyperbole.

Respectfully,

Sheep in Scotland
Every local muni player (architect) in history
Anyone who doesn't have air miles.

Of course you're right. Should have said recent American golf.

I could actually make the argument that the trend has adversely affected the availability of public golf in places like Southern Pines--we have played MP and PN for nearly 20 years and have watched the fees increase.

Ira, there is no argument.
You are spot on and not just the Pinehurst area but Myrtle Beach as well.


As for the original post,   

Congrats to the Keisers.