Bandon Dunes Golf Resort: The Road to Six
Golf As It Was Meant To Be. This has been the mantra for Bandon Dunes Golf Resort from the very beginning. Twenty-one years—and six courses—later, Golf As It Was Meant To Be continues to inspire every experience at Bandon Dunes.
When Mike Keiser discovered this land on the rugged southern Oregon Coast more than two decades ago, he believed it alone was capable of providing a pure links golf experience not yet found on American soil. Only by traveling to the sandy shores of Scotland could one play amongst the grass-covered dunes, raging seas, and untamed landscape that first defined the game. Where every shot is influenced by nature’s infinite presence.
Mr. Keiser’s vision became a reality as the first course, Bandon Dunes, emerged from the wild gorse and sandy soil of the Pacific coastline. That vision remains clear to this day with the purity of the game always guiding every decision, as evidenced by the most recent addition to the collection, the Sheep Ranch, now celebrating its first anniversary.
For the past 365 days and counting, this long-anticipated 6,636-yard, par-72, 18-hole course has welcomed Bandon enthusiasts who’ve waited years for rumors of its possible creation to become reality. Lining a full spectacular mile of oceanfront along the southern Oregon Coast, with stunning Pacific Ocean views on every hole, the Sheep Ranch was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw — the same team behind the resort’s Bandon Trails and Bandon Preserve courses. The result of their work is an experience true to the continued legacy of Golf As It Was Meant To Be.
If you’ve spent any time at Bandon Dunes you know that, here, golf is more than the number you write on a scorecard. It is the connection you make with friends and loved ones. It is the moment all of your senses are touched—by the wind, the smells, the taste of salty air, and the ever-present ocean. It is the ability to explore the land in a way that is thrilling and satisfying.
We continue to be encouraged by the spirit of golf and its ability to tie us together through the game we all love. The virtues that have made it a sport enjoyed worldwide for centuries are the same reasons the game has not only endured but thrived. The ability to be outside, with people we love, exploring the world, learning about ourselves and our playing partners, pursuing perfection that we know can never be achieved—that’s what makes the game such a gift.
David McLay Kidd, the legendary course designer of the original Bandon Dunes course, once said, “The essence of a golf course starts with a great piece of land. And it’s the exploration of that piece of land that makes great golf, not the individual holes.”
That is the enchantment of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. It is here, between the swings, that we immerse ourselves in the traditions of this timeless game. Surrounded by wind-swept shores, towering pines, and shifting sand dunes, we are able to marvel at Mother Nature’s wonders. Paired with those we cherish, we walk, always searching for the soul of the game.
This is Golf As It Was Meant To Be.
