b'Just your average superhero superintendents at Bandon Dunesby Andrew Penner In terms of the turf managementand twenty people and counting. operations, there are a lot of movingTheres a good chance thatin North A fter holing out on the 17th green atparts, says Nice, who has worked at theAmerica, at leastonly Pinehurst would Sheep Ranch, a par-4 that careensresort since its inception in 1999. Nicehave more personnel working on its along a cliff overhanging the Pacificstarted out as assistant superintendentvarious turf teams.Ocean, Ken Nice and I sauntered over toon the original course, Bandon Dunes,As with many multi-course facilities, a gnarled, wind-ravaged snag clinging towas promoted to superintendent atwhen it comes to the maintenance the bluff and surveyed the scene.Pacific Dunes in 2004, and, finally, wasoperations, there is a significant degree For five glorious miles, give or take,promoted to lead the entire agronomyof autonomy with each course. For the gorgeous golf holes twist and turn alongoperation at the resort in 2010. most part, the day-to-day operation the dune-smeared shoreline. Your officeAnd, considering that the size of theat each course runs independently, is pretty sweet, I said to Nice, the seniorproperty is 2,525 acres, yes, hes alwayssays Nice. And we have four distinct director of agronomy at Bandon Dunesgot a lot on his plate. maintenance areas for the six courses. Golf Resort. He contemplated the sea andThe entire operation actually runsThe two par-3 courses are integrated with sand, the fairways and greens huggingmore smoothly than you might think,two of our existing facilities. However, the Pacific, and simply smiles and nods. says Nice, whose rescue dog, Rio,when special situations arise, such as While Bandon Dunes might beaccompanies him as he moves aboutaerification, bunker restoration projects, heaven on earth for golfers, when yourethe property each day. Each coursetournament preparation, or what have the man responsible for the maintenancehas its own superintendent. And weveyou, we definitely share resources, of all 121 holes on this sprawling resort,got dozens of talented, hard-workingincluding manpower or machines and the heaven descriptor may be slightly,individuals on our teams. Its a big familywhatever it takes to get the job done. I well, overstated.and they make my job pretty easy. meet with our six superintendents once Not surprisingly, given the fact thata week to make sure everyone is on the Bandon Dunes, which was foundedsame page and needs are being met. For by visionary Mike Keiser, will soon bethis type of operation, communication is Left to right: Rio, Nices faithful dog;opening its sixth golf course (Shortys, akey.Michael Chupka, the Bandon Dunes19-hole par-3 layout located in some ofNot surprisingly, for Nice and every director of communications; Ken Nice, thethe most dramatic dunes on the property,other superintendent at Bandon, the resorts senior director of agronomy; andis set to open in April 2024), that turfgoal at the end of the day is the same: fellow golf writer, Tony Dear, walking the resorts as-yet-unopened par-3 Shortysteam family is fairly large. One hundredto provide golfers with outstanding course. (Photo by Andrew Penner)28 PACIFIC NORTHWEST GOLFER|MAR 2024'