b'conditions and a memorable experience on the links. We all have a lot of pride in this place, says Nice. We set the bar high. All our superintendents are talented, highly motivated individuals and they know how to get the job done. But everyone has their own style, and nobody likes people looking over their shoulder all the time. I try to give our leaders the space they need to do their jobs on their own terms.Fittingly, many of the turf team leaders at the resort have, like Nice, been brought up through the ranks and trained from within. As it should be, hard work, loyalty, and so on, are definitely rewarded at Bandon Dunes. Marcus Lakey, the superintendent on the Old Macdonald course, is the perfect example. He started working on the Bandon Trails team back in 2010 when, as Nice puts it, We had an all-star team there. Five members of that initial TrailsHow better for Senior Director of Agronomy Ken Nice to find out the conditions of the resorts crew are now superintendents.courses than to play them, as hes doing here on Sheep Ranch. (All photos by Andrew Penner)Lakey, who went on to study turf management at Oregon State University, was rewarded for his solid skill set andof America. Hes definitely more famousSuperintendent pin-up calendar leadership abilities when he got the headthan me, said Lakey. He just loves itdog Billy with Old Macdonald job at Old Macdonald in 2018. here. What a life. Superintendent Marcus Lakey.Ive got a stellar team, said Lakey,Strolling the virgin fairways of the as-who also loves to play the gameyet-unopened Shortys par-3 course, Nice whenever possible. Links golf is special.and his young, energetic dog, Rio, studied Im very fortunate to call this courseone postcard-perfect par 3 after another. home. Old Mac is simply off-the-charts.Rio seemed to be having the time of his You always look at a course differentlylife bounding through the dune grass and when youre the man responsible forchasing birds. maintaining it.I can see how a dog would have his Interestingly, for Lakey, Nice, andbest life here, I said, as we wandered many of the other agronomy leaders atinto a natural amphitheater, Bandon, besides their awesome teams,the 16th green, framed by they also have plenty of canine support.grass-capped dunes. Lakeys sidekick, for example, is the wilyGolfers and dogs seem veteran, Billy. A boxer/Staffordshireto have found a happy place terrier mix, Billy is getting up there inhere, said Nice.age. However, hes had quite a life. InAnd agronomy 2017 he was Mr. March in the annualaficionados, too, I would add. Dogs of Golf calendar published by the Golf Course Superintendents Association'