Case Study

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort:

Delivering a Superior Golf Experience ... Differently

Opportunity

Mike Keiser harbored a dream for some time:  to build true links courses in America.  Among the many hurdles facing the realization of that dream was the fact that links courses are the opposite of most modern American courses, in which the features are often manufactured and manicured.  Understanding the difficulty of locating land that would lend itself to a true links golf experience in the United States, Mike knew it would take the help of partners who were also dedicated to his vision of an authentic golf experience to realize his dream.

Action

KemperSports began working with Mike long before the first design was put on paper.  From the earliest stages of the project, Steve Lesnik, co-founder of KemperSports, was a key part of Mike’s advisory circle.  Together they visited numerous properties along both coasts and shared ideas for bringing a truly unique and inspirational links experience to the United States. 

When Mike made the decision to partner with KemperSports to manage Bandon Dunes, he knew that, according to Mike, “KemperSports would give Bandon Dunes their full attention.”  From helping create the caddy program to opening and operating multiple lodging facilities to building the brand and delivering exceptional guest services. KemperSports supported Mike in every way to help accomplish his dream. 

KemperSports was committed to delivering every detail of Mike’s vision.  In addition to carefully attending to the sensitive fescue grass grow-in, KemperSports was diligent in getting the right staff in place.  KemperSports’ industry leadership and passion for the project was instrumental in attracting quality talent from around the country while also fulfilling Mike’s goal of supporting and staffing from within the local community.  With the lodging design, KemperSports was committed to creating an environment centered on the beauty of the location as well as the golf experience.  This meant getting every detail right.  All of the components would need to seamlessly join together as part of the overall vision in order to form what would become the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort brand.

Results

Despite industry naysayers, who doubted that a walking-only golf resort in a remote location could be successful, the client’s goals were not merely achieved, they were exceeded.  Golf reviewers and raters came with a skeptical eye and left enthralled.  Two months prior to opening, Golfweek rated Bandon Dunes among the top ten of America’s Greatest Modern Golf Courses.  Golf Magazine wrote in May 1999 that “no finer piece of land has been made available for a golf course in America since Alistair MacKenzie was shown the site for the Cypress Point Club on the Monterey Peninsula.”

Accolades continue for the resort’s three golf courses -- Bandon Dunes, Bandon Trails and Pacific Dunes -- as golfers from around the world make their pilgrimage to this windswept stretch of Oregon’s Pacific Coast for a golf experience like no other.  Golf reviewers continue to invent new levels of recognition as was the case with Golf Magazine’s new Platinum level award on its list of the Top 10 finest golf resorts in America and Golf Digest’s designation of Bandon Dunes as one of the top two golf destinations in North America.  In 2008, GOLF Magazine’s “Top 100 You Can Play” list included all three courses at Bandon Dunes, ranking Pacific Dunes #1, Bandon Dunes #6, and Bandon Trails as #15. Golf Digest also heralded the courses at Bandon Dunes with its 2007-2008 “Americas Greatest Public Courses” list where it ranked Pacific Dunes #2, Bandon Dunes #7 and Bandon Trails #21.

 

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