As we walked by the greeter shack on the way to breakfast, there’s Shoe. He remembers us and asks how life is in ‘Lake Geneva’. Since meeting us the day before, he has checked all the logs and remarks there’s no other ‘Richard Smith’ from Florida who we could be confused with. Suggests I should move there to clear things up. Good fun.
The resort is a well-oiled machine. The shuttles are indicative: a programmed button on the phones in each room signals transport. You hit the button, they know who you are, where the pick-up is and a shuttle is at the ready by the time you are out of the room. Never more than 10 minutes from a restaurant, pub, or course.
Pairings for the day: Rick & Dick vs. Bill & Mike. Ethan returns for more punishment.
Our first 18 is early, 7:20, at ‘Old MacDonald’. Old Mac was the fourth course developed at Bandon and is an homage to architect Charles MacDonald. Designed by Tom Doak & Jim Urbina, each of the holes represents an expression of MacDonald’s greatest holes. The greens are huge – the largest total area in the world!
It’s interesting how varied is the landscape. Most of the holes are inland, with occasional views of the Pacific. One magnificent and bare tree is visible from each of the holes on the course. Mac is sited at the northern end of the Bandon Resort. On the holes along the ocean, construction on Bandon’s newest course can be seen. ‘Sheep Ranch’ is a Coore & Crenshaw project scheduled to open for play next year.
Old MacDonald itself is long, long, long (to be fair, we probably picked the wrong tees). And, playing in a steady rain made it seem even longer. Later reports suggested 1-1/2” during our round. Being a ‘glass half full’ chap, Ethan noted – ‘if it’s raining, there’s no wind’. Made us feel a lot better.
There was notable play: Rick logged the shortest drive of the trip (20’ to be generous) and I logged really impressive sand play – 10+ shots from a greenside bunker (finally resorting to the Don Clark technique for exit). Poor Ethan – the trap he had to rake after me appeared to have been roto-tilled.
The Old MacDonald game was Better Ball, Side.
> Team Bill & Mike scored game points. The dots game ended in a tie with no points awarded.
> Mike – low net (80)
> Group totals – 16 bunkers, 0 lost ball
> Best shot – Dick’s shot on #15 from buried gorse
After lunch at the Tufted Puffin in the Lodge and a WELCOME change of clothes we headed back to Bandon Dunes for our replay round there.
The weather cleared up and was slightly overcast with a few light drizzles. Big improvement over the morning!
The replay round at Bandon Dunes was Stableford, Side.
> Team Bill & Mike scored game points. Bill took the dots.
> Rick – low net (77)
> Group totals – 8 bunkers, 3 lost ball
> Best shot – Rick’s chip for a tap-in par on #2
After dinner at the Gallery Restaurant in the Lodge, it’s an early night.
