Incremental Growth and Impact: Bandon Dunes Golf Resort Turns 25 — Sport Oregon Voices

Photo: Sheep Ranch (Bandon Dunes Golf Resort)

Destination golf resort to introduce new restaurant, 19-hole course in the coming weeks and months

Nestled on the remote southwest coastline of Oregon, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is something to behold. A bucket-list destination for golf enthusiasts worldwide, and a tourism and economic catalyst for an entire region of Oregon, the resort opened to great fanfare more than two decades ago and has experienced incremental growth and appeal ever since.

For the uninitiated, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort features five 18-hole links courses and one 13-hole, par 3 course. The resort opened in 1999 with the introduction of its first course, Bandon Dunes. Steady expansion has taken place ever since, with the addition of five additional courses: Pacific Dunes (2001), Bandon Trails (2005), Old Macdonald (2010), Bandon Preserve (2012) and Sheep Ranch (2020).

Off the course, the resort currently features nine restaurants and 210 overnight rooms on property. Like the golf courses, the food and beverage outlets and accommodations have been built out over the years to meet the ever-increasing demand and keep the experience updated. Indeed, the resort offers a wide variety of food and lodging options, providing a little something for everyone.

And now, as the resort nears its 25th anniversary in 2024, it will add to its expansive roster of golf and hospitality when it introduces a new 19-hole short course and a new restaurant.

First up, the new Ghost Tree Grill – a Pacific Northwest-inspired steakhouse and raw bar – is scheduled to open at the property later this month. The new restaurant adds to the already broad culinary appeal of the resort, which offers anything from fine dining and Pacific Rim concepts to traditional pub fare and quick service.

Shorty’s – the resort’s new par 3 course – is slated to open late spring/early summer next year. Located between the first hole of Bandon Trails and the Pacific Ocean to the west, the 19-hole course will provide yet another challenge for visitors to experience during their stay. It also will serve as an important source of funding for the resort’s grant-making arm, as it – like proceeds from the Bandon Preserve – will directly fund the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance’s efforts on the Southern Oregon Coast.

Not surprisingly, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort draws golf enthusiasts from across the United States and around the world. According to Michael Chupka, director of marketing and communications for Bandon Dunes, the resort was “blown away by the initial feedback” upon opening in 1999. That interest has led to steady expansion over the years that has continued to add to the attraction of the scenic resort.

Each of the resort’s main courses regularly ranks among the top public courses in the country by top golf publications, further inspiring guests to play each.   

“We are honored that all five 18-hole courses are in the top 20,” Chupka said. “I’d say most of our guests are trying to play every course on property during their stay.”

While Bandon Dunes continues to be regarded as one of the world’s great golf destinations, its increasing attraction and steady expansion have led to escalating economic impact for the Southern Oregon Coast, generating millions for the area economy. According to a white paper impact report conducted by the Warsaw Sports Business Center at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business, the economic boost to the region primarily comes in the form of job creation, direct and indirect tax support and through spending on locally supplied goods and services.

Through its memorandum of agreement with Coos County, the resort provides a transient lodging assessment of six percent of its room nights. This assessment helps fund the area’s public safety entities while also supporting the marketing and experiential development efforts of Travel Southern Oregon Coast.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort employs approximately 750 people, including roughly 500 full-time positions. Add to that an additional 200-350 caddies who work at the resort throughout the season, and the resort joins the Bay Area Hospital as a leading employer in the region.  

“The footprint – as far as people here that are supported by the resort – is upwards of over 1,000 people,” said Chupka.

Additionally, the resort’s sustained success has resulted in meaningful contributions from the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance, the grant-making arm of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. The Wild Rivers Coast Alliance benefits from the net proceeds of the resort’s par-3 fifth course – Bandon Preserve – to award grants that promote a region where healthy ecosystems drive a vibrant economy for the region. The WRCA’s ability to generate funds for additional grants will be enhanced further by the opening of the 19-hole Shorty’s course in 2024.

According to its 2022 annual report, Wild Rivers Coast Alliance – in its ongoing efforts to bring lasting conservation and economic and community benefits to the South Coast – has surpassed $7 million in grants supporting projects since its inception in 2011. The focus of the Wild Rivers Coast Alliance is to fund community projects on the South Coast of Oregon that are committed to its triple bottom line of community, conservation and economy. The WRCA’s priorities include supporting and promoting healthy fish and species habitats, working landscapes and seascapes, sustainable tourism, community collaboration and sustainable businesses and non-profits.

Additionally, the resort has long supported the Evans Scholarship program, annually awarding high school students from the region full-ride college scholarships.

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort also has a strong commitment to the ongoing success and growth of the amateur game. Consistent with the mission of its founder, Mike Keiser, to grow the game at the youth and amateur level, the resort has entered into a long-term partnership with the USGA to host several amateur championships over the next two-plus decades. This spirit of access and growth is reflected in the resort’s Junior Bandonista program, which allows golfers 22 years old and younger the opportunity to play any of Bandon Dunes’ golf courses at no charge with an accompanying adult from Mother’s Day weekend through the end of July each year.

Already a top destination for golfers, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort continues to up its game. And no doubt golf enthusiasts from far and wide are excited about the traditional and new offerings it has to offer not only today, and for years to come.  

To Learn More
For more information on Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, go to www.bandondunesgolf.com.