1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: It really comes back to that that opening day that 2 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:09,639 Speaker 1: really capsualized everything. A golf course we think of as 3 00:00:09,640 --> 00:00:12,119 Speaker 1: a recreational playground, but I think of it in addition 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,520 Speaker 1: as a consumer product. So when you spill your heart 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:17,520 Speaker 1: heart out and you spend a lot of money on 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: a product, let's say, you don't know if if it's 7 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: any good until people are offered it to buy and use. 8 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: So that first day in the bookings for the first 9 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 1: year all told me that America was ready for Links golf, 10 00:00:33,600 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: even though it was in a banded Oregon It's truly 11 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: remote place. And that that made me feel that I 12 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:48,360 Speaker 1: had done a product, architectural, structural design that the American golfer, 13 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 1: which and you we number in the millions, really appreciated. 14 00:00:53,000 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: That feels good. Another law nobody here is get in time. 15 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:18,000 Speaker 1: Welcome to the fire Pit with Matt Joneller. So I'm 16 00:01:18,040 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: just back from my twenty five trip to Bandon Dunes, 17 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,320 Speaker 1: which just happened to fall in between two episodes of 18 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: this podcast. On the building of Bandon, we refer to 19 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: the old course as the home of golf. Some say 20 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 1: Pinehurst is the cradle of American golf, and the book 21 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: written about the building of Bandon Dunes is dream golf. 22 00:01:38,160 --> 00:01:41,839 Speaker 1: Mike Kaiser's dream has become a nightmare for his competition. 23 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: In twenty plus years of development of sand based minimalism, 24 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 1: the remote destination on the southwest coast of Oregon has 25 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 1: quickly become what some might say is the best pure 26 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: golf destination in the world, which is why I dedicated 27 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,640 Speaker 1: two parts to this story. As you recall from Part one, 28 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: in the mid nineties, with acres of course choked dunes land, 29 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 1: Mike Kaiser started looking for an architect who would do 30 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: anything but what was being done in the United States. 31 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: He stumbled upon David McClay kid who was in his 32 00:02:11,800 --> 00:02:15,160 Speaker 1: mid twenties, and his father, Jimmy, who was the agronomist 33 00:02:15,160 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: at Glenn Eagles in Scotland. I gave what would be 34 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: today a power point presentation, but I did it with 35 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,960 Speaker 1: poster boards and a sharpie pains and I wrote down 36 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,520 Speaker 1: on these poster boards, you know, like no car paths 37 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: and make you know they would walk, and that the 38 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: fairways would be uneven and there'd be pop bunkers, and 39 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 1: the clubhouse shouldn't be on the water's edge, it should 40 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: you know, the best green should be on the water's edge. 41 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: I said to David, if we deviate any any time 42 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 1: from offering make anything more than a true and I 43 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: mean a true Links experience, Irish Links experience. Here, you 44 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: will look hire us as architects. He will go elsewhere. 45 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: Kaiser hired the kids to build it, and he hired 46 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:07,120 Speaker 1: Kemper Sports to manage it. He tapped Josh Lesnik, also 47 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,680 Speaker 1: in his twenties, to be the first general manager. Lesnik 48 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: explains why Bandon was so unique in the US. Golf 49 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 1: courses were being built close to people, you know, close 50 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: to cities. People didn't necessarily care about the site for golf, 51 00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 1: and you could have mud and clay and rock under 52 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:26,760 Speaker 1: the soil. But if we were close to people and 53 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: you could put houses around it. That's the kind of 54 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: golf courses people were building in the nineties, eighties and 55 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 1: nineties in America. This was close to nobody. This is 56 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: going back to the golden age when you look for 57 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: the best site for golf and you know, no bank 58 00:03:44,000 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 1: would finance it. No, no, everybody thought it was crazy. 59 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 1: Mike's friends thought it was crazy. Mike thought it was 60 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,680 Speaker 1: crazy against all odds, and swimming into the current of trends. 61 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 1: Kaiser kept going one whole at a time, and on 62 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: May one, on the eve of opening day, he reflected 63 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: on what if all the doubters were right and he 64 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,440 Speaker 1: was wrong? You know, Josh and I discussed, you know, 65 00:04:08,520 --> 00:04:10,560 Speaker 1: what it happens if no one comes, or what happens 66 00:04:10,560 --> 00:04:13,200 Speaker 1: if we break even? Because we all had bets the 67 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:16,040 Speaker 1: first year how many rounds we would do, and twelve 68 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:19,119 Speaker 1: thousand rounds is break even. And most of our bats 69 00:04:19,200 --> 00:04:22,160 Speaker 1: about how many rounds we would do were less than 70 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: twelve thousand rounds, so in my group, no one thought 71 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: we would break even. And the discussion I remembered probably 72 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 1: then in the night before, well, if it doesn't work, 73 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: I'll give it three years for it to catch on, 74 00:04:35,400 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 1: and if it doesn't, will turn into a sheep ranche. 75 00:04:38,920 --> 00:04:43,360 Speaker 1: The Sheep Branch opened on June one, fifth eighteen whole 76 00:04:43,400 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: golf course abandoned dunes. Plus there's the Preserve, a thirteen 77 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: whole Part three course shorties, another version of a Part 78 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: three course at the back of the range, and the 79 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:54,960 Speaker 1: punch Bowl, a two and a half acre putting course 80 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: which you can play for free. Needless to say, I'm 81 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,680 Speaker 1: not even sure Kaiser could have dreamed something as big 82 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,479 Speaker 1: as what Bandon has become. But for now, let's go 83 00:05:05,520 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: back to the beginning. We're back in Bandon. It's and 84 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: word is out in the town of three thousand that 85 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 1: there might be a golf course coming. Meet Mick Peters, 86 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: a recreational golfer who has been barbering and bandoned for 87 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:22,560 Speaker 1: fifty four years. In the shop, we said, oh yeah, 88 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: they're gonna build a world class golf course in band 89 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:29,440 Speaker 1: And who's gonna come to Bandon to play golf? That 90 00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:33,160 Speaker 1: was That was the talk right off the bat. Bob Gasbar, 91 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,680 Speaker 1: also known as Shoe because he looks like Jackie Bill Shoemaker, 92 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: was a customer a mixed hair surgeons. As a story 93 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 1: went on, Shoe came in and he was getting a haircut. 94 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:45,719 Speaker 1: He said, I'm going to go out. They're looking for 95 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,039 Speaker 1: a candy master. He says, I'm going to go out 96 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:51,080 Speaker 1: and apply for that. It's a cool so he did, 97 00:05:51,279 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: and course, as a story went on again he got it. 98 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:58,200 Speaker 1: He was in my shop again. I've got a new 99 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:01,880 Speaker 1: Sereny says man that for day is really filling up. 100 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 1: I said, wow, I said, is the first tea taken yet. 101 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: He's I don't know, but I'm going back out there 102 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: and i'll check and i'll call you. So he dad 103 00:06:11,120 --> 00:06:13,720 Speaker 1: and he called me, said no, it's open. I Nick, 104 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: how would you like to be the first flowing off? 105 00:06:15,520 --> 00:06:18,200 Speaker 1: I said yes, And he said you will have to 106 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:20,000 Speaker 1: have a bar. So I said, that's cool. I can 107 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: do that. Mike Peters, Mick's oldest son, is in. Dad 108 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,679 Speaker 1: Collins said, I got the first tea time for Bandon Dunes. 109 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: He says, you want to play. I'm like sure. He's like, 110 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,839 Speaker 1: we need to find two more people. I'm like, okay, 111 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: we'll see if we can find two more people. Um. 112 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: A friend of mine and his falling law joined us, 113 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: and we showed up that morning and it was a 114 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:48,240 Speaker 1: typical Bandon day. It was raining cats and dogs. We 115 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 1: showed up in our golf attire and they handed us 116 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:58,400 Speaker 1: gortex golf rain stuff because it was pouring down rain. 117 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 1: Josh Lesnick on him memorable day. Yeah, we opened on 118 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: May second. It was rainy and I'd say fifties, maybe 119 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 1: high fort these low fifties. And we were booked from 120 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: the first tea time to the last tea time. Um, 121 00:07:20,040 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: you know, mostly Oregonians. It was kind of a regular day. 122 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: We didn't do a big v I P invitational and invite. 123 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: We just did whoever's going to make tea times or 124 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: let him play an opening day. Mike Kaiser's plan was 125 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 1: to be there and hand out the opening day coins 126 00:07:37,640 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: to each player. David Kidd wasn't at Opening Day, but 127 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: his father Jimmy, who was in town collaborating with the 128 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: maintenance team, stood next to Mike Kaiser and helped pass 129 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: out coins to everyone who played that day. Opening Day 130 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:52,840 Speaker 1: was the most surprising thing I've been at the few 131 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: opening days, and they were pretty big and pretty grand. 132 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: A field as well. The opening Day abandoned was anything 133 00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: but grand anything. But it was a wet, miserable day 134 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:05,200 Speaker 1: if I remember rightly. It was a typical Scottish linked 135 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 1: day shoe again with more details. It was a full 136 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:14,080 Speaker 1: ticket once again I believed to hearty people and we 137 00:08:14,120 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: didn't have any rooms, so everybody had to stay in 138 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 1: town there, stay in town, or just drive home again. 139 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:22,360 Speaker 1: Local golf, local golf for us as Eugene in Portland, 140 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 1: Nobody around here, particularly except for our golf club members, 141 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,840 Speaker 1: play golf here. I had made it up bag tags 142 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: for everybody. This a big stack of bag tags and 143 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: I thought this would be cool. We're gonna tag the 144 00:08:33,640 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: bags once again. We didn't know what we're doing. Cars 145 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:38,360 Speaker 1: pulled up, but it wasn't just one car to time. 146 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: Was like everybody pulled up. The tags went by the window. 147 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: You know. Uh it was porn rain. Mike's up on 148 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:52,040 Speaker 1: the tee. Uh, it's He's huddled down. Everybody's trying to smile. 149 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 1: All these people here to play golf pouring. Mick, the 150 00:08:56,480 --> 00:08:59,920 Speaker 1: local barber, was the first player at Bandon Dunes that day. 151 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,959 Speaker 1: Mick Peters and his sons were the first ones to play, 152 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,839 Speaker 1: and they since have been the first ones to play 153 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: every single opening, including the preserve of every golf course abandoned. 154 00:09:11,240 --> 00:09:13,000 Speaker 1: We're going to have a lot more on Mick Peters 155 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,920 Speaker 1: and his sons and their legacy abandoned in episode ten 156 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: of The fire Pit, but for now, Mick stays focused 157 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:22,599 Speaker 1: on his first tea shot of the first course. It 158 00:09:22,880 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: was just it was bigger than I expect that I 159 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: didn't I don't think there would be that many people 160 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 1: they're watching, and I was so nervous I couldn't already 161 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 1: put the ball on the TV. Mike Peters has been 162 00:09:37,280 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: second off on every new course abandoned. Dudes. It was 163 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: a lot of fun. It was like what are we doing? 164 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: Why are we doing this? You know until we walked 165 00:09:48,080 --> 00:09:50,520 Speaker 1: up onto the tea and then you saw it over 166 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 1: the first tea and the whole course. It was like 167 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 1: you couldn't get me out of here. I mean just 168 00:09:56,679 --> 00:09:59,200 Speaker 1: bandon weather. Yeah, a big deal. And it was an 169 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: absolute gorgeous golf course. Um, and I, like I said, 170 00:10:02,800 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 1: I've never seen it. I had no idea what I 171 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: was getting into until I stepped on that first tea 172 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:12,520 Speaker 1: and and it really was on inspiring as first off. 173 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 1: Mixed tradition is to tee up a ball and with 174 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:17,959 Speaker 1: his first swing he only hits the ball a few feet. 175 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 1: I do that, and then I have Mr Kaiser sign 176 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: it and I put it away and I grabbing at 177 00:10:25,000 --> 00:10:27,200 Speaker 1: the ball and I hit it again. But I am 178 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:32,920 Speaker 1: at I'm the first guy that hits the ball. Um. 179 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:35,839 Speaker 1: There was only there. I'm not going to say the name, 180 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 1: although I have in the past. There was one person 181 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,600 Speaker 1: that didn't show up the first day was one of 182 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: my friends in town and he decided it was too 183 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 1: rainy and cold to show up. Every other person shut up. 184 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: Was just one person that didn't show up. It was 185 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 1: rainy and called no doubt, I'll give him a break, 186 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:57,160 Speaker 1: But everybody else played. Um, who is this guy? He's 187 00:10:57,160 --> 00:11:01,200 Speaker 1: a local, he's a friend, he's a uh, he was 188 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:06,520 Speaker 1: a friend until he didn't show up. Shoe showed up. 189 00:11:06,600 --> 00:11:10,839 Speaker 1: Of course, what would Bandon be without Shoe. There was 190 00:11:10,880 --> 00:11:14,600 Speaker 1: a big traggler. One of our local cranberry growers brought 191 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:19,640 Speaker 1: a barbecue trailer, backed it up back here, right back 192 00:11:19,679 --> 00:11:22,320 Speaker 1: to where the the pubs at. He was calling hamburgers 193 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: and hot dogs for everybody. The rain finally stopped, sun 194 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,760 Speaker 1: came out. It turned beautiful. The cranberry growers name was Jack, 195 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:32,120 Speaker 1: and by the end of the day, because he had 196 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 1: a bottle of Jack, hamburgers and hot dogs were flying everywhere. 197 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: I swear man he was. You wouldn't know a boom, 198 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,480 Speaker 1: you're a ghost. It was great. It was the greatest 199 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: experience because it was just it was banded, nothing fancy. 200 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: You know. The hot dogs and hamburgers were free. Everybody 201 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: had a great time. What's the rain stop? It was 202 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:57,200 Speaker 1: extremely rewarding. It was it was really it was a 203 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:00,800 Speaker 1: really neat day, and it was fun to see the 204 00:12:00,840 --> 00:12:03,839 Speaker 1: staff altogether and really have the customers out there. Is 205 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:07,640 Speaker 1: great fun day. Jimmy Kidd on watching Mike Kaiser as 206 00:12:07,760 --> 00:12:12,320 Speaker 1: his dream unfolded in front of them. Mike was relatively quiet. 207 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:17,200 Speaker 1: He was basically listening to to what everyone was saying, 208 00:12:17,200 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: and everyone seemed to be happy to be there, even 209 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: before they had even before they had shot, they were 210 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: delated to be there. Maybe it was there just the 211 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: the atmosphere of an opening day in a golf course. 212 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: But when they came back in my goodness, the comments 213 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 1: and the club posts and the atmosphere in the club 214 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:37,440 Speaker 1: post was just this world. It was an incredible day. 215 00:12:37,720 --> 00:12:40,440 Speaker 1: You could always even today, I could you can feel 216 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: it here in the back of your next standing up 217 00:12:41,920 --> 00:12:44,480 Speaker 1: because you knew that something had happened to you and 218 00:12:44,840 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: in a place which was in the middle of nowhere. 219 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 1: So everything until opening day was rough. And then from 220 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:56,040 Speaker 1: then and the golfers took over. Guys like you, Matt said, 221 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: this is fun links golf, what we like even a 222 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:02,520 Speaker 1: bad We weren't sure kind of what it would become. 223 00:13:03,520 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: Um by that point though we were quite sure. Our 224 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: rounds were gonna, you know, exceed what our expectations were 225 00:13:12,679 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: the first year, because there was an article written in 226 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: December of nine seven by Bob Robinson, and he was 227 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:22,200 Speaker 1: a he was a well known golf writer, and he 228 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:24,840 Speaker 1: wrote a story about Bannon Dunes, you know, almost six 229 00:13:24,880 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: months before we opened. Came out in December. We were 230 00:13:27,559 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: set to start taking teak times January one. The article 231 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:34,959 Speaker 1: comes out in December. The phone started ringing that day. 232 00:13:35,040 --> 00:13:37,600 Speaker 1: Shoe was in there answering him. The phone has not 233 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 1: stopped ringing since that day. And I gave a huge 234 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: amount of credit to making that a reality to Josh. 235 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:49,600 Speaker 1: You know, he was the one that got the message 236 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: out there and go people to pay attention and come 237 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 1: and look. And it was those first few people. I 238 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: remember Brian Callen coming who was with Golf magazine at 239 00:13:59,520 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: the time, and Josh and I played the back nine, 240 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: I think with him and his reaction was my first 241 00:14:08,040 --> 00:14:13,520 Speaker 1: experience of an American golf journalist seeing this and saying, wow, 242 00:14:13,640 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: this is different. And that was all as I remember it. 243 00:14:17,280 --> 00:14:20,000 Speaker 1: That was old Josh. He was the one bringing these 244 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: people and had those connections and we were seeing that 245 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: reaction happened because of his skills delivering the message. What 246 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: Josh got to do was be fun and fun to 247 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: be with and hire people and find Kaddy's when everyone 248 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 1: said you'll never find Kaddy's, and go to the Portland 249 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,040 Speaker 1: Golf Show and convince people that is only four and 250 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:47,080 Speaker 1: a half hour drive. So Josh was great and publicity. 251 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:51,520 Speaker 1: David was great on building the golf course, and Howard 252 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: McKee was the magical architect guy. So all systems are go. 253 00:14:56,600 --> 00:14:59,920 Speaker 1: Abandoned Dunes was open for business, and we learned in 254 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: part one of this podcast Kaiser had already bought the 255 00:15:03,040 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: land that would become the second course on property. So 256 00:15:06,040 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: I asked Mike how soon after opening day of Bandoned 257 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,840 Speaker 1: did he commit the Pacific Dunes a tom dope design? 258 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: Almost immediately, I mean it was within within days. It 259 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:22,400 Speaker 1: was overwhelming, And let's give Josh credit for we we 260 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: opened in May, early May, and when we then the 261 00:15:27,920 --> 00:15:30,760 Speaker 1: opening day, we knew that we had bookings. Whether people 262 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:33,120 Speaker 1: and actually show up, we didn't know. But as the 263 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: days ticked by, we realized that all the bookings we had, 264 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:39,920 Speaker 1: we're going to become real rounds that people would drive 265 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: and fly from who knows where. You made it, make 266 00:15:44,080 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: it a success. So I'd say within the first two months, 267 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 1: if not the first couple of weeks, Josh and I 268 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: and Howard all said yeah, let's go. Because we opened 269 00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:57,160 Speaker 1: open Pacific Dunes in two thousand one, two years later, 270 00:15:57,440 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: so that tells you that we didn't like it is 271 00:16:00,240 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: split and the second golfers. Last year, on May second, 272 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: two thousand nineteen, David Kidd was on the first he 273 00:16:08,400 --> 00:16:11,160 Speaker 1: for the twentieth anniversary of Bandoned Dunes. You know, it's 274 00:16:11,200 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: amazing to think that in twenty years, with fifty thousand 275 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:21,520 Speaker 1: approximately visitors per year, we're looking at a million individuals 276 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:24,680 Speaker 1: have now visited Bandon Dunes. Sure some of them visit 277 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,240 Speaker 1: every year, but the number I use as a million 278 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:32,640 Speaker 1: people million golfers have visited Bandoned Dunes now over the 279 00:16:32,680 --> 00:16:37,479 Speaker 1: first twenty years. That's pretty amazing. I think it awakened 280 00:16:38,000 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: in American golfers willingness to accept nature, that golf through 281 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:47,800 Speaker 1: nature is what golf is truly meant to be. That's 282 00:16:47,840 --> 00:16:53,360 Speaker 1: why we've seen golf move away from being ornate and 283 00:16:53,600 --> 00:16:57,200 Speaker 1: overly manicured and become far more natural. It speaks to 284 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: our current ethos that we want things to be sustainable 285 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:08,120 Speaker 1: and have less inputs, less chemicals, less, less of everything 286 00:17:08,240 --> 00:17:11,359 Speaker 1: so that nature can take a hold. And Abandoned Dunes 287 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 1: was the a ground zero for that in America twenty 288 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:18,640 Speaker 1: years ago. But as Shoe explains, the impact of this 289 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:20,959 Speaker 1: resort goes a lot deeper than some of the natural 290 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,440 Speaker 1: sand bunkers throughout the property. And you know, it's really 291 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: basically made the town come alive. Uh. And not only Banndoned, 292 00:17:30,680 --> 00:17:34,639 Speaker 1: but cous County actually the entire state of Oregon. Uh 293 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:39,199 Speaker 1: almost Well, now it's true. It's true because look how 294 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:42,600 Speaker 1: many there's so many people that would never venture west 295 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,520 Speaker 1: of the Mississippi River that are coming here, and they've 296 00:17:46,560 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: never been to Pacific Northwest. I mean, this place is 297 00:17:49,440 --> 00:17:53,640 Speaker 1: this place is beautiful. I mean it just is um 298 00:17:53,720 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: And so this has brought people here that heretofore would 299 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: never have come this way. But almost almost everybody in 300 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:04,440 Speaker 1: town in the county gets a check from band and 301 00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:09,680 Speaker 1: Dunes UM for one thing or another. Newspapers, flowers, coffee, 302 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: you know, uh, me, you name it, and they get 303 00:18:13,400 --> 00:18:17,160 Speaker 1: a check. Uh. And that doesn't even take into consideration 304 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:22,000 Speaker 1: a payroll for six D forty and staffers. And then 305 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:28,080 Speaker 1: an additional uh fifty caddies that goes out into the community. 306 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:32,080 Speaker 1: I think Matt, you know, for for Mike and I, 307 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:34,720 Speaker 1: the one thing we always say to each other is 308 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:38,920 Speaker 1: we look at each other and like, can you believe this? 309 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: You know, because we it's hard to say, you know, 310 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,520 Speaker 1: like we didn't look at Bandon Dunes as a business 311 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:48,000 Speaker 1: every day. We didn't, but we knew we were opening 312 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:50,640 Speaker 1: a business and you can't do things stupid and we're 313 00:18:50,680 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: doing it for the love of the game, but it 314 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 1: was still a business. And you know, to to budget 315 00:18:57,600 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 1: to do ten thousand rounds the first year and end 316 00:19:01,600 --> 00:19:05,359 Speaker 1: up doing close to thirty thousand, and now, you know, 317 00:19:06,920 --> 00:19:10,360 Speaker 1: multiply those numbers by the five courses now and it's like, 318 00:19:11,000 --> 00:19:13,480 Speaker 1: we still can't believe it. I can't believe it. Mike 319 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: can't believe it. I mean, there's no way you could 320 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:19,480 Speaker 1: have imagined that it would become what it's become. It's 321 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 1: you know, thankfully to the work the architects did and 322 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 1: and the site selection, and it's uh, I still have 323 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 1: to pinch myself. Some final reflections from several key players 324 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: who have helped make Bandon so special. We'll start with 325 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:45,320 Speaker 1: Josh Lesnick, followed by David Kidd. I've been involved with 326 00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:50,000 Speaker 1: a number of other places, and but Bandon is is 327 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:53,160 Speaker 1: uh Yeah, it's home. It's my home away from home. 328 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:55,719 Speaker 1: It's my happy place. I love you know, the second 329 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,760 Speaker 1: you step foot on that property and breathing that air 330 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,880 Speaker 1: and then get to play of those golf courses um 331 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 1: and bandoned doones being my favorite golf course anywhere in 332 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:10,240 Speaker 1: the world. Yeah, there's I don't know that anything could 333 00:20:10,240 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: ever take over bannon D's my favorite place in the world. 334 00:20:14,800 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: I never tire of talking about Bannondon's. I never tire 335 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:23,160 Speaker 1: of every visit I make. I especially love it when 336 00:20:23,160 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: I get to take bandoned virgins there who are not 337 00:20:27,920 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: banned in East as yet to experience the place with 338 00:20:32,280 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 1: a newbie is still a huge kick. And I know 339 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:38,320 Speaker 1: it's the same for you guys to make taking I 340 00:20:38,480 --> 00:20:42,240 Speaker 1: probably take at least one or two eate somes to 341 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:44,840 Speaker 1: band in a year, and in that eights I might 342 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:48,400 Speaker 1: try and make sure there's at least one or two virgins, 343 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: uh and introduced them to the place and know that 344 00:20:51,640 --> 00:20:55,480 Speaker 1: it's just blowing their minds and that's such fun to 345 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:59,480 Speaker 1: be part of. To see that wonder again and experience 346 00:20:59,560 --> 00:21:02,400 Speaker 1: it through someone else's eyes, seeing it for the first time. 347 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 1: I'll never ever tire of that kid and Lesnik again 348 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 1: on what they learned from working with Mike Kiser. You know, 349 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,960 Speaker 1: he is the master of cutting through the b s 350 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,320 Speaker 1: and getting to the heart of the matter. He simplifies 351 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: things to their absolute core really really quickly, better than 352 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: anybody I've ever made before. I could be doing mental 353 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: gymnastics trying to figure something out, and I could call 354 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:34,199 Speaker 1: Mike and it'd be like he could figure it out 355 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:36,119 Speaker 1: in a second and get to the get to the 356 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:40,240 Speaker 1: mottom of it. And it's he keeps things really really 357 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:46,040 Speaker 1: simple and accomplishes amazing things. Um yeah, I mean that 358 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: would you know, everything nothing. He never wanted to see 359 00:21:48,760 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: anything that was more than one page. If you sent 360 00:21:51,119 --> 00:21:53,640 Speaker 1: him anything more than one page, it was too much, 361 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: too complex, Just don't do it, don't send it to him. 362 00:21:58,160 --> 00:22:00,919 Speaker 1: So I mean working with him, you know, as I 363 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:07,280 Speaker 1: said earlier, I think one of his many legacies. Um 364 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:11,120 Speaker 1: and it's all you know, its opinion and people can 365 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: look back. But I feel like he's with each architect, 366 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: He's worth worked with each golf course architect, they may 367 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: have built their best golf course with working with Mike Kaiser. 368 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 1: I think that's part of his his brilliance is just 369 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:29,560 Speaker 1: working with people and working with the artists UM David 370 00:22:29,680 --> 00:22:34,840 Speaker 1: and Tom Doak and Bill Core and um, you know, 371 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:39,280 Speaker 1: and keeping it simple and just achieving incredible things. It's amazing, 372 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 1: amazing to work with them. I asked them both, what 373 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:46,439 Speaker 1: if there was no Mike Kaiser in your life? I 374 00:22:46,480 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 1: would still like to think that I would have uh 375 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: found my way in golf course design. But I wouldn't 376 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:59,680 Speaker 1: have the you know, the bandoned Dudes logo on my shirt, 377 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: and that would have made it much much harder, and uh, 378 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:06,800 Speaker 1: the road would have been a lot longer. But I 379 00:23:06,840 --> 00:23:09,639 Speaker 1: would still want to believe that I would have h 380 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: managed to be a force irrelevance in golf course architecture. Uh. 381 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:18,399 Speaker 1: You know, there were a number of other projects that 382 00:23:18,440 --> 00:23:21,119 Speaker 1: I managed to get in and around. You know, I 383 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,960 Speaker 1: was on numerous sites that are now world beater golf courses. 384 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:28,680 Speaker 1: You know. I was at Friar's Head that Kuru Crenshaw 385 00:23:28,800 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: did two years before they got there. I was on 386 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,919 Speaker 1: numerous others, the Preserve and Carmel, I was on that 387 00:23:34,960 --> 00:23:38,199 Speaker 1: site before Fasio did it. So there were lots of 388 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,880 Speaker 1: other projects that I was managing to to squeeze myself 389 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: into one way or another. So I would like to 390 00:23:46,560 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 1: think that I would have made a break somehow, some way, 391 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: And I think Josh would have too. I think we 392 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: both were full of piss and vinegar, and one way 393 00:23:56,760 --> 00:24:00,400 Speaker 1: or another we would have made it. I've never I'm 394 00:24:00,440 --> 00:24:07,400 Speaker 1: afraid to think about that. Um, you know, I think, uh, 395 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:10,680 Speaker 1: I think I I'm not sure I would have found 396 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:15,439 Speaker 1: what I truly love about the game of golf, um 397 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,959 Speaker 1: and the business of golf without Mike. I don't know. 398 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:22,399 Speaker 1: It would have taken a long time. I didn't I 399 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,800 Speaker 1: didn't go play golf in Scotland. Thought I was forty 400 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 1: years old. Um, and it would have taken me a 401 00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 1: lot longer to find out what I loved about the game. Uh. 402 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,920 Speaker 1: If it weren't for Mike Eiser, I mean it's uh. 403 00:24:37,080 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 1: I think he's done that for a lot of Americans 404 00:24:39,359 --> 00:24:42,520 Speaker 1: probably who have now gotten abandoned and and got on 405 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: to play Sand Valley and and kind of seen um 406 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:51,280 Speaker 1: dream golf and what makes the game of golf so lovable. 407 00:24:52,000 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: So I don't want to think about what it would 408 00:24:54,080 --> 00:24:56,240 Speaker 1: be like with no Mike Keiser and no bandon Dunes. 409 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:59,520 Speaker 1: Bill Core and Ben Cruncha just opened their third course 410 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,840 Speaker 1: from Mike e are Abandoned Dunes. They've built seven courses 411 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:05,960 Speaker 1: for what's referred to as the Dream Golf Portfolio, and 412 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: are under construction on their eighth, Cabot St. Lucia. That 413 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,600 Speaker 1: accounts for almost a third of what cor and Crenshaw 414 00:25:12,680 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 1: have built from Scratch, Core and then Crenshaw on the 415 00:25:16,440 --> 00:25:22,480 Speaker 1: overall impact of Mike Kaiser. We've gotten so far and 416 00:25:22,480 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: away more than our fair share the very special sites, 417 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,280 Speaker 1: and a great number of those have come from Mike Kaiser. Uh. 418 00:25:31,800 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 1: He's been He is simply the most incredible and should 419 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:44,800 Speaker 1: be the most highly acclaimed golf developer in the world. 420 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: And he the products that he puts out there and 421 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:54,400 Speaker 1: the care that he puts into them is just beyond comparison. 422 00:25:55,080 --> 00:26:00,080 Speaker 1: And he finds these sites, he goes back to that 423 00:26:00,000 --> 00:26:04,960 Speaker 1: that nucleus of playing golf on sandy firm ground, and 424 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,439 Speaker 1: in Mike's case, at least until Sand Valley, it was 425 00:26:07,480 --> 00:26:12,600 Speaker 1: always about somewhere near the sea ums. He just finds 426 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:15,399 Speaker 1: it to be It's a it's a connection to five 427 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: years of golf history. And he he just I think 428 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,320 Speaker 1: he believed in before he started doing these golf developments 429 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:28,920 Speaker 1: that that was a connection that would resonate with American 430 00:26:29,000 --> 00:26:34,440 Speaker 1: golfers as well as European and other other nationality golfers. 431 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,159 Speaker 1: And he brought it to us. He gave us the 432 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,840 Speaker 1: opportunity to experience it, and he was right. I mean, 433 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 1: it's a it's a It may be the oldest form 434 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,520 Speaker 1: of golf in the world, but I think it's still 435 00:26:47,600 --> 00:26:51,360 Speaker 1: the most appreciated. Maybe it was his first trips over 436 00:26:51,359 --> 00:26:55,119 Speaker 1: the British Isles, and you know, people make a journey 437 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: to go see those golf courses and the way they 438 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:02,240 Speaker 1: are in the in their natural state. Uh. But Mike 439 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:08,800 Speaker 1: was after some sandy ground and picturesque ground, no matter 440 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,080 Speaker 1: where it was, and he was gonna tap into that 441 00:27:12,240 --> 00:27:16,800 Speaker 1: golfer who wants to travel, much like you know, a 442 00:27:16,800 --> 00:27:21,000 Speaker 1: a surfer or a sailor that would go to remote 443 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:26,439 Speaker 1: places around the world to enjoy their advocation. Uh. You know, 444 00:27:26,600 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 1: you've heard the surfers going, you know, to Tierra del 445 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: Fuego too, you know who who knows where and in 446 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:39,320 Speaker 1: the Pacific to go find that wave and and and 447 00:27:39,400 --> 00:27:44,239 Speaker 1: that experience. And that's golfers have a way of you know, 448 00:27:44,320 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 1: if they if they're one or two groups that travel 449 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:51,240 Speaker 1: together and get to a place and enjoy golf. That's 450 00:27:51,280 --> 00:27:53,920 Speaker 1: that's who he's after. And he's really done a great 451 00:27:54,000 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 1: job uh with that. It's the repeat customer uh uh 452 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 1: in places that eat, sleep, and drink golf. Uh. And 453 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:10,040 Speaker 1: Bill and I are just a recipient of of his outreach. 454 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:15,000 Speaker 1: We we can't thank Mike enough. And and Mike, you know, 455 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:17,919 Speaker 1: extends to all the other architects that we know, and 456 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:23,840 Speaker 1: they've done a great job. Two. So it it it's 457 00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:26,840 Speaker 1: it's pretty unique, and we're very honored to be part 458 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:30,320 Speaker 1: of that. I get two kinds of letters from men, 459 00:28:30,320 --> 00:28:34,720 Speaker 1: in particular, ladies are are beginning to go up there, 460 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:37,040 Speaker 1: but there's still in a small minority of people who 461 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:41,240 Speaker 1: play man. So the letters I see go into two categories. 462 00:28:41,280 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 1: The buddy strip I was great, here's a photo. We 463 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: had our fabulous ten there eight twelve will you do it? 464 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:50,480 Speaker 1: Eight twelve, sixteen of you? I like those stories. They're 465 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,760 Speaker 1: basically all the same saying we had a fabulous time 466 00:28:53,840 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 1: even though it rained, or even though whears the wind. 467 00:28:58,200 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: There's always a wrinkle, but the the buddies have a 468 00:29:02,200 --> 00:29:04,200 Speaker 1: great time, and many of them come back here and 469 00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: in year out. But the ones that really got me 470 00:29:06,600 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 1: are the father's son trips, which are fewer than the 471 00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:13,960 Speaker 1: muddy trips, but those are very heartfelt, you know, like 472 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:17,440 Speaker 1: you know I we came all the way from Boston. 473 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: It's been one of my life streams. The father writes 474 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,680 Speaker 1: to me that I can take my sons to Bandon Dudes. 475 00:29:23,160 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 1: And we did, and we had a glorious time, and 476 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:27,200 Speaker 1: I don't know if we'll do it again, but it 477 00:29:27,280 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: was just babit us being with my son's or a 478 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: lot of father's sons making a four some rates. And 479 00:29:34,920 --> 00:29:37,080 Speaker 1: so I've got a soft scotch because I have two 480 00:29:37,120 --> 00:29:41,479 Speaker 1: sons and four kids. They all like Bandon Dudes. So 481 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:44,960 Speaker 1: I like the father's son father daughter letters. In particular, 482 00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: I ask every guest on the fire pit to share 483 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:57,800 Speaker 1: their favorite fire pit and give me a reason or two. 484 00:29:57,840 --> 00:30:01,120 Speaker 1: Why do you have one? It's probably the one at 485 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: growth Cotta Jump. We're building one right now for and 486 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: I haven't seen it a sheep ranch, so it's got 487 00:30:08,240 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 1: it's gonna have some growth cottage just doesn't really have 488 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,880 Speaker 1: a view. You're just part of nature. And the one 489 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:19,040 Speaker 1: sheep ranch, she's going to be resplendent with the visuals. 490 00:30:19,400 --> 00:30:22,880 Speaker 1: You'll be overlooking the golfers. So wait until you see 491 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,320 Speaker 1: that right now. It's the Growth Cottages. I'm looking at 492 00:30:26,400 --> 00:30:32,160 Speaker 1: it right now, the putting courts at Gamble Sands. On 493 00:30:32,240 --> 00:30:35,000 Speaker 1: the far side of it is a fire pit that 494 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: lukes diving into the Columbia River Gorge and to the 495 00:30:39,880 --> 00:30:43,240 Speaker 1: north cast Gate Mountains. Uh. And it is by far 496 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:49,760 Speaker 1: my favorite fire pit. Yeah, my favorite fire pit experience. Again, 497 00:30:50,000 --> 00:30:54,240 Speaker 1: you know, after the playoff in the Uncle Tony Invitational 498 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: and winning. You know, I think you'll recall I came 499 00:30:58,760 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 1: into the fire pit pretty hot that night. And I mean, 500 00:31:01,960 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: any fire pit where Joe Horowitz is playing music should 501 00:31:04,920 --> 00:31:10,400 Speaker 1: be my favorite, but that night, um, you know it was. 502 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:13,920 Speaker 1: That was a pretty special occasion. I appreciated your advice 503 00:31:14,000 --> 00:31:17,440 Speaker 1: and that night and uh, we really we enjoyed the 504 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:20,240 Speaker 1: fire pit, and we enjoyed Joe. And that's that fire 505 00:31:20,240 --> 00:31:23,640 Speaker 1: pit abandoned Dudes near the Growth Cottages is my favorite 506 00:31:23,640 --> 00:31:28,920 Speaker 1: fire bit, no doubt. That's the inspiration for this podcast. 507 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 1: As I've said, before without that fire Pit. I don't 508 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:34,720 Speaker 1: know that we even have a podcast called The fire Pit. 509 00:31:34,880 --> 00:31:42,280 Speaker 1: I mean, that's how special that fire Pit is. Are 510 00:31:42,320 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: you looking for good value on great golf apparel as 511 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,000 Speaker 1: a listener to this podcast, my friends John Ashworth and 512 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:51,640 Speaker 1: Jeff Cunningham at Link Soul in Oceanside, California are offering 513 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:55,720 Speaker 1: you a discount on all future orders of What I 514 00:31:55,840 --> 00:31:59,040 Speaker 1: Wear All Day, every day, on and off the course. 515 00:32:00,080 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: Whenever you go to link soul dot com, just use 516 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:06,400 Speaker 1: promo code matty G M A T T Y G. 517 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:11,240 Speaker 1: Thank you for listening to The fire Pit. It's produced 518 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,640 Speaker 1: by Alex Upeggy. It's edited by Rex Lint. The theme 519 00:32:14,760 --> 00:32:18,280 Speaker 1: song is by Joe Horowitz. Please rate and review this 520 00:32:18,360 --> 00:32:21,320 Speaker 1: podcast on Apple Podcasts and we might track you down 521 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,160 Speaker 1: and send you one of our new Imperial Road Pats. 522 00:32:25,360 --> 00:32:27,280 Speaker 1: Got a question, comment, or a story for us to 523 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 1: track down. You can find me on Twitter at Matt 524 00:32:30,000 --> 00:32:33,720 Speaker 1: Janella or on Instagram at Matt Underscore Janella. And if 525 00:32:33,720 --> 00:32:36,560 Speaker 1: you haven't already done so, please subscribe to The fire 526 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:40,120 Speaker 1: Pit on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you listen to 527 00:32:40,200 --> 00:32:43,200 Speaker 1: a story like this one. You can also subscribe to 528 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: our YouTube channel, which is where we post portions of 529 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: our podcast and add some visual surprises.