The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year Presentation at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Posted by Rob Rigg, 21 Feb 2010 in Articles, Blog, Featured, 8 Comments

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010 will always be a historic day for The Walking Golfers Society, because that was when the inaugural presentation of  “The Walking Golfer of the Year” occurred on the deck behind the 18th green at Bandon Trails.

BDGR was announced as the award winner about a month ago, click here for the press release.

Mike Keiser, a visionary who has created one of the premier golf destinations in the world, accepted the award on behalf of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

From L to R: Todd Rohrer (The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company), Mike Keiser (Bandon Dunes Golf Resort), Jeff Brinegar (PGA Head Professional at Pacific Dunes and Old Macdonald), Rob Rigg (The Walking Golfers Society). Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, which is without a doubt the walking golf capital of North America, is a special place on many levels. It boasts three, soon to be four, of the best golf courses in the world and all of them are walking only. The positive energy and passion for playing “golf as it was meant to be” hums through the Resort. From the head professionals and the caddies, to the waitresses and shuttle drivers – it is clear that Bandon Dunes is a source of immense pride for everyone associated with the Resort.

The four spectacular venues at Bandon should not be missed if you are a passionate walking golfer.

Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

The award presented to Mr. Keiser was designed by Larry Eisenbach of Ray-Gun Digital Artistry, based in Hillsboro, OR. The plaque is a steel plate, with bonded bridle leather covering the top two thirds.  Words and images have been laser etched onto the steel and leather.

Josh Smith’s painting of the 11th at Pacific Dunes is depicted at the bottom of the plaque and it sums up in a single image the main reason that the Resort won the award. It is a place where you will truly enjoy the walk – over and over again.

The Walking Golfers Society and The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company are very grateful for Larry and Josh’s help in making the award a one of a kind work of art.

The 2009 Walking Golfer of Year Award - A Laser-etched Steel and Leather Plaque created by Larry Eisenbach. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Todd Rohrer and the talented team at The MacKenzie Golf Bag Company created a Sunday Bag to commemorate the award.

The logos for each course at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort are stitched onto the ball pocket and “The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year” has been written in script along the barrel.

The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year MacKenzie Golf Bag with Resort Logos. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Mr. Keiser, in addition to receiving the plaque and golf bag which will remain at the Resort, was presented with a Custom 8620 Wedge from Scratch Golf and a Fairway Wood Headcover from MacKenzie. We hope these mementos remind him of the award with a sense of pride.

Todd and I would like to thank Mr. Keiser, Todd Kloster, Jeff Brinegar, and the entire staff at Bandon Dunes for making us feel like a part of the Bandon Dunes family from the moment we stepped onto the property.

It was an honor to present the Resort with “The 2009 Walking Golfer of the Year” on behalf of our Society members.

We had a wonderful few days and were fortunate to play some “dream golf” as well!

Here is a great image from Wood Sabold:

11th Hole at Pacific Dunes. Photo by Wood Sabold. www.woodsabold.com

Read on for some photos and commentary about an epic mid-February trip to Bandon Dunes.

Rob and Todd on the 3rd Tee at Pacific Dunes

The weather for the trip was incredible, starting with our Tuesday afternoon round at Bandon Dunes. The hi-lite for me was draining a 55 foot putt on the majestic 4th hole for par, while Todd managed to shoot even par on the back nine which is pretty amazing considering it was his first round of the year!

Not that we were keeping track of score . . . no really, we didn’t.

It was all about enjoying the walk.

Rob enjoying the sun on the 6th Green at Bandon Dunes

After the award ceremony on Wednesday, Todd and I had a chance to play Bandon Trails which is a fantastic challenge.

My most enjoyable golfing memory of the trip was hitting driver off the tee on the two shot 4th, followed by an 80 yard putter from the fairway and then a 2 foot tap in for birdie. I think that Grant Rogers, the long time Director of Instruction at Bandon and a “yoda of the links”, would have approved.

Todd striding up the fairway on the 6th at Bandon Trails

Few things in golf are better than walking Pacific Dunes and we were fortunate to be the first group off in the morning. It was a bluebird day for 4.5 holes, before the fog rolled in.

Todd taking a rip on the 3rd Tee at Pacific Dunes

Ironically, neither Todd nor I lost a ball while playing through the mist that created a very “Golf in the Kingdom” atmosphere. Just aim off into the fog and take a nice smooth swing.

Rob walking into the soup on the 8th at Pacific Dunes

Todd’s bunker shot to a few feet on the 11th at Pacific should have been good enough to halve the hole, but I was fortunate to drop a ten footer for birdie to take the honor on the next tee. What a fun game this is.

Todd blasting out on the 11th at Pacific Dunes

A final photo to sum up an incredible trip to the Oregon Coast . . .

13th Hole at Pacific Dunes with The Sheep Ranch in the distance

and Josh Smith’s painting of the 11th at Pacific Dunes for good measure. Just brilliant.

The 11th Hole at Pacific Dunes - Painting by Josh Smith. www.joshsmithart.com