Course manager OB Sports has announced the change of Oregon seaside course Sandpines Golf Links’ name to Florence Golf Links. The name change honors the course’s host city of Florence, and kicks off its second quarter-century of play. Designed by noted architect Rees Jones, Sandpines/Florence won a Golf Digest “Best New Public Course in America”…

At the management firm’s annual awards dinner, The Country Club of St. Albans (Mo.) was named Facility of the Year, and James Fitzsimmons, General Manager of The Governors Club in Brentwood, Tenn., earned the James R. Seeley Award at General Manager of the Year. Joe Smith of Swenson Park Golf Course and Van Buskirk Golf Course in Stockton, Calif. was given the Emil Esposito Golf Professional of the Year Award, and Jason Pierce of Heron Glen Golf Course in Ringoes, N.J. was named Superintendent of the Year.

A group headed by the Bandon Dunes developer is submitting a “thoroughly vetted planning document” to the Highland Council regarding the proposed development of the 18-hole course on the coast just north of Embo, Sutherland, Scotland. Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore have been retained to design the course, which would be located just 1.5 miles from Royal Dornach GC.

Mike Keiser’s plans to build up to five golf courses between Wisconsin Rapids and Adams-Friendship has community leaders scrambling to improve infrastructure and amenities. This week, town officials from Rome, Wis., site of Sand Valley Golf Resort, are visiting Bandon, Ore., home to Keiser’s Bandon Dunes, to prepare for the inevitable growing pains that will come from the development.

Other awards announced at the management firm’s annual Leadership Conference included Mike Fleig of Greeley CC as General Manager of the Year, Ryan Szydlowski of Desert Willow Golf Resort
 as Golf Professional of the Year, and Blayne Sparks of The Wilderness at Lake Jackson
 as Superintendent of the Year.

The maintenance director and environmental consultant at the Boca Raton, Fla. property has been selected as the Overall and National Private recipient of the annual awards that recognize superintendents and their golf courses for overall excellence and best management practices. Alex Stuedemann of TPC Deere Run (Public Course) and Ken Nice of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort (Resort Course) were also selected for national recognition.

Crowe is returning to the Bandon, Ore., resort after being on the opening team in 1999 as hotel operations manager. Following Hank Hickox, who is retiring this year, and Josh Lesnik, Crowe will be the third General Manager in the resort’s 17-year history.

The under-the-radar golf course north of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., was built in the early 2000s with a 13-hole layout. Owner Mike Keiser said the site, about 300 acres, has one mile of coastline and is likely to be designed by Gil Hanse, though “that’s not a done deal.”

Reports conducted in 2010 and 2015 have found that the Bandon, Ore., resort impacts Coos County through jobs, direct and induced tax support, spending on locally supplied goods and services, and philanthropic and community development work. From 2010 to 2014, rounds at the resort increased 64%, with golfers playing more and staying longer.

It’s one thing to have a signature course, but combining golf with the overall hospitality experience makes for a truly remarkable destination.

In a statement, Keiser announced “with great regret” that the 27-hole, municipal project will be terminated, citing financial hurdles posed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and well testing that yielded “disappointing results.”

Under the controversial deal, Keiser plans to buy 280 acres of state parkland for $2.5 million to build a 27-hole golf course about 14 miles from Bandon Dunes in Oregon. The Bureau has stipulated that Keiser must pay an additional $450,000 for the land, which is half of market value for the property, minus a token fee the parks department.

More often than not, I will remember a fantastic service experience long beyond holing that 40-foot putt or a fantastic 4th of July pool party and fireworks show, and will no doubt share the story with others.

The Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has agreed to accept several parcels of land, $2.5 million in cash for future land acquisitions, and money to clean up an invasive plant species in exchange for the state privatizing 280 acres of the public coast so Keiser, the owner/developer of Bandon Dunes Resort, can develop a low-cost golf course geared toward local play.

The inaugural KemperClub Championship was held at the property on October 20-22, establishing the management firm’s new initiative, which is designed to enhance golfer enjoyment through special promotions and unique events.