Bandon & Southern Oregon

Once home to little more than fishing, lumberyards and one of the West's larger ports in Coos Bay, the southern Oregon coast has quickly emerged as one of the world's top golf destinations.

Owner Mike Keiser (who made his fortunes on the greeting card industry) sought out America's most spectacular oceanfront property worthy of the continent's finest pure links golf. The Bandon Dunes Resort is now a four-course resort on the spectacular coast, three of which are pure links courses overlooking the pacific ocean and playing through towering dunes and gorse. Bandon Dunes is often considered the closest thing America has to Scottish links, but in some ways it's even better. Each course is a brief shuttle ride between the numerous lodging options and clubhouses. The courses represent modern-but-throwback design styles that make the scenery is as good as you'll find on a golf course in the world.

The first golf course, Bandon Dunes, opened in 1998 and was designed by Scotsman David McLay Kidd. It was soon upstaged by Pacific Dunes next door, designed by Tom Doak and ranked by many publications as America's top public golf course. Bandon Trails, a Bill Coore/Ben Crenshaw design starts in dunes before weaving into the tall pines of the northwest then back out of the woods on the last hole. A fourth championship course, Old Macdonald, was added in 2010 and features a collection of links holes inspired by some of the game's classic designs.

The resort also features a large practice center and teaching academy that caters to the nuances of links golf. But Keiser isn't done making Bandon the ultimate golf retreat, as an executive course is in
planning stages.

With so many golfers making the trek to the region, other golf courses have piggybacked off the golf explosion. Bandon Crossings is a new inland beauty that's a classically-designed parkland that is a fraction of the cost. Old Bandon Golf Links is a revamped, historic nine-hole course that encourages walking. A golf course few know about is Sheep Ranch, a private, informal course that is invite-only and features a collection of holes on the coast itself, including a par-3 shot over the ocean -- something even the Bandon Dunes Resort can't claim.

If you choose to walk instead of run, however, the area's golf courses are perfect with low green fees and premium scenery. As an example, for less than $40 for you can play a course like Diamond Woods, which is co-owned by former baseball player Jeff Doyle, in Monroe. At more than 7,000 yards, the course was designed by Doyle's brother Greg, who routed it through lakes and trees.

In Creswell, you'll find Emerald Valley, which is located on the Coast Fork of the Willamette River. Opened in 1964, this Bob Baldock design has undergone recent renovations and improvements. Or in Eugene, give RiverRidge Golf Complex or Fiddler's Green a try. RiverRidge has a par 3, executive course and regulation 18 for all levels of players. Fiddler's Green is one of the largest and most complete golf retailers in the country with more than 50,000 square feet, hitting bays and a par 3 course as well.

If you're pressed for time, you might want to check out a couple of nine-hole layouts. In Eugene, there's Laurelwood, a picturesque Clarence Sutton design that goes back to 1929. Or venture over to nearby Cottage Grove to Hidden Valley Golf Course, which goes back to the same year. It's the perfect prelude to a tasting at one of the many wineries of Lane County.