Oregon Drift

The opening next week of Old Macdonald already has provided a big boost for Bandon Dunes Golf Resort.

‘The summer looks good for the whole resort,” said Hank Hickox, the general manager at Bandon Dunes.

The hype for the new course has led to strong reservations throughout the summer, with tee times filling up, though Hickox said, ‘We’ll always try to get people on.’”

The new course also has meant an increase in employment at the resort, back toward the peak levels of a few years ago.

‘Obviously, when you have another golf course, you have more holes,” Hickox said. ‘We have additional agronomy people. We’ve added a pro shop team. We have additional shuttle drivers.”

The resort also has needed to add staff for guest services and additional caddies.

‘It’s a significant number of people,” Hickox said.

The resort’s overall employment has increased to about 450 full- and part-time employees. That’s not counting the 250 or so additional caddies who work at Bandon Dunes.

The increased resort activity is welcome news to Mike Keiser, who owns the resort.

‘After a dismal ’09 — 2010, because of Old Macdonald, will be upticking quite significantly,” Keiser said.

‘It will be good for the area. The trickle down should be good.”

– John Gunther