Trevathan Cup 2008- An Amazing Golf Experience

The 2008 Trevathan Cup was absolutely incredible- 100% pure golf nirvana! We arrived in Portland on April 3 at 11:40 AM and traveled to Heron Lakes Great Blue Course without any snags... well, maybe just a few- CASEY TIPTON MISSED HIS FLIGHT!!!

Another Trevathan Cupper, Scott Donley, got a call from Uncle Sam the day before the trip and could not make it. We all felt so bad for Scott as I know he was so excited to make this trip. He is a hero though... headed for his THIRD trip to Iraq- jumping out of Blackhawk helicopters and saving injured soldiers. (We are proud of you Scott and thankful for men and women like you).

The weather on April 3 was absolutely PERFECT!!! Sunny, no clouds, no wind and 68 - 70 degrees. I ended up with 4 birdies and one bogey. I chipped in on the 18th hole for birdie and a round of 69 (3-under). It was sweet revenge for me. The last time I played the Great Blue Course at Heron Lakes I was 1-under heading into the 18th hole and managed to make a 10, T-E-N (long story- but the main point being, don't listen to your office voicemail while you are on the golf course). I've gotta have an excuse, right?

Casey Tipton managed to get on a later flight and was able to join us on the back nine. I know he was relieved.
We drove down to Coos Bay that night and checked into the Mill Casino Hotel around 11 PM. Of course we all had to spend an hour or so at the black jack table. I didn't fair too well but, yet again, I had sweet revenge (I will explain later).

The weather on the morning of April 4 was not anything close to the day before. A cold front had blown through and it was raining with winds of 25-35 mph and temps around 38 degrees. I thought to myself, "Surely it will warm up and stop raining." I was wrong.

By the time we teed off at Pacific Dunes on the morning of Friday, April 4, the wind was HOWLING, the rain was DRIVING (almost felt like small ice cubes pelting your eyeballs- it hurt!!!), and the temps were dropping. The first 7 holes were the toughest conditions I have ever played in my life. Period! We are along the Pacific Ocean, playing straight into a 50-60 MPH wind, hitting drivers 180 yards and you don't want to know how hard putting was. No one could feel their hands... except for my caddy who had on two pair of mittens... it was like something out of a Dumb & Dumber movie. He finally said, "Here, use a pair of my gloves. My hands are toasty."

By the time we made it to the back nine, the weather had calmed down a bit (although it sounds funny to say that because even though it calmed down, I would NEVER play in those conditions for fun). Somehow, we all had fun though.

Mike Swanson made a great analogy. He said, "It was similar to getting an invitation to play for the Boston Red Sox at Fenway and face a Hall of Fame Pitcher. You may strike out on three pitches but you wouldn't trade the experience for anything." Well said, Mike!!!

We ended up playing 36 holes on Friday (18 at Pacific Dunes and 18 at Bandon Trails). On Saturday, the weather was the same... rain, cold, windy. We played 18 at Bandon Dunes and 18 at Pacific Dunes.

I have to mention my final hole of the trip...

The first day I carded an 8 on the last hole at Pacific Dunes. It is a very tough, 591 yard Par 5 into the wind and my caddy (the one I fired) told me where to hit the ball off the tee and for my approach (but he was wrong both times- see, here is another excuse).

When I played Pacific Dunes for the second time (when the wind was blowing 50 MPH), I promised everyone in my group when we stood on the tee that I would make a par. I didn't know how I was going to do it (the hole was playing about 800 yards in that wind) but I was going to gut it out!

I hit a great tee shot down the middle. Then I hit my driver off the fairway to about 180 yards out. The wind was really blowing by this time. My normal 180 shot is an easy 6 iron or hard 7 iron. I hit 3-wood that day from 180 yards. I pulled it left into the trees and went hunting for my ball. I could not find it and decided it had gone into the hazard. I took a ball out of my bag so I could take a drop and as I was taking my practice swing, I saw something white behind me... it was my Titleist 6- the first ball!!! Even better, I had an open shot from 80 yards through a small gap in the trees. I hit a gap wedge 2 feet from the hole and tapped in for a par!!! After riding my putter around the green like a horse for a while, I signed my card and shot 77. It might have been the best round of my life in those conditions- definitely the best par of my life!

Bandon Dunes was the best golf experience I have ever had and I think we may go back next year for the 2009 Trevathan Cup- but during the peak season (Sept. or Oct.).

We had 11 golfers in all and the company was fantastic. I haven't laughed that much since last year's Cup in Kansas City. I enjoyed the fellowship on the course with my good friends, the caddies (except for the one that I fired), our meals (we ate in Bandon one night at the Wild Rose and at McKee's Pub the other night on the property), and the second trip to the casino (I won $450 in 15 minutes playing blackjack... won 9 out of 10 hands!).

On Sunday, we made one last trip to the pro shop so we could spend more money, had a great breakfast at the Lodge, and headed back to Portland to catch our flights home.

It was truly the trip of a lifetime. Thanks to everyone that made it this year. I hope to see you in Bandon next year!

Brian teeing off on #16 at Bandon Dunes.


Brian putting on #1 at Bandon Dunes.


#14 at Bandon Trails (they taxi you to the high tee box)



#11 at Pacific Dunes (150 yard par 3)


That's okay... try it again.

#12 at Bandon Trails (242 yard par 3)

#11 at Bandon Trails

#18 at Pacific Dunes (600 yards dead into the wind)

"I think the next tee box is somewhere down here, guys."

Practice putting green at Bandon Dunes

#17 at Bandon Trails (a beautiful hole- despite my double bogey)

"The Gang" at McKee's Pub


# 10 at Pacific Dunes from the Upper Tee



The Four Amigos (Jim, Brian, Joey, and Sean)


Sean on #11 at Pacific Dunes (silky smooth)


Brian lost on #9 at Pacific Dunes (there were 2 greens?)


First hole at Bandon Dunes

Bandon Dunes... Here We Come!!!

I can't believe the 2nd Annual Charles Trevathan Cup is nearly here! This year, we have 12 golfers traveling to Portland, OR, then trecking down to Bandon, OR, for golf, fellowship, and fun.

The Trevathan Cuppers this year include:

Mike Conduff- Denton, TX (city manager for 25 years who now works with me on a number of fun things).

Brian Showalter- Frisco, TX (young real estate-developer-Trump-esque-tycoon that hits 400 yard drives and isn't afraid to tell you about it).

Brad Moore- Frisco, TX (insurance guru and good friend who had his two career low rounds at last year's tournament- he knows how to play well when it counts).

Casey Tipton- Dallas, TX (former high school golf phenom who still has a very salty game).

Scott Donley- Mesquite, TX (this guy knows more about the golf swing than David Ledbetter and happens to be a golf pro at Frisco Lakes).

Jim Uno- San Diego, CA (a great friend who is president of Trion:Z and a wonderful golfer).

Sean Mulherin- San Francisco, CA (best friend from high school who played golf for Texas Tech- has the most perfect, fluid golf swing you've ever seen).

Larry Kanzler- Columbia River, OR (Chief of Police in Milwaukie, OR, and Bandon expert- never misses a putt inside 10 feet).

Mike Swanson- Lake Oswego, OR (City Manager in Milwaukie, OR, and another Bandon expert who hits it down the middle all day long).

Joe Arca- Chicago, IL (good friend from the Windy City- one of the best putters I know).

Alex Mecenas- Chicago, IL (another friend from the Windy City that loves golf as much as anyone I know).

Brian Davis- Coppell, TX (just happy to be here, Clark).

On Thursday, April 3, the majority of the group will arrive at Portland International Airport at 11:30 AM and will travel twenty minutes to Heron Lakes (Blue Course) for round one. Upon completion of the first round, we will drive 4 hours to The Mill Hotel and Casino in Coos Bay, OR. After a few laughs and a few rounds on the blackjack table, we will head to our rooms and rest up for an amazing two days of "World Class" golf at Bandon Dunes Resort.

Bandon has three courses on the property (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, and Bandon Trails). All three are ranked by Golfweek.com as the "Top 10 Public Courses in the Country," and Pacific Trails is ranked #1 (over Pebble Beach)!

There are NO GOLF CARTS at Bandon and caddies are highly recommended. I have been told that sometimes, when the morning fog rolls in off of the Pacific, the fog is so think you can't see 75 yards in front of you. The caddies are so good that most can simply say, "Take out a 7-iron and aim for that piece of grass to inches in front of your ball." If you listen to the caddy and make a good swing, you'll find your ball nestled right by the cup when you can finally see the green.

Friday morning we are playing 18 holes at Pacific Dunes and Friday afternoon, we are playing 18 holes at Bandon Trails. Saturday morning we'll play 18 at Bandon Dunes and 18 at Pacific Dunes in the afternoon. The format will be Ryder Cup style with individual best ball matches and two-man team best ball matches. We will have a great time playing golf, cutting up, and sharing great stories... especially those about about our dear friend, Charles Trevathan!



Pacific Dunes- Hole 4


Bandon Trails- Hole 2



Bandon Trails- Hole 1