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!
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