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Bandon's First Golf Course

by Jim Proehl

Westmost - Bandon's First Golf Course

Westmost It started as an idea tossed around a Chamber of Commerce meeting but by the end of 1927, Bandon had its first golf course. A series of articles in the 1927 Western World trace the beginnings of golf in Bandon.

The first mention is buried at the end of an article about Chamber activities in the June 9, 1927 edition of the Western World. “The matter of a golf course for Bandon was given further consideration. Although no definite decision was reached, plans are maturing for the achievement of this desired attraction.”

By the end of June, “To Consider Golf Course” was the headline of the article about chamber business. A committee of HS Ellis, Dr. RE Donahey, Geo. W. Moore, Jr., Archie H. Rosa, OC Shindler and LD Felshiem was formed to look into starting a golf course.

A July 14 article reports the committee had visited six possible course sites. A July 21 article headlined “Golf Fans to Organize” announces a meeting open to anyone who wants help establish a golf course.

Westmost “Geo. Moore to Head Golf Fans,” is the headline of a July 28, 1927 Western World article. The article reported, “Monday evening at Jerry’s a group of local golf fans met and effected an informal organization for the purpose of promoting a golf course for Bandon.

“Geo. W. Moore Jr. was elected president and Otto Shindler secretary-treasurer.” George Moore, Jr, was a junior partner in the Moore Mill and Lumber Company. Otto Shindler owned a pharmacy. The Monday meeting ended with news that Lee Smith, “a well known golf architect,” who had recently completed a course at Tillamook was interested in helping to develop a Bandon course. With Smith’s help, the committee took out an option to buy property known as Ledgerwood Farm that spanned the banks of Johnson Creek to where it flowed into the ocean.

September 29, the paper reported Geo. Moore received a telegram that Lee Smith was on his way to Bandon to meet with “The Bandon Golf association." A week later, the headline reads “Golf Course Work Starts.” Westmost

The October 6 article says, “Construction work has started on the golf links that are to be located on the Ledgerwood farm on Bandon beach, about a mile south of Silver Spray Gardens. Lee. E. Smith of Tillamook arrived Friday morning and by Monday noon contract arrangements were completed with the committee representing the membership subscribers and the option on the farm was closed.

“On Tuesday morning Mr. Smith and his assistants started laying out the course and the following day men were put to work making certain necessary clearings.”

In the next week’s paper, an article opened with, “Wanted! A name for Bandon’s golf links. What have you to suggest?” The article laid out the rules for the contest to name the new course.

“Nine Greens are Seeded” was the headline of the October 27 article. “In just three weeks, Lee E Smith and his crew, consisting of 15 men and three teams (of horses) have done the necessary clearing, the heavy grading and the seeding of the nine holes, together with banks and aprons.” Smith credits the unusually good weather for the rapid progress on the course.

Westmost “Westmost is Name Chosen,” was the headline for November 3, 1927. Erma Boyle suggested the name and won the prize of a set of hand-made golf clubs. “The selection was made because of the peculiar fact that the local links are the westmost links in the United States, and Mr. Smith believes that this distinctive feature has wide advertising possibilities,” reported the Western World. The course remained the westernmost in the country until Alaska and Hawaii became states.

Temporary holes were established on the upland portion of the golf property so that new club members could begin play. Lee Smith opened a golf shop in town and gave lessons in the evenings. A December article reported that George Moore played the first, nine hole, par round in Bandon and that Ed Capps won Bandon’s first golf tournament.Westmost

Since it was seeded in 1927, the course has gone through name changes and reconfigurations. Troy and Kim Russell operated it as Old Bandon Golf Links until the course closed in 2014.







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First Hole-In-One

“Hole-in-One Reported At Westmost Golf Links” according to the Bandon Western World, October 25, 1927, a verified score reported at the office of Westmost golf links Sunday, Sam Carmichael has the distinction of being the first to make a hole-in-one on the local course. Mr. Carmichael was playing in a matched foursome with J F Kronenberg of Bandon and Messrs. Gant and Barrow of Coquille. The score shows that the hole in one was made on the third which has a distance of about 130 yards and extends up a steep hillside.”

Bandon Western World, October 27, 1928

Westmost, Bandon’s first golf course, went through a number of changes in name and configuration. The October 27, 1927 Western World explained the course layout. “Extraordinarily large greens have been built, each averaging 7500 square feet. The links are laid out with No. 1 tee near the highway at the beach. Four holes extend to the east on the north side of the creek, four holes west and south on the south side of the creek and the ninth across to the starting place. Of the nine tees, four overlook the ocean.”

When the course officially opened in June of 1928, the Western World added reported this information. “The official card for the links gives the links a par of 35, with yardages and strokes as follows: First hole, 535 yards, par five; second, 345 yards, par four; third, 126 yards, par three; fourth, 110 yards, par three; fifth, 400 yards, par four; sixth, 350 yards, par four; seventh, 255 yards, par four; eighth, 510 yards, par five; ninth, 185 yards, par three.”