Keiser On Bandon Muni, Petulant Pros

David Shefter posts a very enjoyable USGA.org Q&A with Mike Keiser, host of this week's U.S. Amateur Public Links events at Bandon Dunes. Keiser offers a few more details about his vision for a course south of Bandon.

I do hope that I can complete a deal with the state parks to build Bandon Muni Golf Links. It would be south of Bandon, six or seven miles away [from the resort]. It’s right on the ocean. It will be 27 holes. Juniors and locals pay virtually nothing. It’s just like St. Andrews. Tourists pay full ride and Oregonians pay half price.
What is the topography of that proposed layout?

Keiser: Pretty much exactly like Pacific Dunes. It’s about there that the dunes stop. It’s the southern-most edge.

And he answered this question about his love of amateur golf.

With the media attention on golf, everything is focused on the professional game.  And for the last 15 years, it’s been [about] Tiger Woods. Golf equals Tiger Woods. I call myself a retail golfer. I’m an average golfer with a 10.6 [USGA Handicap] Index. I like golf not because of Tiger Woods, not because of televised golf courses, not because of the media attention on the top players, I like golf for me. I like match play. Amateurs represent the best of the rest. And that’s why I like amateur events. I didn’t build this for the pros. Now some have come here. Even though they are moderately short by modern standards, the wind is a great equalizer. These golf courses would stand the test of the pros. But I didn’t build them for them because they are a petulant group. I built them for 25 million amateurs and amateur tournaments. These people are the best of us. So they are my target.