Beyond the Dream Bandon Dunes

This is a story behind how difficult it was to get development approval for the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort concept; what and how the necessary infrastructure was put in place to support the golf activity; what distinguishes this golf resort from other golf resorts, especially community-oriented golf resorts; and how the vision of "Dream Golf" was augmented to include a regional approach to coastal conservation. To turn a vision into a permitted development meant confronting a complex land planning and public review process prescribed by state law. After obtaining an initial development approval, the team proceeded to design and oversee construction of the destination golf resort. Over the years, the resort grew and expanded beyond its original design program. When most of the pieces of the master plan were in place, the owner came up with a surprise. He wasn't finished with his dream: he wanted to build one more golf course--something special--but it wasn't allowed in the master plan. As the story unfolded, resulting changes produced an unforeseen outcome that took the initial dream golf vision beyond the dream.