From your home course to the Old Course, these are the best experiences in golf

October 2, 2:55 AMGolf ExaminerDave Seanor

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In one man’s opinion, here are some of the best golf experiences you can have:

• Bandon Dunes: For the golf purist, this 54-hole resort on the Oregon coast is head and shoulders above all others in the United States. Owned by Chicagoan Mike Keiser, who made his fortune in the recycled greeting card business, Bandon returns golfers to the essence of the game. All three courses are walking only – the original Bandon Dunes, designed by then-obscure David McLay Kidd; Pacific Dunes, created by renown minimalist Tom Doak; and Bandon Trails, a Bill Coore-Ben Crenshaw masterpiece that adds variety to the links package. This is not a golf factory; the service people are attentive but not overbearing. The caddies are knowledgeable and friendly. The accommodations are understated yet rustically elegant. The food is everything you could want, including a selection of superb Oregon wines. www.bandondunesgolf.com
• St. Andrews in March: No question, the weather in Scotland at this time of year can be challenging. But, hey, that’s the fun of links golf. Off-season is the best time to visit the game’s birthplace, when the tour buses are less ubiquitous and the university is in session. Odds are more favorable to score a tee time via the daily Old Course ballot, and spots on the other six Links Trust courses are at less of a premium. (For those unfamiliar with the Old Grey Toon, the New Course – built in 1895 – is terrific and locals consider the Jubilee best of the bunch.) A post-round Scotch at the Dunvegan Hotel is mandatory, while breakfast at The Eating Place and dinner at the Grange Inn are highly recommended. www.standrews.org.uk
• Ireland anytime: Links golf anywhere in the Republic or Northern Ireland is extraordinary. The locals tend to be friendlier than their rivals across the Irish Sea in Scotland, genuinely eager to hear about your round over a Guinness. Ballybunion, Royal Portrush, Royal County Down and Enniscrone are every bit as good as the best Scottish links. www.discoverireland.ie/golf.aspx
• Pinehurst breakfast buffet: Name the delicacy, and you’ll find it at the unrivaled breakfast buffet in Pinehurst’s Carolina Dining Room. Linger for an hour and you’ll be plenty fortified to take on Pinehurst No. 2, the famed Donald Ross design and venue for the 2014 U.S. Open. www.pinehurst.com
• Bay Hill Club and Lodge: The golf course at this PGA Tour stop in Orlando is good, but not great. Accommodations and food are just OK. The appeal here is the likelihood of bumping into Arnold Palmer. He keeps an office above the golf shop and spends much of the winter in Orlando. It’s not uncommon to see him on the range, on the putting green, at the bar, in the locker room, or on the course. If you walk up and say hi, he’ll graciously respond. That’s why he’s The King. www.bayhill.com
• World Golf Hall of Fame induction: The WGHOF continues to improve, but this exit off I-95 in Florida has a ways to go before it becomes a golf mecca – except for one weekend each November when the World Golf Foundation (essentially the PGA Tour) pulls out all the stops to celebrate a new class entering the Hall of Fame. Because the venue is small, you’re bound to run into some golf celebrity, be it a Hall of Famer, a TV personality, or some bigwig from the world of golf administration. With an array of interactive displays, special exhibits and rare golf antiquities, the Hall of Fame museum does an excellent job portraying the history of the game to adults and children alike. This year’s induction ceremony is Nov. 10, honoring Pete Dye, Carol Semple Thompson, Denny Shute, Bob Charles, Craig Wood and Herbert Warren Wind. www.wgv.com
• TaylorMade MATT system fitting: This is for golf swing technofiles, save those who suffer paralysis by analysis. Available by appointment at nine facilities in the U.S., the MATT (Motion Analysis Technology by Taylor Made) system uses cameras and body sensors to create 3D images that yield incredibly detailed information about an individual’s swing. Of course, the end game for TaylorMade is selling you a set of custom-fit clubs. It’s a small price to pay for so much data. www.taylormadegolf.com/matt.asp
• Walker Cup or Curtis Cup: These biennial team competitions between the United States and Great Britain & Ireland are amateur golf’s answer to the Ryder Cup. Here you’ll see pro golf’s stars of the future, up close and personal. The same raw emotions and intensity that make the Ryder Cup so special are on display, but in a much more intimate setting. The 2009 Walker Cup is Aug. 15-16 at Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia; the next Curtis Cup is June 11-13, 2010 at Essex Country Club in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Mass.
• A buddy trip: There’s nothing like a golf buddy trip, be it a gang of guys or gaggle of gals, to renew old ties and forge new bonds. It doesn’t matter where you go, as long as you make the commitment and do it. How many times have you said to friends, “We’ve got to go on a golf junket,” but never followed through? All it takes is a leader – someone willing to make the calls, cajole people into participating, book the tee times and find the accommodations.  Once the ball gets rolling, others will volunteer to handle specific details. If not, slackers should expect to be stuck with the first night’s bar tab.
• World Amateur Team Championships: This is the Olympics of golf, a true celebration of sportsmanship and international friendship. Every two years, four-person teams from around the globe compete for the men’s Eisenhower Trophy and the women’s Espirito Santo Trophy. South Africa defends its women’s title Oct. 8-11 and The Netherlands defends the men’s crown Oct. 16-19 in Adelaide, Australia. Fifty-four nations will field women’s teams and 72 countries will vie for the Eisenhower Trophy. Past participants include Nancy Lopez, Annika Sorenstam, Si Ri Pak, Lorena Ochoa, Jack Nicklaus, Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Colin Montgomerie and Phil Mickelson. The venue for the 2010 WATC will be announced during the competition in Adelaide. www.worldamateur2008.org
• British Open: First contested in 1860, the Open Championship is the granddaddy of them all. Suffice to say, the aura is completely different from any event you’ll attend in the States, the Masters included. www.opengolf.com
• Saturday evening nine with someone you love: The gamblers, cigar-smokers and regular foursomes have long retired to the 19th hole. Take your time and walk the course. Enjoy the scenery. Share some laughs, applaud successes and empathize with futility. It will rank among your best date nights ever.