When meteorology meets golf, it can get ugly. I REALLY wanted to keep playing, even though my meteorological knowledge, instincts and experience said RUN! Which we eventually did. The Oregon Coast is known for some nasty weather, but thunderstorms are unusual. They strike the Coast about 7 times a year. Oklahoma or Florida this is not. So what are the odds of getting hit by thunder and lightning two trips in a row? Low. What are the odds of having to take shelter in the same restroom shack on the same hole in June and then again in April? Lower than Tiger Woods handicap. We played in the hail. This is the green on hole 12, Notice water flowing OUT of the hole at the end of the video:

One of us even danced in the hail (name witheld to protect his dignity. Oh the hell with it, it’s Chris Joseph). This is from the restroom shack between holes 12 and 13, the same place we had to wait out thunderstorms last June:

But when the lightning struck, we RAN from the hail:

It’s the biggest hailstorm I’ve ever been caught in. It hailed for 45 minutes straight. It wasn’t golfball-sized, but it was bigger than pea-sized. The thunderstorm that produced it also arched a bolt of lightning that struck a tree on Pacific Dunes. As we ran off the course, lightning crackled overhead and soundwaves from the immediate thunder rumbled through our bodies. It was that close.  Back at the safety of the clubhouse, the hail was literally sloughing off the roof:

Next time I play Bandon, all I ask for is the usual: a strong coastal breeze and sunshine.

Matt Zaffino

P.S. Stay tuned to my blog for a preview of Old McDonald, the newest and fourth course at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, opening in June 2010.