Interview With B.R. Koehnemann Director of Marketing - Bandon Dunes Golf Resort

Below is an interview with B.R. Koehnemann, Director of Marketing - Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. Prior to this position, he was with KemperLesnik (KemperSports' PR/events/sports marketing division) working on clients such as KemperSports, Harbor Shores and Wilson Golf. Overall, he has been with KemperSports since 2006.

Prior to working with KemperSports, he worked for the Chicago Cubs in the media relations department.

The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
I grew up playing most sports...except golf. I played baseball in college and coaches always told us that your golf swing would ruin your baseball swing - so I stayed away from golf until after I graduated. Before I moved to Chicago after graduation, I spent the summer in Arizona with my parents. My dad and I started playing quite a bit at our Club (Phoenix Country Club) and I loved it. I saw my game improving and wanted to continue to get better. It's been a great bonding experience for my dad and I.

What is your current home course?
Since I live in Bandon, OR., I would have to say that my current home course is Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. However, before moving to Oregon, I was in Chicago where my home course was The Glen Club.

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
45 holes on back-to-back days at Bandon Dunes last May was a blast. We played our morning and afternoon rounds and then had dinner and a small group of friends went out for a post-dinner 9 holes and played until dark.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Golf is supposed to be fun, so it's a pet peeve of mine when people take it too seriously and throw clubs or lose their temper. It's like, "I'm sorry that you pulled that 9 ft. putt to lose a $1 skin..."

Also, slow play. I think people see the pros reading putts from both sides and they think that's how you do it. I think people really need to focus on playing "ready golf"

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
I've just started hitting a Taylor Made R11 and have never had more confidence off the tee. For the first time, I feel like I'm able to shape my drive when I need to and that I can always revert back to my regular draw when I need to get some run out of my drive.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Pretty easy...I live there.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
I've never been to Scotland, so I think going overseas to play St. Andrews and the other classic courses would be great.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
I'm tempted to say Bandon Dunes, since it's my favorite layout at the Resort, but I'm going to have to say Shoreacres. It's such a natural setting and a classic Seth Raynor design. It's always in fantastic shape and a lot of fun to play.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
As I said before, I would like golfers to focus on their pace of play. I played in a pro-am last Spring and it was a 6-hour round. We spent 30 minutes on a short par-4 where everyone was hitting driver into the green...I think one out of 16 people actually hit the green.

Dream foursome (living)?
I'm not a big celebrity hound, so I would say my dad (Ryne) and my two brothers (Steven and Justin). So many laughs when my younger brother, Steven, rolls onto the tee with high black socks, baggy shorts, untucked shirt and hi-tops . He's not really a golfer, so we have a lot of fun giving him a hard time.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
I'm a big fan of baseball and baseball history, so I would love to play with Joe DiMaggio. I also love boxing, so playing with Muhammad Ali would be amazing. To finish out my foursome, I would say JFK.

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Drive...there's nothing like seeing it turn over and seeing the ball run out.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of Life. An ace is one shot, but it would be great to spend 4 hours of hitting great shots.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight? Crack of dawn. With two young boys at home (Owen and Nathan), I'm up early anyways.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw? Draw...since I started, the draw has always been my natural swing.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Halway House.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
I give my dad a hard time because he's notorious for finding a bush on every other hole...I have to say Bathroom.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Can I say soup? I love the clam chowder at the Old Macdonald turnstand or the Consume at Shoreacres. Very convenient in a paper cup.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
I need to work on my sand game, so I'll say rough.

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking. I feel like you enjoy the course so much more when you take the time to walk. Plus, it's better exercise.

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Both...I have a 18-degree hybrid that I like to hit, but I feel like it gets up in the air too much in the Bandon wind. So if I'm trying to keep the ball down, I'll hit the 3-iron.

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5? Long par-5. I love having to play 3 good shots to get onto the green.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts...Since I rarely get to wear shorts at Bandon Dunes.

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Nicklaus.

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
No contest - Beatles. "A Day in the Life" is one of my favorite songs of all time.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Not much money, but it's always fun to play a match with a few bucks on the line.

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run for sure.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble. Nothing quite like an eagle putt.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
As much as daylight allows. At Bandon Dunes, we have our annual Summer Solstice event where groups play all four courses on the same day...72 holes.