With four of the best public golf courses in the country (Bandon Dunes, Pacific Dunes, Bandon Trails and Old Macdonald), the Bandon golf brand has grown to mythic proportions over the last decade.

Bandon might just be the best golf resort on the planet.

But if all you paid attention to were the glowing golf course reviews, you might miss one of the more interesting aspects of this golf mecca: the quaint, seaside town of Bandon that predates the golf resort by more than a century.

It’s a bit like thinking of St. Andrews only in terms of the golf course. The Old Course deserves its revered status, but the town of St. Andrews, with its castle, cathedral and cobblestone streets, is an attraction all to itself. Likewise, Bandon—five minutes south of Bandon Dunes Golf Resort—is a charming little town with plenty to do off the golf course.

The dramatic southern Oregon coast, with its iconic sea stacks, provides a stunning venue for this town off the beaten path. One might be tempted to call it an “undiscovered gem,” but for as long as cars have cruised historic Highway 101 on driving vacations, Bandon has been a popular stop. The community is famous for its Old Town down by the harbor. Modeled after an old fashioned fishing village, Old Town comprises four enjoyable blocks of restaurants, shops, art galleries and inns and has a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

In addition to Old Town and the famous golf courses just up the road, the biggest attractions are the spectacular beaches, the salmon and steelhead fishing, and plentiful deer and elk hunting.

For those who want to enjoy the pleasures of Bandon from their own home, The Colony at Bandon Cove offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity. This luxury residential community of 18 oceanside homes (all complete and ready to live in) is perched on a bluff 30 feet above the Pacific. Every home offers expansive ocean views.

These luxurious residences are not condos, but individually owned homes. The community recently won first place in the Low Rise category at the Multi-Housing Design Excellence Awards. It’s no wonder; no expense was spared during construction or on the finishes of these residences—they have all the bells and whistles found in high-end homes. With inexpensive homeowners association fees and an on-site management team to take care of all the details when you aren’t in residence, these homes offer hassle-free living. All of them feature three bedrooms, two or three baths, and a two-car garage. Prices, which start in the mid $400s, are dependent upon the view, with most offering unobstructed ocean views.

But if you love the quaint village of Bandon and its proximity to the golf resort, you should know that The Colony at Bandon Cove is unique. The oceanfront, high-density development was grandfathered in and then the door was closed. Once these residences are sold, there won’t be any more like them coming along.