Rochelle Ranch

[Ben Voelker]

Hi everyone,

I wanted to see if anyone knows anything about the status of Rochelle Ranch in Wyoming.  I'm planning some golf for a move from Nebraska to Oregon in May and was hoping to play it along the way.  However, their website no longer exists and some of the Google Earth aerial photos look a bit dubious.

Does anyone know if it is still in operation?

Thanks in advance.

[Steve_ Shaffer]

Ben,

Someday I'll make it out there.

The course is open:


http://www.rawlins-wyoming.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=68

http://www.rawlins-wyoming.com/index.aspx?NID=158

[Ben Voelker]

Steve,

That first link is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for.  I found course profiles all over the internet, but nothing that seemed to be dated after 2009.

Its good to know its still there and hopefully I will have some photos to share with the group.

[Adam Clayman]

Ben, It's relatively easy on off from I-80, so if it's not open it's not much hassle.

The course is interesting. There's some really fun holes and for the most part is built with core principles in mind. Conditions may not be optimal, but it's rugged part of the world and the course can reflect that.

It was my first Kavanaugh and I have to say it intrigued me enough to want to see more.

[Kalen Braley]

Ditto what Adam said there in his last comment.

I've only played one KK course, Murphy Creek near the Denver Airport, and I thought it was very well done.  I too would certainly like to experience more of his work.

[Matt_Ward]

Ben:

I have played RR twice and liked it alot.

The issue is the turf conditions -- especially for the holes in the middle of the property.

The course is blessed with firm and fast conditions and the wind is always a factor when playing.

The rates are very fair and frankly the course has the capacity to be even better.

The course has plenty of solid holes. I think the par-4 3rd is a gem of risk and reward that KK created.

Anyone playing RR will have a blast of fun so long as the turf quality is presentable.

[David Kelly]

I don't know from Rochelle Ranch but I know "Rochelle, Rochelle" is a great film about a young girl's strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

[Adam Clayman]

David, If they made a movie about RR it would star Brooke Shields and Chris Atkins. The title would be Poop Lagoon.

An esoteric crack at what happened there several years ago and the back story.

The course is built on/near the city's former poop lagoon. The land was donated to the city for the express purpose of building a GC. They lined a pond for the irrigation water, but placed it too close and at the same grade(or lower) than the unsanitary ponds nearby. Well, one day it rained so hard that the ponds overflowed into the irrigation water. Then they watered the course with the affected water and lost many many fairways. It didn't effect the architecture at all, but it does affect the way some look at the course. I'm confident, the situation is not the same today, as it's been at least 4 years since that happened.

[Ben Voelker]

Adam,

Thanks for that, it explains quite a bit.

The Google Earth image of the course from July 5, 2009 shows a few fairways near the clubhouse that look pretty gnarly.  The Google Maps image is a winter photo that looks like there is no grass on the course.  Looking through Google Earth now, that photo is from 2003!  No wonder there wasn't any grass yet!

Hopefully, I'll have more to report in a few weeks.

[Matt_Ward]

Ben:

Try to realize that total length for RR is near 8,000 and even with the elevation it can be quite challenging.

Especially when the wind really kicks into gear.

I really like the course but if I were to return for a 3rd visit the key would be the consistency of the turf
presentation. Your visit there will be helpful in knowing what is happening now on that front.

[Tim Pitner]

I don't know from Rochelle Ranch but I know "Rochelle, Rochelle" is a great film about a young girl's strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

I Googled "Rochelle, Rochelle" because I thought it sounded like an interesting film.  I guess the joke's on me on at least a couple of different levels.

[Sven Nilsen]

I don't know from Rochelle Ranch but I know "Rochelle, Rochelle" is a great film about a young girl's strange, erotic journey from Milan to Minsk.

The musical was even better (and I don't like Broadway).  Bette was unbelievable in her role.

I played Rochelle Ranch in the summer of 2009.  Other than one wash out area from the alkaline (touching 9 and 10), the course was in decent shape and was a blast to play.  Perhaps not worth planning a trip around, but worth it if you're passing by.