Gauging Interest for a Silvies Ranch outing

[Kalen Braley]

Scott,


When i read descriptions like that I start to think of a tweaked version of WestWorld!


In between rounds you can milk the cows and round up some cattle! 

[Pete_Pittock]

I stopped off at the OGA today for a little visit and talked with the lady in charge of the ratings team, who insisted I go up there.
One of the little tidbits is that there is a 400' elevation change at the course. It will be interesting to see how that is handled.


The cabins are done.
If you are trying to find the course it is available on GoogleEarth. About halfway between the town of Seneca and the north end of the ranch's airstrip (4 mi each way) there is a small road heading off to the west (just south of the sharpest curve. Take that road, then pretty immediately turn left through the arch/gate. Right at the 'Y' intersection, and just around the corner are the cabins.
Power carts are provided at the cabins/???. You would continue along on the road to get to the proshop.


I will make contact my gateway person at Kemper tomorrow and attempt to set up two/three groups on Sept.23rd/24th

[Garland Bayley]

...

I noticed that they are looking for a superintendent and a general manager, http://www.kempersports.com/careers

...

That's surprising as Slag had led me to believe that the super the hired to replace the original was working out quite well there.

[Garland Bayley]

Edited to see what the rest of Scott's message said.

Silvies Ranch should be a top notch operation because Kemper Sports is running it.


I noticed that they are looking for a superintendent and a general manager, http://www.kempersports.com/careers


"A one-of-a-kind series of golf courses designed by architect Dan Hixson (Bandon Crossings, Wine Valley) give Silvies Valley Ranch four stunning, fun and flexible golf courses that will excite the avid golfer to the casual enthusiasts. Immersed in a real working ranch, Silvies Valley Ranch places golfers among aspen, sage and pines on a gracefully designed reversible golf course that brings you face-to-face with the majesty and serenity that defines the American West. It is a must play destination for those who seek a pure, authentic golf experience combined with the unique life lessons gained on a working cattle ranch.
 
 
Silvies Valley Ranch is a new frontier resort merging lodge and spa with an amazing, diverse golf experience that is intertwined with an authentic Western ranch. The golf is different with two reversible 18-hole mountain links courses, a remarkable and challenging 7-hole course like none you've ever played, and an excellent 9-hole par 3. Because of its design, low humidity and elevation, golfers have the chance to hit their longest lifetime drive on a stunningly beautiful 18th-hole fairway on the Hankins course.'

[Ronald Montesano]

Silvies Valley Ranch press release on Today's Wire:  http://www.thegolfwire.com/story/327215?mc_cid=ab899cd2df&mc_eid=39c6e74462


And for those interested, I'll be raising money again for cancer research in March:


http://give.roswellpark.org/site/TR/SpecialEvents/General?px=1078175&pg=personal&fr_id=1110

[Pete_Pittock]

This story just showed up at the beginning of the month in Golf News Northwest http://golftodaynw.com/silvies-valley-ranch-golf-return-dan-hixson/     
I am wondering if this potential outing is one year too early, because of these sentences in the article.
"Also opening at Silvies Valley Ranch this summer will be a nine-hole par 3 course named Chief Egan in honor of the last Paiute war chief. And next year, the dramatic seven-hole McVeigh’s Gauntlet will bring the retreat’s total number of holes to 52."

[William_G]

I will have to visit this place someday for sure but not this year

[Charles Lund]

I will be in the Seattle area after August 23rd until October.

I would be interested in participating.  I would probably combine the trip with time in Bend, hopefully with a flight from Seattle.

I will send you a direct email.

Charles Lund

[Pete_Pittock]

The website for Silvies Ranch will activate sometime around May 1st. For those who have expressed interest I will PM you soon, maybe Sun. or Mon. with some details.

[Pete_Pittock]

Silvies is running a drawing for an outing for four golfers at    http://silviessimplyamazing.com/ultimate_getaway/   
The winner will be chosen this weekend. I've entered.


The rate structure at Silvies Ranch shows a break in price starting in October, from $225 to $150, so I am proposing that this outing be delayed until the first full weekend in October.

[Garland Bayley]

Can't make early October.

[Bill_McBride]

Can't make early October.

Camellia convention?

[Garland Bayley]

Relatives

[Garland Bayley]

I got a pass from my wife on the in-laws visit, so I am now in for the first week in October.

[Garland Bayley]

I'm out. I now have no interest in playing at Silvies Valley Ranch.

[Sean Leary]

I'm out. I now have no interest in playing at Silvies Valley Ranch.

Fake pond that you weren't aware of?

[Tom_Doak]

Whoever is doing the marketing for this place is not doing a very good job.  They keep promising more pieces will be added soon, which encourages everyone to wait til next year instead of coming now!

[Pete_Pittock]

Tom.
The article linked in my reply on another thread pretty much says the same thing:
I read a recent article that intimated this year's opening would generally be geared towards generating publicity.  http://btimesherald.com/2017/02/08/court-discusses-retreat-at-silvies-valley-ranch/. The two sentences that stood out are
This summer, The Retreat at Silvies Valley Ranch will host reporters from golf magazines who will write about the retreat and surrounding communities. Marshall said that, in the second year, the retreat will focus on recruiting destination tourists who are “looking for that unique, frontier, Western experience in Silvies Valley.


While I was up there in early July it was still in grow-in. I also chanced into a dinner with the owner, his wife, and a number of others. They are feeling their way through the opening, The golf course is a small part of the ranch operation. With the amount of on-site lodging they might be expecting 10-15 groups a day.  I did make a suggestion that they re-think the daily rate idea, which my take is limiting the amount of groups wanting to travel there to play. Since they are also promoting activities at the ranch, he daily rate concept for golf  seems counterproductive to getting golfers to enjoy other stuff like shooting buffalo rifles and machine guns.


Also, should my review thread format be normal or should it focus on areas of the shared land, such as 1-2-3 Hankins and
17-18 Craddock

[Dave McCollum]

Long ago I expressed interest in playing.  Still have it, but an injury may result in a year without golf.  Perhaps never again.  Certainly different if able.  Good excuse for playing crappy.

[Pete_Pittock]

Bump. New dates - October 14/15. I will see if I can get Dan Hixson to make an appearance. Please let me know by Friday, when I will contact the ranch.  Photo/map thread http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,64883.0.html

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

I played there three weeks ago and if anyone is on the fence, take the plunge. The course plays brilliantly in both directions. Aside from being reversible, it is a vastly different course than The Loop.  Those who enjoyed Wine Valley will find even better greens complexes with really good attention paid to angle of attack.