Texas Rangers Golf Club

[James Brown]

Curious to see what people think of this:


http://www.golfcoursearchitecture.net/content/texas-rangers-golf-club-to-open-for-play-this-month


From the aerial view, I see lots of width and centerline hazards and overall playability.  But I also see lots of cheesy marketing too.  This is an interesting branding approach for sure. 

[John Kavanaugh]

Young golfers who are getting back their mojo at TopGolf are going to flock to this place. Congrats to all involved.

[Lou_Duran]

Toured it, haven't played it, but I predict it will be a home-run.  Excellent scale, width with purpose, good variety, interesting green complexes.  A new course and vast improvement over what was there before.  A friend who is a member of a top club in Dallas played it in 34° weather with a north wind on opening day and said he had a ball.

[Tim Passalacqua]

The pictures look great and I have heard several glowing reviews from those who have played it.  It looks like they took advantage of some nice elevation changes in the routing.  Perfect rolling terrain.  I love the width with the strategic (and beautiful) bunkering.  Also, I enjoy seeing a few centerline bunkers!  Can't wait to get to Texas to play it! 

[James Brown]

These positive reviews say an awful lot about the potential to do this same kind of course many other places.

[Peter Gannon]

Looks really fun!  To my eye, looks like there are some cool options with doglegs, split fairways, and bunkers in landing areas. 


I went to the University of North Texas in the early - mid 90's, and from my memory, the public golf options in Dallas were generally dull, tree lined, or pretty run down.  Or in housing complexes, and generally not inspiring.   I played and worked at Eagle Pointe Golf Club in Denton, TX, but that no longer exists.  North Texas winds are pretty severe at times!  So, that open/exposed Rangers course will be interesting day to day!


Feels like that co branding would not work everywhere, but perfect for Arlington!  Maybe the Mets could take over Ferry Point in NYC? (especially because it's in the Bronx!) .

[Kalen Braley]

I read the article, but I don't get it.  What ties it into Baseball other than its name and a goofy on-deck circle near the first tee?

I guess its getting a bit of cash for naming, but assumed stadiums/arena only did that for larger TV audience purposes...

If this takes off, maybe it'll be Golden State Warrior golf club instead of San Fran golf club?   

[Daryl "Turboe" Boe]

I read the article, but I don't get it.  What ties it into Baseball other than its name and a goofy on-deck circle near the first tee?

I guess its getting a bit of cash for naming, but assumed stadiums/arena only did that for larger TV audience purposes...

If this takes off, maybe it'll be Golden State Warrior golf club instead of San Fran golf club?   

I'm guessing it is not any more tied to the actual game of baseball than the nearby Cowboys Golf Club has to do with football.  Maybe a little more with its on deck circle, other than a star painted on one fairway at Cowboys I don't really recall any actual tie to football.  It is just another branding way to capture people who are big fans of the team, and/or visitors to town who are just sports or baseball nuts.   Hopefully the quality of the course will get local repeat play, and it will be boosted by the tourist/team tie-in aspects.

[mike_beene]

Years ago I played the course that used to be on this site. It is a nice piece of land that has a little bit of a hill country feel. There is a sandy strain of soil in that area but not sure if that hits the course. Most of the soils here are heavy to say the least.

[John Kavanaugh]

People are tiring of the same ole, same ole. Trends change.

[Tim Martin]

I heard on the down low that New England Patriots Golf Club is ready to break ground in Boston. My source told me that Bob Kraft will administer the club’s Equitable Stroke Control policy.

[Mike Bodo]

I heard on the down low that New England Patriots Golf Club is ready to break ground in Boston. My source told me that Bob Kraft will administer the club’s Equitable Stroke Control policy.

[Paul Carey]

I think it will be very good.  I think an under reported story is the changes in muni golf in north Texas in the last few years thanks to Colligan golf and architect Trey Kemp.  Renovations of Stevens Park in Dallas, Rockwood in Fort Worth and now the renovation of Ditto in Arlington (Texas Rangers Golf Course) have been great.  The use width, classic golden age principals of design and fun.  The cool hipster golf press loves goat hill and winter park but I would put Rockwood and Stevens park up against either.  I think rangers will be in that category.  For all the talk about growing the game the cities in North Texas are walking the walk.


Now.....a complaint.   Stevens Park and Rockwood are reasonable or cheap for the quality.   Ranger is $120 on weekends.

[mike_beene]

Will the marketing of the Rangers help get some convention traffic from the Gaylord Texan, much like Cowboys does? Also, the Rangers have a number of fans spread across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico( more when they luck into pitching) who come for a weekend of Six Flags plus baseball. Seems a good fit to add a round of golf. It is the only grass they will see now that the Rangers have stepped in it by doing the new park if fake grass. Dallas needs the A's to move so we don't have to trek to another county to see baseball.

[Paul Carey]

Will the marketing of the Rangers help get some convention traffic from the Gaylord Texan, much like Cowboys does? Also, the Rangers have a number of fans spread across Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico( more when they luck into pitching) who come for a weekend of Six Flags plus baseball. Seems a good fit to add a round of golf. It is the only grass they will see now that the Rangers have stepped in it by doing the new park if fake grass. Dallas needs the A's to move so we don't have to trek to another county to see baseball.

I think that is the idea.  Arlington would like to be a destination when fans come in for a game (or series) and stay and have activities outside of stadium time.  Many visitors now stay in Fort Worth or even Dallas for games and bus/drive to Arlington.

[Lou_Duran]

It is my understanding that the cross-marketing/naming arrangement was for nominal if any monetary consideration (first rumors were that the city paid a bundle, but I am assured by folks who should know that this wasn't the case).  I do know that Pudge was the first to play the course well before it opened, albeit without tee markers or holes in the greens.


I was not aware of the $135 weekend green fee, which means that I will not be playing the course during the weekend (wonder if former Arlington residents might get a break).  My bet is that city residents will not be paying nearly that much.


Judging from the budget for the clubhouse and related amenities, the city has more ambitions than just golf.  I've recommended Cowboys to numerous visitors to the area over the years, some who were coming in for a game, and the feedback has been unanimously positive.  I am sure that the same will be true for the Rangers GC, a course that I think will be as compelling.  And based on my time at nearby Great Southwest, may it rest in peace, there will be no shortage of professional baseball players coming in for free golf.  And that is a big thing for professional sports fans.

[Kalen Braley]

I only really asked because of this statement.  I've heard plenty of over-the-top advertising, but this seems to put even the most cringe-worthy infomercials to shame..

"“As the world’s only MLB-themed golf course, this course is sure to be a ‘bucket list’ item for baseball fans across the globe, especially our Rangers fan right here in Arlington,” said city mayor Jeff Williams."

[Lou_Duran]

Is it hype if it is directionally true?  I agreed to move to the DFW area where my wife had a job offer after watching a Rangers game comfortably in the cheap seats of the old ball park during the summer.  Not that it was a hard decision, but if Arlington had a course like TRGC then, the move would have been prompted by more than just pleasing my wife.

[Kalen Braley]

Lou,

I'm not surprised by your viewpoint.  If there is one thing Texas as a whole doesn't seem to lack is over-confidence.  My wife lived there for several years and thought it funny how locals thought everything is bigger and better in Texas. 

But hey, if "baseball fans across the globe" start lining up to play it Field of Dreams style, i will gladly remain corrected. 

[Lou_Duran]

Again, Kalen, you may wish to reconsider your comments.  Texas is one very big place; second largest state in the U.S. to Alaska.  As to being better, that one is a matter of opinion, but given the sheer volume of folks voting with their feet and moving here- more than 1,000 each day and by far the largest number to any state in the last decade, I think that this fact might be a good proxy.  If this constitutes "over-confidence", then I am guilty as suggested.  I've only been here for 40 years, through all sorts of cycles, so what do I know.


As to baseball, despite being woeful for the last three or four years, being inconvenient for the rich Dallas sports crowd, and hotter than h--- June-August, the Rangers comfortably beat the average attendance figures for MLB over the last decade.  And when they were contenders, the Rangers drew well above 3 Million fans two years in a row.  TRGC, if it gets its pricing right, can easily host 40k rounds annually.  I do think that the course will be that good to draw at that level without help from the Rangers affiliation.  With good management, I think it can do much better. 

[Steve Lang]

   WOW... $24million investment.  Makes the Memorial Park renovation look like a real bargain for the Astros Foundation!


Considering the cash flow of any MLB team, such a golf course investment look pretty small in perspective and with good upside PR in many ways. 




Luckily don't need to travel to DFW to see some good baseball, but perhaps its time to take in the area's current golf offerings... how many days would be required... Lou or Mike?

[Lou_Duran]

Steve,


I won't defend my former hometown in how it spends money.  The golf course part of the number you note is about a third.  To the best of my knowledge, the Rangers have no money in the project.


As to watching baseball, I'd much prefer watching the Rangers play the Astros in Arlington.  The soon to be "old park" is that much better.  Golfwise, there is plenty to occupy you in the D/FW area for a couple of weeks, and more depending on how much you want to spend.  The problem, like in Houston, is the damned heat for three or four months of the best conditions (mid-fall a few weeks after the final aeration is usually really good).

[mike_beene]

The weather problem is that you can't tell when it will be bad. Some years we barely miss a weekend. However, this weekend was too cold and probably missed 4 more this last few months. From about now through July 4 is usually pretty good.Then mid September until the holidays with a November front thrown in. Probably a weeks worth of reasonably interesting places. Would love to have you guys up any time.

[Tim Martin]

  The problem, like in Houston, is the damned heat for three or four months of the best conditions (mid-fall a few weeks after the final aeration is usually really good).

Mr. Duran-It is hard for me to reconcile your sentiments from post #19 with the above referenced statement. Unbearable heat for three to four months a year would be a deal breaker for me. I see people move to Florida and Texas year round and then try to convince me that “once your here for a while you will get used to the heat.” I always come away with the notion that although it sounds good in theory they really are trying to convince themselves.

[Steve Lang]

   Mike, Lou,  may venture north in mid-April... will message ya on plans


Tim M,


The joke is that your blood thins after a while... at least in Houston we have the breezes off the gulf though humid, versus up in Dallas, its winds off the prairie. I don't think Dallas is as dry as New Mexico... but it certainly gets hot and catches some winter weather..


We describe to friends we left up in northern Ohio and Michigan that we have two summers, which otherwise are called Spring and Fall, and the winter here can be very Spring like, it was 70 the other day, shorts weather...


So we run from A/C houses and cars to destinations in the dead of summer... up north we ran from heated homes and cars to destinations in the winter months.  We normally escape to northern Mich. July & Aug, which is really nice situation...


One doesn't feel drafts from windows and doors in the south, as cool air leaks out...  you do acclimate, though it might kill ya if you don't take a cart for the last 9!