Rawlins Wyoming - Rochelle Ranch - Did the grass grow?

[Joe Perches]

Awhile back, this course http://www.rochelleranch.com/ got some exposure here.

Here's the old thread: Old GCA discussion

Terraserver/Google Earth/Google Maps/GlobeXplorer don't have recent pictures for this part of Wyoming.

I can not find even a single review of Rochelle Ranch.  Did it dry up and blow away?

[John Kavanaugh]

Joe,

Here is the thread with a short review by Matt Ward..

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forums2/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=19585;start=msg348407#msg348407

[Ron Farris]

I played Rochelle Ranch last fall and it was quite enjoyable but indeed suffered from some poor drainage in numerous places. They were making efforts to improve some areas.  There are a lot of centerline bunkers that I grew tired of but they did break up the "line of charm".  It is a nice golf course and a great buy for the rate they charge.  I would play it again, but I would not go out of my way to do so, dispite the firm fast conditions (excluding the poor draining zones) and wind which allows for many interesting shots.

[Scott_Burroughs]

from the course web site above:

#2:



#4:


#5:



#6:




#11:



#12:



#13:



#15:


#16:



HOLE       1       2       3       4       5       6       7       8       9       OUT
PAR        4       4       3       4       5       3       4       4       5       36
TOURNAMENT    475 465 217 444 653 211 498 433 575 3971
CHAMPIONSHIP 442 435 200 393 627 195 458 395 542 3687
REGULAR          415 400 163 360 530 183 422 343 503 3319
INTERMEDIATE  373 360 157 353 510 173 417 338 500 3181
FORWARD         358 355 118 323 483 162 378 305 453 2935

HOLE       10    11    12    13    14    15    16    17    18    IN    TOT
PAR      4      3      4      5      4      4      3      5      4      36     72
TOURNAMENT    440 173 515 640 423 455 250 565 493 3954 7925
CHAMPIONSHIP 380 167 477 597 397 420 220 513 455 3626 7313
REGULAR          343 130 433 567 360 372 216 480 407 3308 6627
INTERMEDIATE  340 120 406 527 340 367 187 447 382 3116 6297
FORWARD         323 95 383 498 298 338 147 413 333 2828 5763

[Matt_Ward]

Joe:

I played Rochelle Ranch last year in the middle of summer and there were clear issues of turf that had faced flooding and then had not been able to drain correctly.

I do take issue with my good friend Ron on the idea that the course is not necessarily worth a special trip to see. I would say designer Ken Kavanaugh did a superb job -- superior to what he did at Murphy's Creek and on par with Wild Horse -- the green contours and routing are well done. No doubt making the trek to Rawlins is easier for the Denver area folks but it is literally right off I-80 and worth a stop for anyone venturing through that area of the country.

Rochelle Ranch has a solid contrast of holes. The truth-or-dare par-4 4th at 444-yards is extremly well done. It allows for an alternate route for the feint hearted player but it does provide a more riskier attempt for those game to try.

I hope to return to see it because the potential to be even better is clearely there. Hats off to the folks there because you get quality golf at some of the best rates available anywhere in the USA.

There's plenty of firmness on the turf and Ron is quite correct to mention the wind which can blow through the property to such a strong degree it can carry the player as quickly away as tissue player.

[Tom Huckaby]

Now I've never been to this course and as much as I'd like to, I can say with conviction the odds are very strong I never will get there.  

It does look really cool!

I was intrigued by #4 in the diagram - wondered if there was a viable shot going straight at the green.  Then I see...

Rochelle Ranch has a solid contrast of holes. The truth-or-dare par-4 4th at 444-yards is extremly well done. It allows for an alternate route for the feint hearted player but it does provide a more riskier attempt for those game to try.

Matt, I assume you mean going straight at the hole, right?  What's the carry distance over the water?

TH

[JohnV]

The altitude for Rawlins is 6967 feet.  According to the USGA Course Rating manual that adds about 10% to shots.  So, take that 7925 yards length from the back tee and make it about 7133.

[Matt_Ward]

Huck:

The carry is roughly 260 yards -- keep this FIRMLY in mind -- the space of the landing area is as wide as a comfortable living room. The slightest push or pull will likely find water as the carry increases by roughly 20 additional yards. The diagram doesn't spell out the details because it's more of a peninsula that just forward with water flanking both sides.

The green is also not right at the edge of the water -- in fact it is setback roughly 25-30 yards from the edge of the water and the green is fairly narrow.

To Kavanaugh's credit he has designed it so that you are clearly tempted to try and pull it off. I hit a 3-metal and made the green pin high on the left side. It is a very scary shot because it's just not the distance but the need for accuracy that can cause major fits for the player.

The hole also plays well to the safe side -- but the greenside bunker on the right now comes into full play.

What makes the hole so unique is that ANY number is in play. A guy could make a two (2) and just as fast fire away and make a quad or more just as easy.

Naturally, Rawlins Ranch gets little attention here on GCA because of where it's located and the work of Ken Kavanaugh is often ignored in many instances. Put the course a bit closer to a major metro area and have the name of the designer be among the most favored poster children and it would get far more attention.

One last thing -- Ron F is quite correct -- the drainage issue affected a number of holes in the center area of the course --#9, #10, #15 and #16. Much of the damage is reversible -- I only hope the course can get this taken care of because it diverts attention from what the layout provides.

[Tom Huckaby]

Matt:

Many thanks for the explanation - that is one hell of an interesting looking hole - and the diagram really does not do it justice.

There sure is room in this world for a tempting risk-reward gem like that.

Very, very cool.

TH

[Ron Farris]

Matt, do not misunderstand me.  I basically liked Rochelle Ranch, especially #4. The wind was at my back and I hit my tee shot 6 feet from the hole.  It is the type of shot that gets the blood flowing.  My fear was that I would hit it into the junk over the green.  

The course is full of options or variations making it a real joy to play.  Perhaps I just have a less affinity for centerline bunkers.  If I were travelling to Rawlings for some reason I would not miss a chance to play it again.  I would not drive hours out of my way to play it again.  I would drive out of my way to play Wild Horse again.

[Matt_Ward]

Ron:

I hear you loud and clear partner.

However, I would be more than eager and happy to point out the differences and similarities between Wild Horse & Rochelle Ranch.

Wild Horse does get a "I'm in the neighborhood" extra points from being so near to Sand Hills. I truly love the course but the routing and green contours by Kavanaugh at Rochelle Ranch are very well done and quite challenging and no less than what Proctor & Axland did in Gothenburg.

If you remember the par-3 3rd at RR as just one example. The green looks soooooooooooo E-Z to hit but the fall-offs are on par with any of the great private clubs we have in the States. Ditto the second par-3 on the front side.

Let me also point out that the 650+ yard par-5 on the front is equally well done as the landing area becomes narrow as you get nearer towards the target. Kavanaugh took an existing feature and used it to a first rate level on that hole.

The major downside for me at RR is the finishing hole. Yes, it's long but short on real qualities -- clearly WH has the better closer.

[Dan Herrmann]

By the way, isn't Rawlins one of the windiest places in the USA?

[Matt_Ward]

Dan:

It does have its days. When I was there there was a gentle breeze in the neighborhood of 10-15 mph. If you want wind check out Desert Dunes in Desert Hot Springs in the California desert. It sits right in the gap of the mountains that provide the alleyway for I-10 heading from LA to Palm Springs. I have personally played when the winds stayed steady at 40-50 mph with gusts of 60-70 happening from time to time.

[Dan Smoot]

By the way, isn't Rawlins one of the windiest places in the USA?

I live in Wyoming 110 miles from Rawlins.  I travel through Rawlins on my way to Colorado to visit my parents.  This is one windy place.  This is a relative statement when one lives in Wyoming (also see Casper).  I did get to play RR near the end of summer.  There are about 4 holes that have lost most if not all of the fairway grass.  The alkali is very obvious.  This will be one fantastic and quite difficult golf course when the windy conditions are up.   I do hope they get those holes straightened out for the coming year because this is a fun place to play.  It makes me wonder if they will have to amend the soil to get the grass to grow.

My dad teases me when I play with him in Colorado.  If my play is off when the wind is not blowing (CO), he tells me I look off balance.

The 4th hole is a challenge off the tee, but I couldn't force myself to play it safe, it is too inviting.  I think this could be the best course in Wyoming.  It does have a little feel of Wildhorse with opportunities to play along the ground and firm conditions.  I have also played Murphy Creek (Kavanaugh) and I like the Rawlins course a little better.

The people in Rawlins are quite proud of this course as they should be.

[Matt_Ward]

Dan:

Good points you raised -- getting the fairways fixed for the holes in question will then turn attention more towards the actual course.

The folks in Rawlins have every reason to be proud. The layout is extremely well done and as I have said before a straight-up comparison to Wild Horse is more than appropriate and certainly a good one to make.

[Ron Farris]

I had the luxury of playing part of the course by myself, a few holes with a gentleman from Southern Cal, and the last few holes with some local members.  The locals as the referred to themselves were actually from Casper but they made weekly trips to the Rawlings area for work.  Dispite their extended time looking in the shrubs for balls -they were extremely proud of "Their Course".  Rightfully so!  The firm & fast condition is what made this place fun to play.