By Doug McAllister
THE RANCHES was a sweet course. I began playing there shortly after it first opened. A challenging track cut into the prairie grass and sagebrush, the course was as true a desert links as I have ever seen. Really spectacular! Topping The Ranches off were great golf professionals and clubhouse staff, making the place nearly perfect.
And then things changed. As is often the case with golf courses, the temptation to sacrifice sport for real estate became too much. Cul-de-sacs compromised tees and practice facilities. A magnificent front 9 finishing hole became a backward driving range and was replaced with an uphill par 4 that is so steep that one half expects oxygen masks to fall out of the sky when reaching the green! A preposterous hole!
The ambiance of the clubhouse was next to suffer. New management and new ownership meant the end of the excellent people part of the experience at The Ranches. Don't get me wrong. The new folks try their best to make the experience worthwhile but, in my opinion, fall short. Just the way it is!
I played the course today...
These day there just seems to be...I don't know...a "we-don't-care anymore" attitude about The Ranches experience. Things that may seem small are problems to me — like no cups at the water stops, no water in the ball washers, grounds crew that goes about their work during play and doesn't seem to give a rip whether your hitting or putting and how their actions may affect things. And on and on. And, no, I'm not talking about having a Country Club atmosphere at a respectable muni.
I predict that golf at The Ranches will soon be a thing of the past. As more and more players — like me — have their fill of changes at the course, golf revenue will suffer and then management is sure to start selling things off. Soon there will only be nine holes and then none. Before that happens, I suggest turning the place back over to cattle for grazing!
So, until next time — hit 'em long and straight! Just somewhere other than THE RANCHES.
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