Rochelle Ranch - Wyoming - USA

If you're driving through Wyoming on I-80 and looking to play some golf, I recommend Rochelle Ranch. This course was fun and unique experience as the back tees play nearly 8000 yards but plays at elevation. Between the elevation, dry air, and firm fairways - my drives were 50+ yards longer than usual.

Memorable Holes:

13 - A par 4 that doglegs around water and reads 400+ yards on the scorecard. However, a long hitter can take their driver over the water and drive the green. The direct shot from tee to green is less than 300 yards

14 - A double dog leg par 5 that reads 650+ yards on the scorecard. However, a good drive allows you to cut the second shot over the corner and reach the green in 2.

Those who happen to be motoring along I-80 through Wyoming had best have their golf clubs ready because literally just off the Interstate is a fine public facility that gets little attention because of its isolation.

Rochelle Ranch is a very strong demanding layout available to the public, owned by the town of Rawlins and very reasonable for the fees charged.

The course is the design of architect Ken Kavanaugh and while his name may not be high on the overall "star power" chart for overall awareness he has been involved with a number of quality layouts.

Rochelle Ranch is a sprawling layout with plenty of land movement and quality views of the immediate area. Only two holes run parallel to one another and while there is no real rough per se, the fairways are bordered by sand, sagebrush and scrub bushes. In Wyoming, Rochelle Ranch is the longest course -- with the tip tees set at 7,925 yards. However, with an elevation of over 6,800 feet the golf ball certainly flies a healthy distance when properly struck.

The course was the gift of Curt and Marian Rochelle, local sheep ranchers who paid for the construction of the course.

When I played the course the nines were reversed from what they are today and the change makes plenty of sense since the first four holes from the original routing were extremely intense for the respective demands they called upon players to demonstrate.

The hidden factor at Rochelle Ranch is the wind -- it can be very w-i-n-d-y at times and failure to provide the appropriate trajectory will vanquish nearly all who can't do just that. Given the length of the course the fairways are extremely wide but it pays to find the right angle into the putting surfaces. Kavanaugh had a limited budget so all the extra details one would normally find are not present at Rochelle Ranch. This is especially so with the greens. They are simply matter-of-fact, more on the mundane side.

The quartet of par-3's is also a bit disappointing. They have varying challenges -- especially the long 7th and 15th holes. But none of them is truly compelling from an architectural component. In all probability -- that might have been impacted by a Spartan budget.

The inward side of holes is especially done well. The opening trio provide for too long and strong par-4's -- followed by lengthy par-3. The uphill 11th is especially well done with a thought provoking blind tee shot at the outset. The most interesting hole is the 4th -- a 444-yard Cape-like hole that tempts players to cut the accessible left hand corner and reach the green. There's plenty of high octane risk and reward here.

Rochelle Ranch has enough elasticity to entertain the full spectrum of players. The course shows how affordable golf can be fun and challenging at the same time. Be most interesting to see if any future work is done which enhances the intricacies of the putting surfaces and their surrounding areas. If this dimension should ever happen the totality of Rochelle Ranch will most certainly merit even more attention.

Like I said at the outset of this review -- if you're ever heading on I-80 be sure to take a break and enjoy the golf -- it's literally right off the highway.

by M. James Ward