A New Experience: The Ranch Golf Club

A New Experience: The Ranch Golf Club

Well everyone, this past weekend I competed in my first US Am Tour event held at The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick, MA. I've played this course a few times in the past so I thought I had an idea of what to expect. What I did not account for was the loss of my putting stroke for the duration of the round. Here's an overview of what to expect if you ever find yourself with a tee time waiting for you at TRGC. 

Overview

First, let's start with the overall experience at The Ranch. Upon arrival, the friendly staff picked me up from my car in a golf cart and drove me and my clubs to the registration area. That's where I was sorted into my cart, and was able to jet over to the practice facility for a warmup. The range was small but in decent shape. I was able to progress through my bag feeling confident with each of my clubs. Then I shifted to the practice green and chipping area to work on five-footers and some longer lag putts. After getting acclimated with the green speed I moved on to the short game area. I was told the greens were running at a 12, but I was not too sure about that.  Working through some chips and bunker shots was truly prepared me for what I was about to face, then I was off to the clubhouse to await my tee time. 

Hole 1: Old Hickory

The round starts with a straightforward 510 yard Par 5 with a seemingly wide open fairway and water all up the left side. A right miss is acceptable if you don't mind playing the ball off of a few mounds. Finding the fairway gives you a chance to get on the green in two, but be wary of the water up the left side, and the bunkers proving to be a challenge for any bailout up towards the right. 

Hole 2: Kellogg Brook

Next leads us to a shorter Par 4, residing at just over 391 yards from the back tees. All you need to do here is find the fairway with a comfortable 240 yard shot and you will have a comfortable number into the green. But it's not over, the green has some movement and a ridge running through the back tier which will affect any shot that is not on target. 

Hole 3: Crossings

The 3rd hole is a Par 4 with a slight dogleg to the left. There are three bunkers up the left side which will have you question whether or not to use your driver. At 422 yard from the back, this hole requires accuracy off the tee, and a precise shot into the green. When you get up to the green complex, you will find a two-tiered green with natural movement to the right. Be careful here, those fairway bunkers paired with this green can lead to double bogey's all over the place.

Hole 4: Deer Run

Moving on to the 4th hole, another Par 4 with the green slightly offset to the left side. Trees and bunkers make it difficult to hold the left side of the fairway, a well placed tee shot to the right is what I went with here. However, this makes you attack the green that has two precariously placed bunkers off of the front right side. If you're a righty, a fade could be the play off of the fairway to try and get around these bunkers. This green is where you get a little bit of a reprieve, you really only need to address some movement off of the front right side of the green which makes everything play right to left. 

Hole 5: Mouse Hill

Approaching the 5th hole, we encounter our first Par 3 on The Ranch. From the back, this was playing 191 yards and is surrounded by three different bunkers making it difficult for any shot you want to play. This undulation on this green makes it possible for you to roll a ball right off of the back with your tee shot, or a chip from the rough that you can't quite get spin on. 

Hole 6: South Spring

Here are plenty of things to say about this one. This is a 366 yard Par 4 that tails off to the right. The hole plays slightly downhill so you can expect some run out on the fairway. There are trees up the right side and some well-placed bunkers guarding the corner. You might want to take less club here to avoid getting stuck on the high slopes of this bunker complex. Up at the green, you are again greeted by three bunkers towards the front left side. Be cautious as you attack the pin with your wedges, the slope towards the back of the green can result in spinning back off of the front if you approach with lots of spin. Once again, quite a bit of movement on this green so a three-putt isn't out of the realm of possibility.  

Hole 7: Firepond

The 7th hole is a straightforward Par 4. A relatively straight fairway that's about 60 yards across the fairway in your landing zone is what you're facing off the tee. Trouble will find you the same way it does on other holes at this course, if you miss left or right. From the fairway you are looking at a narrow green, with thick rough to the left and right sides, you also face trouble if you go just long over the back. Up on the green there is a spine that splits the front and back portion. It just so happens that the greenskeeper decided to put the pin directly on the spine on this day. Do not take this hole lightly, the rough up by the green can be a problem if you're not precise with your recovery shot in the event of a missed green. 

Hole 8: The Diamond

At the 8th hole, we reach our second Par 3 of the day. You are faced with a narrow green complex, with bunkering and undulation all around. A steep slope waits just beyond the green so if you go long here there's a significant challenge you must overcome to get up and down with a par. Don't get it twisted though, if you hit the green you are facing just as much of a challenge. 

Hole 9: Glacier

Here we find ourselves at the Par 5, 9th hole. A downhill test for any golfer with OB white stakes up the left side, and trouble towards the right that will block your approach if you want to get after this in two shots. The main goal off of the tee should be to find a flat spot in the fairway. If you don't find a level surface you are almost certainly going to be laying up here. Lots of trouble to the right of this green, and some overgrown fescue before the green make the layup a wise choice. The green is somewhat of a turtleback, surrounded by smooth grass where every mishit feeds off of the putting surface. Make sure you're sharp with your short game or you can end up with a big number, even if you've successfully navigated your first couple shots here. 

Hole 10: Upper Meadow

After concluding your front nine, the back presents challenges of its own. You start off with another strong Par 4. Measuring in at 447 yards from the back tees, with a slight dogleg to the left. There's plenty of trouble out there to the left and to the right. If you're going to miss, then you want to miss right. Left is unforgiving and will force you to take on a dangerous approach shot that can really backfire if you mishit. This green is also a tough one, with everything sloping off of the front you do not have much room for error here. Depending on the pin position you very well could be looking at a three-putt if your short game is off. 

Hole 11: Woodyard

Over at the 11th hole, you are looking at 397 yards from the back tees looking out at a very narrow fairway. Things flow downhill to the right, and there is a heavily wooded area all the way up the left side. You aren't dealing with too much of an elevation change, but look to take an extra club into the green on your approach here. Bunkering up the right side of this green is one of the main challenges, if you can avoid this and hit some putts you can probably gain a stroke on the field. 

Hole 12: Landings

On the 12th we come to another Par 3 with the green sitting 197 yards from the back tees. Heavily guarded with bunkers up the left side and lush rough throughout the right side. This green has quite a bit of undulation, be cautious if you end up on the backside of the green, you'll have to take on more of that movement than if you were just sitting in the center.

Hole 13: Red Oak

Lucky number 13, here's a tough 592 yard Par 5 from the back tees to truly test you. Trees over to the right side mean that you should work the ball left to right off of the tee to safely find the fairway. Being towards the left side will give the long hitters a wide open look at the green, but don't expect to be on in two. The green is guarded by a bunker towards the front left, and rough slopes all around the right side and the back. If you're on, take it easy. You don't want to let this opportunity slip through the cracks. 

Hole 14: Old Orchard

On to the 14th hole, a 445 yard dogleg left Par 4. This hole has a tree line up the left side that can block out your approach shot into the green if you aren't long enough, or if you flare it to the left. A tee shot that is too errant to the right will also lengthen this hole. Protected by two bunkers, this green does not provide much depth, so be sure to put some spin on the ball or you'll be playing out of the rough. This green is also slightly downhill so be sure to take that into consideration when selecting clubs. I fell victim to the three putt on this green, it's wise to double check your when reading the green to make sure you have the right idea of what the ball will do. 

Hole 15: Thin Maples

Transitioning to the 15th hole, we find ourselves faced with a 357 yard Par 4 from the back tees. This hole does not require too much distance off the tee, a well place 200+ yard shot will still provide you with a nice look into the green. A right fairway bunker stands guard against some players who would prefer to use a driver to get in striking distance with a wedge. Up at the green, you will find bunkers strewn along the right side which can leave you short-sided depending on the pin placement. A raised green just adds to the trouble, so be careful where you land it. You don't want to miss this one. 

Hole 16: Ski Hill

Entering the final stretch of holes here at The Ranch, you find yourself on the 16th tee. A mammoth Par 5 at 618 yards from the back tees. This hole does play downhill, but it is named the "Ski Hill" for a reason. Be aware of the trees guarding the left and right sides of the fairway. And much like the 9th hole, you want to land in a flat part of the fairway. If you overcook your tee shot into the rough, good luck ripping a club like a 3w or hybrid out of this rough. The green is guarded by water on the left and right, and if you're lucky enough to avoid that you will be greeted by an unforgiving slope, lots of movement, and your friendly right-side bunker. This is my favorite hole on this course, and it will be easy to see why when you make your rounds here. 

Hole 17: The Lodge

With the 17th hole, we face our last Par 3 of the round coming in at 182 yards. This hole has about 170 yards of carry over water, so get your scuba gear ready. Also, you will find rough patches to the left and right of this green that will not be forgiving to an errant shot from the tee. Luckily you won't find bunkers here, but keep in mind that this green moves quite a bit towards the water (like most water holes). 

Hole 18: Overlook

Rounding out this excellent collection we find ourselves on the Par 4 18th hole. You've made it through most of the tests of the day, now there's just one more to take on. A dogleg left to finish with trouble all the way up the right side. Whether it's a bunker, overgrown fescue, or just an unfavorable lie, you're likely to run into it on this hole. Even a well placed shot down the middle will feed to the bottom left area of the fairway. This leaves you an uphill approach shot into a heavily defended green. Trouble on the left, trouble on the right, stick it on the green to avoid a ruined round. You don't want to go out flubbing a bunker shot and three putting. However, that is a real possibility. 

Final Thoughts 

At the end of the day, you made it through the winding layout of The Ranch Golf Club. A true test for the best and worst players that you know. It's just more fun to watch the best players you know take on this track as it was intended. Overall, I am grateful for my experience playing this course in a competitive group. This kept me on top of my game and really made me think about the shots I had to hit. In previous (more casual) rounds it was very easy to let my mind wander just taking in the scenery. Special thanks to the US Am Tour, and The Ranch Golf Club for this wonderful experience!

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more.
Matt Lynch (@mattlynchgolf , @addresstheball)