Course 137: The Ranch Golf Club

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The Ranch is a wild ride. The course opens with two holes that feel like Florida Golf in the Berkshires - water hazards, flat land, and a few houses dot the landscape. Then the course begins climbing on the third and fourth. That's where The Ranch really gets going.

The course's calling card is the bold land it traverses. While the elevation change is stark, the walk isn't exhausting but can wear you down over 18 holes.

The climb from the first tee to the ninth tee is subtle. Holes 3 and 4 have the biggest climbs. The ninth tumbles back down to the clubhouse. Then the climb happens again from the 10 to 16.

16 mimics the ninth as players hit their tees shots into a mountain backdrop and hope for a bit of luck.

The Ranch is a stern test, and picking the proper tees is important. Greens can be tough to hit with long irons, especially when the course is firm. Bunkers are well placed off the tees, too.

The front nine is a little more traditional as a golf course. Holes 6 and 9 offer the only blind tee shots, and one could argue the sixth isn't really that blind if you play to the left side of the fairway. Holes 3 and 4, with their steady climb, were the strongest holes on that side and some of the best on the course. The sixth is a cool risk/reward tee shot, and the seventh, with its airport-sized fairway, is a departure from the tight holes that preceded it.

The back nine is a little more wonky; course knowledge is beneficial as the tee shots are more challenging. Aside from the par-3 17th, the last four tee shots are all blind, either uphill or downhill. The back nine is also a reminder that the course is part of a housing development. It's a little less secluded than the front nine.

The 14th was striking, as the trees on the dogleg were a vibrant orange, a good reason for visiting in the fall.

The entire experience at The Ranch is great. The course is in excellent condition. It's full of interesting, challenging golf. Some course knowledge goes a long way. It's worth a day trip from far away and would be a place I'd play semi-regularly if I lived within an hour.

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