¶ Notes
We had ten people out for a beautiful February day. It was about 60 degrees, blustery at times but sunny. There was a little bit of snow on the course but not enough that it was really a factor that affected play. Some low parts of the course were understandably a little soggy with recent snowmelt. However, the course superintendent did a great job of relocating pins so they weren't affected by the conditions. Overall, the course was in terrific shape for the time of year. The choice to go down there for winter golf was a good one!
The folks that attended univerally liked the quirky layout (blind approaches, greens at 90 degress to the fairway, etc.) and the challenges it presented. Many also enjoyed the expansive, snow-capped mountainous panoramas. The greens seem to be receptive year round. The rough can be rough with steep drop-offs on many of the holes. There is plenty of loose rock in the rough with the high desert location. Many commented that they were still able to find and play most balls and conditions in the rough were compensated for by the lack of bunkers. Everyone that attended said they'd happily play there again.
Four Mile Ranch has worked out of a temporary trailer in lieu of a clubhouse for years. That seems likely to continue for the forseeable future. They have drinks (including alcohol), a few snacks, a few mementos (mostly hats) and a very small selection of golf equipment (balls, tees, tee markers). There are only portable restrooms. In the future, attendees of events at Four Mile Ranch will want to factor this lack of amenties into the equation.
Due to the conditions, Four Mile Ranch was running a "snow rate" of $42 for 18 holes including a cart. Four Mile Ranch is already a very good deal with a normal weekend rate of $52 with a $5 discount for those aged 50+. Since the conditions weren't all that abnormal, the rate for golf was very good.
On the down side, the practice facilities were substandard. There is no driving range at the moment due to a land dispute over ownership of the land used for the range. The new owners set up nets and mats where participants could warm up. There was a putting green but no chipping or pitching areas. This seems to be the likely condition going forward. For future events, participants in events at this course should plan their warm-up accordingly.
The Peoria format used for this event was very popular with the attendees. It seemed to very much even the playing field as can be seen from the tournament results. We'll use it again in the future. The final scoresheets and payouts are available below. There is both an Excel format that shows all the formulae and a PDF version for those that don't have Excel.
¶ Course Information
The Feburary 2022 HAF League outing was played at Four Mile Ranch Golf Club in Canon City, CO on 20 February, 2022. Click on the logo if you'd like to visit their Web site.
Their address is:
3501 Telegraph Trail
Cañon City, CO 81212
Their phone number is (719) 275-5400
¶ Rates (on the day of 20 Feburary 2022)
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Green Fees | $42 (snow rate) |
| Riding Cart | included in green fees Single carts available for an additional $12 |
| Walking Cart | N/A |
| Club Rental | $30 |
| Range balls | N/A |
¶ Weather
¶ Competition Format
Since a few in the participating group didn't carry handicaps, we held a stroke play tourney using the Peoria system. Peoria is a way to devise a handicap for a round. It's really good for groups where several of the participants don't have USGA handicaps and/or haven't played together much.
The holes for the Peoria were chosen by John Allen's daughter and placed in a sealed envelope. The envelope was opened at the course to dramatic effect. The scores for each player were entered in a spreadsheet (the one referenced under "Note" above). The scores were tabulated in about 10 minutes.
There was a $10 buy-in for people that wanted to particpate. Everyone that attended did. Accordingly, 3 places were paid as follows:
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|
| 60% | 30% | 10% |
¶ Tee Times and Pairings
10:40
Todd Hubbard
Vicki Hubbard
Mitch Leitner
Curt Balcerzak
10:50
Rob Franco
Jim Kellum
Kevin Helm
John Allen
11:00
Bruce Dakin
Greg Davis