The Takeaway:  Rochelle Ranch stands as perhaps the only reason to pull off I-80 to stop in at the oil town of Rawlins, WY. The course exists due to an impressive donation and is a much better than you’d expect given the location, but the lack of courses nearby make it tough to build into a golf trip.  Grade C

Quick Facts

Designer:  Ken Kavanaugh in 2004

Cost:  $30.00 - $33.00, plus $30 for cart Click for current rates

Phone Number:  (307) 324-7121

Course Website:  Official Website - Visit Rochelle Ranch's official website by clicking on the link provided.

Directions:  Get here! - 2808 Rochelles Drive, Rawlins, Wyoming  82301 – UNITED STATES

What to Expect:  Rochelle Ranch is named after Curt and Marian Rochelle who were local sheep ranchers that donated the golf course as a gift back to the city they accumulated their wealth in. The course is located just off of I-80 in the high desert landscape common to south central Wyoming. The course features 600+ yard par fives, lengthy par threes, and tips out at nearly 8000 yards. Bunkers are found in the middle of fairways as often as they are on the edges which creates options on how to navigate the wide fairways but can be tiresome for the straight hitter who is used to aiming straight down the middle all the time. It is not always clear what line to take off the tee but a couple times around the track takes care of that issue. Drainage issues plagued the course early on which caused the fairways to not grow in as well as planned, but what the course is mostly known for is the windy conditions. Rawlins is one of the windiest locations in the country, in fact, in January 2011 Rawlins had an average wind speed of 42 mph! One burst of wind that month clocked in at 77 mph while the area normally averages 18-29 mph. So the wide fairways are a must in these conditions and the firm fairways can help gain the extra yards you’ll need at this brutally challenging course. The course is a great addition to this remote location and well worth stopping if you find yourself rolling down I-80 and wanting to tee it up.

By the Numbers