May012008
At Ranch Club, change afoot
OK, so the weather hasn’t been terribly cooperative, but it is, technically speaking, spring - and that means it’s time for golf.
The spring weather, of course, will change, the hole locations change and even golf courses change.
This is a season of change at Ranch Club, the Mullan Road course formerly known as Phantom Hills. The course is midstream in a transition from public to private, a change that could take place as the 2009 golf season begins.
But that’s a ways off and, at least for this season, the Ranch Club golf course is open to all.
“All you’ve got to do is give us a call and set up a tee time,” said club owner John Powers.
Since Powers and his wife Colleen bought the club, they have been working toward a time when the golf course - along with a new pool and fitness facility - would be part of a membership-only club.
“The idea was basically that we’ll eventually have about 350 homeowners out here, and it seems right that they would know who’s walking around in their backyards,” Powers said. “The idea is to keep the restaurant public, though, as we want everyone to feel they can come out.”
For now, the golf course is still public, too. Powers said the club now has more than 100 members, but won’t go fully private until it has about 200 members, with a goal of about 350.
“The plan is to go private by the start of 2009,” he said.
This year, for the nonmember, greens fees are $36 for 18 holes through June 13. The summer rate is $42, and that rate ends in mid-September, with a return to the $36 rate.
There’s also a twilight rate of $35 for 18 holes, cart included. That rate is applicable four hours before sundown.
Passes for unlimited range and golf are also available for the season - $850 for seniors, $1,050 for other folks.
If you’re interested in membership, the club has a couple of ways to join. Currently, there’s the so-called Buckaroo program which has no initiation fee and monthly dues of $350.
“We’re not sure how long we’ll continue with that program, but it’s there for now,” Powers said.
The most traditional membership involves an initiation fee of $7,500. There are no monthly fees, however, until the club completes the swimming complex and the fitness facility, which will all be included in the membership. There also will be access to a private dining room at the restaurant.
“We won’t charge monthly dues until we get that done, so that’s the incentive for Colleen and I to get these other facilities open,” Powers said.
The club also has corporate memberships available for $15,000, which entitles five people from the company to play. That membership also involves no monthly dues until the other facilities are ready.
Powers said that taking the club private isn’t really about creating an exclusive golf course. It’s really more about the neighborhood.
“It’s driven by the people in the neighborhood and it’s about having a group of people who want to belong to a larger club,” Powers said.
The club also has other changes under way. They’ve built a barn that will serve as an events center, and they’re also taking special care around the course to make it friendly to a community of owls that have long lived on the property.
Powers said that means watching what sorts of chemicals are used on the course.
“We’ve been working with Denver Holt, who’s been working with these owls for 20 years, and he’s helped us understand what they need,” Powers said. “We’re trying to be good stewards out here and protect the environment.”
The course has continued to mature, Powers said, and the Ranch Club is ready for an excellent season.
For a tee time at the Ranch Club, call 532-1000.
Article can also be viewed on the Missoulian website: http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/05/01/outdoors/out57a.txt
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