Black Hills Golf Guide 2013

Golf Guide 2013 Bla ck Hills

Long putter craze: crazy or incredible?

How the drought affects your game Comprehensive course guide Mini-profiles of all area courses

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GOLF GUIDE

Arrowhead Country Club is a private club located within the city limits of Rapid City.

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Journal file photos

Welcome to the 2013 Black Hills Golf Guide

I

t may not rank as high as hiking or trout fishing or gazing at presidential monuments, but playing golf deserves a spot on any to-do list when it comes to visiting or living in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

The region is home to some of the most scenic and entertaining courses in the nation. There’s the towering first tee box that sits a more than a mile high and looks over a valley at Lead Country Club. Players can get up close to the many whitetail deer that prance about the undulating fairways of The Golf Club at Red Rock. And golfers can be soothed by the babbling of Rapid Creek as it meanders through Meadowbrook Golf Course.

But scenery isn’t everything, as any golfer knows. And here, the other critical component of great golf exists in abundance: the deep valleys, mature pines, side-winding fairways and sloping greens that make Black Hills golf challenging enough to keep players of all skill levels coming back.

All you need to know can be found in this special section — the 2013 Black Hills Golf Guide published by the sports staff at the Rapid City Journal. In addition to a useful reference guide to all area courses, and mini-profiles of courses that help golfers decide where to play, we’ve included informative stories on the drought and the long-putter craze.

We hope you enjoy this special section and keep it around throughout the long golf season that stretches from May to late fall. Now, go hit ‘em straight, and not too often!

— Bart Pfankuch, Journal editor

The Rapid City Municipal Executive Golf Course is great for beginners, youngsters, or anyone looking to hone their short game.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Long-putters are under fire, but not from amateurs . . . . . . . . .Page 4 Dry, drier and drought: how the lack of rain affects your game . . . . .Page 6 Which course to play? Check out these mini-profiles of area tracks . . .Page 8 Comprehensive course guide with key details. . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12

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GOLF GUIDE

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Long putters: A golfer’s gift, or unfair fad?

Anchored long putters loved by golfers, but controversial Jim Holland Journal staff

When Australian golfer Adam Scott won The Master’s in April, he used a longerthan-normal putter anchored just under his chin to birdie the final hole and then to drain the tournament-winning putt in sudden death.

Scott’s win with the long putter continued a recent surge of success for the controversial clubs. Four of the past six major championships have been won by players using a long putter.

That pattern of victories is reviving a debate that has raged in the world of golf for the past couple years: should players — both professionals and amateurs — be allowed to use longer putters and anchor the end of the putter against their bodies?

That debate is also happening locally among weekend duffers and local professionals.

The controversy centers on whether using the putters, and anchoring them, is unfair. Golf prides itself on strict rules and fairness to all, and some argue that it is too easy to putt consistently by using a long putter

Professional golf’s governing bodies are proposing a ban on anchoring the putter to the body, which may give players an advantage.

Benjamin Brayfield photos, Rapid City Journal

Rapid City Elks Golf Course pro Aaron Roeber demonstrates how to held against the body rather anchor a putter with the stomach, often referred to as a “belly” putter. than a shorter club held only in Professional golf’s governing bodies are proposing a ban on anchoring the putter to the body, which may give golfers an advantage. the hands.

For professionals, the long putter may soon be a thing of the past.

The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of England and the United States Golf Association are considering banning the use of any club held to the stomach or any other part of a golfer’s body. The European Tour recently affirmed its support for the proposal, Rule 14-1b, set to take effect in 2016. But the players, and their Professional Golfers Association, have

stated opposition to the change.

Meanwhile, Rapid City-area golfers are bellying up to the debate over use of anchored clubs.

Use of the long putters, sometimes called “belly” putters, or even longer putters braced under the chin, are said to offer more stability than a club gripped in the player’s hands. Those in support of the change say anchoring is not a traditional swing or stroke of a club.

“That’s where the core of the heartburn is,” said pro J.R. Hamblet of the Elkhorn Ridge Golf Course west of Whitewood. “(They say) it’s an unfair advantage because of the stability from anchoring.”

Opinions vary Locally, individual opinions differ greatly on whether the putters are unfair, and also » Putter, Page 20

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Rapid City Elks Golf Course at the Elks Lodge #1187

Non members welcome every day except Wednesday.

Fully Stocked Pro Shop, Club Fitting, Club Repair, Driving Range, Great Restaurant & Lounge Aaron Roeber, Golf Course Manager

18 Holes Non-members: $43.00 Members: $34.00 9 Holes Non-members: $28.00 Members: $23.00 Green Fees (After 2 p.m.)

18 Holes with cart Non-members: $46.00 Members: $36.00 Green Fees (After 5 p.m.)

9 Holes with cart after 5 p.m.

Non-members: $31.00 Members: $26.00 No Twilight Rates on Wed. Hours: 6 a.m. to Dusk

• 18 Holes • Par 72 • Junior Program • Cart Rental • Lessons - All Levels We Specialize in Corporate Outings and Benefit Tournaments Relaxed Atmosphere Call for tee times that fit your schedule.

Ask how you can become a member

3333 E. 39th Street, Rapid City, SD Call to schedule your tee time

605-393-0522 or online at

www.rcelks.org

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GOLF GUIDE

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Dry, drier, drought!

How the lingering drought affects courses and your game Padraic Duffy Journal staff

T

he good news for area golfers is that all the snow that fell during spring snowstorms across the Black Hills should help area courses green up nicely early in the season.

The bad news?

Despite the spring precipitation, another dry winter overall this year has left c o u rs e s ove r l y p a rc h e d , meaning that brown patches may still appear during the summer, that fairways and greens may be hard and fast, and that courses will have to Mike Bartling of Rapid City tees off at the very dry first hole of Meadowbrook Golf Course in Rapid City. pay big bucks to add water to their tracks.

“This snow is like seeing Dry weather golf tips dollar bills fall from the sky in a way,” Hart Ranch Golf Course Here are some suggestions for playing your best during drought conditions.

Superintendent Adam WortMAKE A GAME PLAN. On the tee, think about FLATTEN YOUR SWING. Players that come down man said in mid-April. “It’s not hard on the ball have a hard time when it’s dry how the hole may change due to the dry going to completely make up and hard. Play a flatter swing plane to continue conditions. Plan where to leave the drive, know for how dry it has been, but it to make solid contact and not jar your wrists. when to go for it or play safe on approaches, certainly helps. This is like getand always consider where putting is easiest. ting a week’s worth of watering USE THE BUMP-AND-RUN. Flipping or for free.”

KEEP THE DRIVER IN THE BAG. Conflopping of chips is far trickier during Actually, it’s probably even sider using a 3-wood or less to keep the dry times. Use a 7-iron or other fairway better. According to Wortman, ball safely in the fairway and counteract iron to bump the ball to the hole. not all precipitation is created all the roll you get from a driver.

KEEP THE BALL BELOW THE HOLE. Putts equal. The irrigated water that TAKE LESS CLUB ON APPROACHES. Balls tend on the high side of the hole can be imposgets pumped out of one of Hart to run more on hard fairways and greens, so sible when greens dry out and quicken up.

Ranch’s two wells doesn’t have less club is needed to get the ball to the hole.

Always think about leaving your ball on quite the same effect on the the low side to make putting easier.

» Drought, Page 18

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GOLF GUIDE

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A variety of courses await

BLACK HILLS GOLFERS Tips and tactics for every course Journal staff

G

olf courses in the Black Hills region are as diverse as the landscape itself. Most feature undulations that mirror the rolling nature of the Hills, though some outside town are more flat (and windy) than one may expect. The bottom line is that the region has a wealth of golf opportunities that include some of the most scenic and challenging courses in the nation. Bring extra balls, and plan for more time than you think to appreciate the amazing views that come with golf in the Hills.

Here are mini-profiles of courses across the region.

RAPID CITY AREA

Arrowhead Country Club is a scenic private course in Rapid City.

ARROWHEAD COUNTRY CLUB

ELKS LODGE 1187 GOLF COURSE

This private 18-hole club on Sheridan Lake Road relies on narrow fairways and tough greens to make up for a relative lack of length. The greens are usually hard to hit and quick once you’ve reached them. Length off the tee is not a necessity on most of the holes but accuracy is as tree-lined fairways are sure to penalize even a slightly errant tee shot. A long-hitter can definitely shave a few strokes on the course’s par-5 holes, which are all reachable in two shots.

Journal file photos

This course on Rapid City’s south side is a tale of two 9-hole tracks. The old-school front nine is pretty flat and not overly long as it snakes its way around scenic Rapid Creek. Its mostly smallish greens require solid iron play, and mature trees can wreak havoc on loose shots. The back nine is more of a classic subdivision course, with tighter landing areas and far more elevation changes than the front. Overall, a very playable and interesting test of golf. » Courses, Page 10

The Elks Golf Course in Rapid City has some beautiful vistas.

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GOLF GUIDE

» From Page 8

RAPID CITY MUNICIPAL EXECUTIVE COURSE

Courses FOUNTAIN SPRINGS GOLF CLUB

This fun 9-holer along the interstate in Rapid City is short but demanding, requiring solid shot-making to find its small greens that are usually tucked up on mounds or guarded by creeks or ponds. Many holes only require a fairway wood from the tee rather than driver, and wedges are a common tool to approach the greens. Veteran players speak of keeping your eyes open to other play- The rolling hills at the Golf Club at Red Rock make the course difficult. ers since holes are parallel and errant shots common.

GOLF CLUB AT RED ROCK

Two tips will help players succeed, or simply survive, at the “Red Rock,” an 18-hole Rapid City track known for its elevation changes and super vistas. First, control your tee ball on this winding up-anddown course or you can easily end up in a ravine or rocky hillside. Secondly, keep your approach shots below the hole since most of the ultra-quick greens have severe back-tofront slopes that make threeputts a certainty if rolling them downhill. A scenic but testy track. Watch out for the many Hart Ranch is a super scenic course off Highway 16. deer that populate the course.

LACROIX LINKS GOLF COURSE

HART RANCH GOLF COURSE

The super-scenic 18-hole track south of Rapid City off the road to Rushmore boasts some of the best views and variables in the area. Some holes are flat but tight; others require pinpoint accuracy off the tee; and the par-3 holes are all testy but attractive. A flatter front nine is followed by a backside nestled along a ridge of Ponderosa pine trees. Players will literally use every club in their bag here, and must take special care with the flatstick, since most greens undulate significantly.

RAPID CITY SPECIAL SECTION

This executive course run by the local YMCA in south Rapid City is a great place to sharpen the short game, or to learn the game from the ground up. The track has eight par-3 holes and added its first par-4 hole in 2012. The home of the local First Tee program for youth golfers, the course is a perfect place to take a child to learn the game. Very affordable rates that rarely go above $10 make this one of the most accessible courses in the region for beginners.

MEADOWBROOK GOLF COURSE

This municipal 18-holer on Rapid’s west side is fair but challenging to golfers of all skill levels. Flat in some areas, hilly in others, the track features a mix of holes that require a variety of shots. With babbling Rapid Creek winding through the course, there are plenty of places to lose a ball but also take in a scenic view.

Great for walking, this track is a great spot for a relaxing, not overly demanding day on the links.

This 9-hole par-29 track will not test every club in a player’s bag, but it’s a good way to get out and get some work in on the wedge game. The course has seven par-3 holes that are all under 150 yards and a pair of par-4 holes that both play under 300 yards. The executive plays along Rapid Creek, which comes into play on four holes. This is a great course for youngsters and other players who are just learning the game.

NORTHERN HILLS BELLE FOURCHE COUNTRY CLUB

Mature trees and tight fairways make for a major challenge at this public 9-hole track in Belle Fourche. At around 3,000 yards, it isn’t long, but the track makes up for it with super scenery and what the course says is the secondhardest par-3 in the state: the 210-yard second hole. Affordable and fun, the course features water on three holes and challenges throughout.

BOULDER CANYON COUNTRY CLUB

This 9-hole track just south of Sturgis boasts 3,430 yards of lush golf in a classic Black Hills setting of mature pines and winding fairways. Driving areas are fairly wide open, but its small greens and numerous dogleg holes provide a challenge both from the tee and on the approaches. Its location just below a large hill make for scenic vistas; overall a sporty and fun Hills course.

ELKHORN RIDGE GOLF CLUB

Views of Centennial Valley abound on this 9-hole public track located in Spearfish. Situation on the side of the Black Hills, this track has numerous » Courses, Page 14

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GOLF GUIDE

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COURSE LISTING All you need to know about Black Hills courses * Membership required

2013

Notes: Information collected from web sites and interviews; always call ahead to fully confirm rates and availability. Miles from Rapid City is measured from Main Street Square downtown to the course. Highest rate is the Sunday morning rack rate with cart where applicable.

Course

Address

Phone

Belle Fourche Country Club

Highway 85 S., Belle Fourche

605-892-4712

Boulder Canyon Country Club

12312 US 14a, Sturgis

605-347-5108

Buffalo Golf Course

Highway 85, Buffalo

605-375-3313

Elkhorn Ridge

6845 St. Onge Road, Spearfish

605-722-4653

Rapid City Executive Golf Course

200 12th St., R.C.

605-394-4124

Fountain Springs Golf Course

1750 Fountain Plaza Dr, R.C.

605-342-4653

LaCroix Links

3820 Odde Dr, R.C.

605-394-5325

Lead Country Club

21826 Hanna Rd, Lead

605-584-1852

Newcastle Country Club

2302 West Main, Newcastle

307-746-2639

Newell Golf Club

12963 Orman Rd, Newell

605-456-2195

Prairie Ridge Golf Course

239 N Ellsworth Rd, Box Elder

605-923-4999

Rocky Knolls Golf Course

12181 US 16, Custer

605-673-4481

Tomahawk Country Club

21496 US 385, Deadwood

605-578-2080

Wall Community Golf Course

1801 Golf Course Rd, Wall

605-279-4653

Arrowhead Country Club

3675 Sheridan Lake Rd, R.C.

605-342-6389

Devils Tower Golf

Hulett, Wyo

307-467-5773

Elks 1187 Golf Course

3333 Jolly Lane, R.C.

605-393-0522

Hart Ranch Golf Course

23645 Clubhouse Dr, R.C.

605-341-5703

Meadowbrook Golf Course

3625 Jackson Blvd, R.C.

605-394-4191

Southern Hills Golf Course

1130 Clubhouse Dr, Hot Springs

605-745-6400

Spearfish Canyon Country Club

120 Spearfish Canyon, Spearfish

605-717-4653

Golf Club at Red Rock

6520 Birkdale Drive, R.C.

605-718-4710

Ridgeview Country Club

16611 Hwy 385, Chadron, NE

308-432-4468

Legend Buttes G.C.

3440 Hwy 20, Crawford, NE

308-665-2431

GOLF GUIDE

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3 GOLF GUI DE Website

Miles from Holes Rapid City

Range

Lessons

Restaurant Highest rate

None

9

55

yes

no

yes

$39

bouldercanyoncountryclub.com

9

34

yes

no

yes

$41

None

9

118

yes

no

no

$5

golfelkhorn.com

9

43

yes

yes

yes

$38

None

9

1

no

yes

no

$8

fountainsprings.net

9

3

yes

yes

no

$36

rcymca.org

9

4

no

yes

no

$17

leadcountryclub.com

9

51

yes

yes

yes

$30

None

9

79

yes

no

yes

$30

newellgolfclub.com

9

55

no

yes

yes

$23

ellsworthfss.com

9

11

yes

no

no

$26

rockyknollsgolfcourse.com

9

43

no

no

yes

$31

golftomahawk.com

9

35

yes

no

yes

$36

None

9

56

yes

no

no

$24

arrowheadccrc.com

18

3

yes

yes

yes

$75

devilstowergolf.com

18

100

yes

yes

yes

*

rcelks.org/golf

18

5

yes

yes

yes

$59

hartranch.com

18

11

yes

yes

yes

$59

golfatmeadowbrook.com

18

3

yes

yes

yes

$65

hotspringssdgolf.com

18

58

yes

no

no

$51

spearfishcanyoncountryclub.com

18

47

yes

yes

yes

$63

golfclubatredrock.com

18

9

yes

yes

yes

$70

None

9

103

yes

yes

yes

$27

None

9

116

yes

yes

yes

$31

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» From Page 10

Courses elevated tee boxes that provide impressive views of accessible fairways that are often protected by elk-footprint shaped bunkers. Large but sloping greens make a round fair but also challenging. Watch out for hidden canyons that can eat dubbed drives.

LEAD COUNTRY CLUB

This public play course seven miles south of Lead boasts the highest elevation east of the Rockies at 6,200 feet, and also one of the best starting holes in the state.

The first tee looks out over the entire course and valley below.

With holes that cut through woodlands and tree-lined meadows, and small greens that are extremely undulating

GOLF GUIDE

RAPID CITY SPECIAL SECTION

back-to-front, the 9-hole tree-lined fairways make for course may be only 3,331 yards a definite challenge. The back nine is a little more modern in but plays much tougher. its set-up and plays longer than NEWELL GOLF CLUB the front nine by nearly 400 Though mostly flat, wide- yards, but errant tee shots will open and fairly straight, this be penalized just the same. A 9-hole course west of New- true test. ell in Butte County is located along a large lake and wetlands THE GOLF CLUB AT that provide for some interest- DEVIL’S TOWER ing holes and terrific views.

T h i s H u l e t t , Wyo m i n g Whipping winds are also a course provides not only views frequent factor on this public of its namesake 1,300-foot track that offers very afford- rock intrusion but also incredable rates. ible challenges and treats for a golfer. With a blend of short and long holes — some open SPEARFISH CANYON and some tight — this track COUNTRY CLUB This public course in Spear- boasts a memorable round from fish is a study in contrasts as any tee box. At more than 7,100 the front and back nines play yards from the tips, this can differently. The front nine is a be a brute; though it can also traditional layout with plenty play as a shot-maker’s course of trees coming into play before from the up tees. The scenery reaching the smallish, hump- and the winding nature of the backed greens. The smaller course make it worth the drive greens, elevation changes and from Rapid.

TOMAHAWK LAKE COUNTRY CLUB

The breathtaking views at this public 9-hole gem near Deadwood may distract golfers from the game itself. Cut through tall pines within the Black Hills National Forest, this lush 3,390-yard tester has elevation changes so severe shots may require two more or less clubs. A winding creek comes into play on four holes in this mile-high track whose holes are cut through a dense forest. Legend has it a disgruntled golfer once chain-sawed a stand of trees, but no worry: mature trees remain abundant.

SOUTHERN HILLS EDGEMONT GOLF COURSE

Located south of Edgemont, this volunteer-run course operates on the honor system » Courses, Page 16

11519 Sturgis Rd. (Exit 48, I-90) Black Hawk, SD

1-888-400-2827 605-787-9111 M-F 8-5, Sat 8-12

Located in the Black Hills of South Dakota

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Stay in Hot Springs... Play Southern Hills Golf Course!

Enjoy All Our Family Friendly Attractions!

• Black Hills Wild Horse Sanctuary • Angostura Recreation Area • Wind Cave National Park • Spanish Mustang Windcross Conservancy • Black Hills Putt-4-Fun • The Mammoth Site • Pioneer Museum • Evans Plunge • and More!

A Warm Welcome Awaits You!

Stay & Play!

Hot Springs Family Fun Package

Pay for 9 holes ... Play 18!

$270 Family of 4 2 Nights Lodging + 4 Attractions

When you present a receipt from any Hot Springs lodging facility.

Make Hot Springs your family vacation destination and check out a dig where researchers have found 58 mammoths, play at Evans Plunge, the world’s largest natural warm water indoor pool and play a round of golf at Putt-4-Fun. price starting from $270 for a family of four and includes two nights lodging and entrance to the Mammoth Site, Evans Plunge and Putt-4-Fun. Optional add-ons include Custer State Park, Wind Cave National Park and Wild Horse Sanctuary.

• Breakfast Buffet • Meeting Room • Pool • Hot Tub • Jacuzzi Suite • Rental Car • Airport Pickup

www.HotSpringsSDGolf.com

Call 605-745-6400 for Tee Times Hwy 18 By-Pass Hot Springs, SD

Area Chamber of Commerce

801 S 6th • Hot Springs, SD • 605-745-4140

605.745.4411 866.725.7732

www.stayusahotel.com

450 Motel Rooms • Spas • Shopping • Restaurants • Antiques • River Walk/Freedom Trail • Unique Sandstone

Call 888-745-4149 or go on line at www.hotsprings-sd.com

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RAPID CITY SPECIAL SECTION

» From Page 14

Courses and only charges $5 or so per round. For that rate, no one could expect perfection, and on that standard, this public 9-hole delivers. It boasts allgrass greens, but not much in terms of fairway sod. Still, a few dogleg holes and a small creek winding through the course give it some character.

SOUTHERN HILLS GOLF COURSE

True Black Hills golf can be found at this 18-hole, par-70 track in Hot Springs. A favorite of many area players, this track is short but tight and each hole brings a unique driving and approach challenge. A 2011 Southern Hills Golf Course in Hot Springs is tight and scenic, and a favorite of many golfers.

“Golfweek’s Best” course, the typically lush fairways are track plays to only 5,905 yards Prairie fairly wide open, allowing for but players who aren’t careRidge is ful may never notice the lack a 9-hole big swings of the driver that are of length as they navigate the needed because several holes public ravines, rolling hills and Ponplay long (No. 7 is 570 yards!) course derosa Pines that guard many Traps and ponds are present near holes. Truly a local gem that Ellsworth to catch wayward shots. Well sticks in one’s memory.

Air Force worth the drive south.

Base.

ROCKY KNOLLS GOLF COURSE

This 9-hole track in Custer plays to 3,084 yards meanders through mature Ponderosa Pines with scenic views of the southern Black Hills. Accuracy off the tee is at a premium here since wayward drives will often lead to chip-outs or blocked approaches. Some holes sway with the landscape, making for a different round each time it is played. A few holes have greens tucked back into stands of pines. A playable, entertaining track for all skill levels.

unique track a try. The course has a par of 32 and artificial grass greens, but it has no clubhouse to speak of and no phone or web site. Payment is on the honor system. For less than $10, a player can go all day. The course is located north of town near the airport.

AROUND THE REGION

PRAIRIE RIDGE GOLF COURSE

BUFFALO GOLF COURSE

If ever you find yourself in Buffalo, in Harding County in the far northwest corner of the state, you may want to give this

Located on Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder, this public 9-hole track features several dogleg holes, a few green-side bunkers, a large lake and smallish greens that require

LEGENDS BUTTES GOLF CLUB

This Crawford, Neb. course is nestled at the bottom of a large butte just west of town. A few of its nine holes wind around a small lake and some cut through stands of mature trees. Dogleg accuracy with the irons. With holes are common here, so wise few trees, missing a fairway is club selection is rewarded. A fun often forgiven. A very playable track all around. course that allows golfers to bomb away (no pun intended!) WALL GOLF COURSE but which often takes the brunt A long but relatively wideof local winds that can add dif- open 9-hole course awaits ficulty. Some solid par-3 holes golfers who venture east from round out the track.

Rapid City to Wall. This 9-hole course that plays to 3,800 yards RIDGEVIEW COUNTRY CLUB features few trees and only a This 9-holer in Chadron, handful of green-side bunkers, Neb. is set on a relatively flat but several doglegs and a steady but scenic patch of land that is breeze that add difficulty. Great surrounded by hills and buttes rates and a relatively easy goand overlooks the town. With round make this a course for 3,465 yards to play with, the players of all skill levels.

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TEE OFF FROM THE MILE HIGH GOLF COURSE!!

Historic Lead Country Club is the highest elevation golf course east of the Rockies.

The Original Black Hills Treasure At approx. 6200 feet elevation, mornings and evenings can be chilly, so dress accordingly. Better yet, buy a logo sweatshirt in the Clubhouse, which is open daily from 7:00 a.m. until dark. The Clubhouse, built in 1923, features a full service Snack Bar, serving breakfast and lunch.

Grab a six-pak of your favorite beverage to take with you on the course, coolers are provided. No carry on's are allowed. Have a Class Reunion or a large group of golfers? The upstairs of the historic Clubhouse is available for rent and can easily accommodate large groups and a number of options are available. Check with the manager for availability and prices.

While we don't take tee times, if your group is more than a foursome, we recommend you call ahead. The longest wait on our busiest days is seldom more than 30 minutes, and during the week more than likely you will get right off. We are family and group friendly, fivesomes are allowed, and we have a good selection of club rentals, including a set of lefty's.

For more information call

Open Golf Monday - Sunday May 1 - October 15 Men’s Day Wednesdays 1 pm - Dark Club Rentals Car Rentals Course Manager Al Varland Superintendent Rick Varland Rates: 9 Holes $30 per player with Cart

584-1852 or LeadCountryClub.com

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» From Page 6

Drought course as the snow.

“The moisture we got from this storm is between an inch and an inch and a half, which is nice, but it’s not like it’s the end of all our problems.

But the snow does have more nitrogen in it than rain, which makes grass greener. You can already see spots where the snow is melting and they’ve greened right up,” Wortman said.

For players, the drought has a direct impact on their game.

Fairways get hard and dry, and good lies are fewer. More balls will bounce through fairways and into the rough or out-ofbounds if it gets too hard.

And while many green complexes are watered through irrigation, the undulating

GOLF GUIDE

greens common to the Black Hills can become treacherously fast, making three-putts common. Also, short-game play around the greens becomes a great challenge when it is so dry; flop shots become nearly impossible.

For course operators, managing drought conditions requires a balance between using irrigation that drives up costs, and trying to keep the course as playable as possible to make golf more enjoyable.

Spending more on irrigation can cut into profits and make it less likely players will see specials and deals.

The free moisture is welcome at Hart Ranch, even though the course doesn’t have to pay for its water. While the actual water is free, the course still has to pay the electricity bill for pumping the water out of the two wells that feed ponds on the course, one on the front

nine and another on the back.

Last year, that electric bill was somewhere in the neighborhood of $40,000.

The late snowfall this year will help defray some of that cost, but not as much as some folks might think. Even with over 20 inches of snow fall in the area over in April, the University of Nebraska National Drought Mitigation Center labels all of Western South Dakota as suffering from either severe or extreme drought conditions.

Without the snow, courses around the area would be forced into watering more early in the season – Hart Ranch had been saturating the course for nearly a month before the big storm – just to stay ahead of the inevitable drying up of courses in late summer and early fall, when courses dry out and the game changes for players. All golfers

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can expect to get a little more roll on the solid fairways, but particularly those who play a lower trajectory on their shots.

“This storm certainly helps, but it can’t make up for two straight dry winters,” Wortman said. “This will definitely help early in the season and it will make the course look better here in the next few weeks, but we’ll still be right back to pumping plenty of water here when it all melts.”

Wortman had turned on the irrigation system at Hart Ranch on March 8, which wasn’t quite as early as last year, but still a reflection of how dry the past two winters have been.

“The course was forced to start pumping on March 6 last season, which was the earliest in history. This year, we started pumping water onto the course on March 8,” Wortman said.

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GOLF GUIDE

» From Page 4

Putter whether amateurs should be able to continue using them even if the clubs are banned for professionals.

“I do see (anchoring) as an advantage, especially as you get to be a better player,” Elks Country Club pro Aaron Roeber said.

“You realize how important it is to make sure the end of the putter releases from the ball and anchoring makes sure it releases. You can feel that club head rush through the hitting zone,” Roeber said.

Craig Hatch of Hart Ranch Golf Course in Rapid City said anchored putters have been approved for use for more than 20 years, and he sees no reason to change that.

“Nobody has shown us any proof that an anchored putter offers any advantage and until there is such proof, I don’t think they need to change, especially

Proposed rule The proposed change in the Rules of Golf involves Rule 14, Striking The Ball.

Current Rule 14-1, Ball To Be Fairly Struck, states that “the ball must be fairly struck at with the head of the club and must not be pushed, scraped or spooned.”

The proposal would make that Rule 14-1a, with the new Rule 14-1b addressing Anchoring the Club.

“In making a stroke, the player must not anchor the club, either directly or by use of an anchor point.”

If adopted, the new rule would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

Benjamin Brayfield, Rapid City Journal

The ultimate goal: whether with a standard putter or a longer model, making the putt is all that matters.

given the fact they’ve already approved it twice,” Hatch said.

Tyler Rachetto has played from both sides of the issue and does not believe anchoring offers a clear advantage.

Rachetto, Rapid City Stevens High assistant principal and an avid amateur golfer with eight Arrowhead Pro-Am titles on his resume, said he played with a belly putter for a couple of years, but recently returned to a standard putter.

“I liked the way it felt on short putts, 10 feet and in. It’s difficult to control the speed on longer putts,” Rachetto said.

“I’ve missed a lot of putts with a standard putter and I’ve missed a lot of putts with the anchored putter,” Rachetto said. “It comes down to control, reading the greens and having the right speed.”

Game too hard already?

Hamblet decided to give a belly putter a try after vowing to never play with one.

“I put one in my hand last summer and I’ve got to admit I really liked it. Whether or not it improved my putting, I didn’t keep track that close,” Hamblet said.

He also believes a ban could harm efforts to get more people involved in the game; some believe golf is too hard already

and that keeps new players from taking up the game.

“If they ban the anchoring, it’s going to take tens of thousands of people away from the game, because that’s the way they putt. That’s the way they enjoy it,” he said.

M i k e B r u m m e r, 6 2 , a 1 5 - t i m e s ta te a m a te u r

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champion from Rapid City, first tried a pendulum putter during the 1990 Arrowhead Pro-Am in Rapid City.

Brummer holds the club away from his body. He said the loose clothing he usually wears may give the appearance that he is anchoring. “I’ve never anchored. It’s out away from my chest. It’s easier for me to control the stroke, which is legal no matter what they do,” said Brummer, who opposes a ban.

“You still have to have the skill, you still have to perform the function. Just because you’re anchoring doesn’t mean you’re going to make every putt.

There are just as many good putters on both sides,” he said.

Roeber, Hamblet and Hatch said they all have belly putters in their Pro Shop inventories, but will adapt to the new rule if it’s adopted when the new Rules of Golf are published for 2016.

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