By Curtis Stock:

The Ranch, a delectable golf course just west of Edmonton, is a mirage.

The scorecard shows The Ranch is only 6,500 yards from the tips. But, as Yogi Berra might have said, it’s a long 6,500 yards. “There’s some very tough holes,” said Murray McCourt, general manager and co-owner of The Ranch.

“We’ve hosted a ton of competitive tournaments – PGA of Alberta and Alberta Golf Association events – and nobody comes out here and posts crazy low numbers,” said McCourt, named the 2016 PGA of Alberta Club Pro of the Year and 2019 PGA of Alberta Executive Professional of the Year. “It’s not a long course but it’s a very challenging 6,500 yards.”

From June 28-30 The Ranch will be tested again – this time by the Alberta Golf Mens Amateur Championship. “The toughest are the final five holes – those are the ones that will determine the Men’s Amateur champion,” said McCourt. “The winner will have to play those holes very well and avoid the big number.”

Ray Freeman, who won the 1985 Klondike Klassic when it was then part of what was the Canadian Tour, offered a hole-by-hole analysis of the closing five-hole stretch to the Edmonton Journal.

Start with No. 14, a 177-yard Par-3. “That’s a beauty of a hole,” Freeman said of the downhill test which plays over a creek to a well-guarded green. ”Sitting up there on top of that hill, you have to pick the right club for sure. If you’re short it’ll roll back towards you. If you miss it right you’re in the trees.”

“If you haven’t played here a lot you will be surprised how much it breaks on that green,” added McCourt, who is also the host of the VIP Golf radio show on TSN1260, voted the best talk radio program in Edmonton.

On to No. 15, a Par-4 which will play from about 394 yards, which starts with an elevated tee shot through a chute and then doglegs hard right. “ Normally I try and play it back in my stance a bit and try and beat a low cut out there, get it running out somewhere short of that bunker.”

“The tee shot is not as intimidating as it was when Ray Freeman played it; we’ve cleared out a lot of trees,” said McCourt, 51, who started at The Ranch in 2005 after being the head pro and general manager at Nanton for a dozen years.

“The second shot is to a narrow, two- tiered green. There’s trouble right with trees and fescue. There’s more trouble left with a couple of bunkers and a water penalty area. A two-putt par is good.”

Next up is No. 16 – a 413-yard Par-4 from an elevated tee box and through another chute of trees. With water guarding the left side of the fairway and an extremely narrow sliver of fairway right of the water, this is easily one of The Ranch’s toughest holes.

”Anything to get your tee shot in play,” said Freeman, who won the 1985 Klassic with a 15-under 265 that included two course-record rounds of 63.

No. 17, which plays at 177 yards over water, is another gorgeous Par-3. “Anywhere from a 4-iron to an 8-iron depending on the wind,” said Freeman.

Then No. 18. “An absolute beast,” said McCourt, of the 439-yard Par 4. “When the Canadian Tour was here, No. 18
had the highest scoring average on the entire Tour. It’s a very, very, very tough tee shot. Trees left and water right and a narrow landing strip. Hit whatever club you need to keep the ball in play.”

The second shot is no bargain either. “The players will probably have about a 200-yard approach
to an extremely difficult green with some severe breaks.” So how did Freeman tame The Ranch back in 1985? Easy. He played the ‘shortish’ two Par 5s – Nos. 2 and 7 – 12-under par for the four days – eagling both of them twice.

The Ranch has been ranked in SCOREGolf magazine’s Top 100 courses in Canada, also receiving more SCOREGolf kudos last year when it placed first in Edmonton, second in Alberta and 30th in the nation for providing best value.

“That was validation that we are achieving what we are always looking to do,” said McCourt. “We have an outstanding golf course and we charge very fairly for the product and service we provide.

“We are a fun, laid-back and accommodating public golf course that offers tremendous value, top- notch service and – thanks to our superintendent Derek Senkow and his team – premier conditions.”

“I love to host high-end golf tournaments,” beamed McCourt. “The players have a fabulous time and they go back to their courses and say what an incredible experience they had at The Ranch.”