This past Friday the Hooked On Golf Blog World Tour made a stop at Rhodes Ranch Golf Club, a short drive southwest of the Las Vegas strip. I’d been to the property before, but had not had a chance to play it until this visit. While there I visited my friend Jeff Bricker, assistant pro and former Utah local.
Rhodes Ranch – Par-3 3rd Hole
Naturally I shot a ton of photos and I will be posting a course review soon. First impressions are that the course conditions are so good I’d compare them with Augusta National. Seriously! The fairway grass was so perfect and precisely cut, I actually took a photo of it:
Augusta National? Nope. Rhodes Ranch!
enjoyed my round playing on such a finely cared for golf course and the layout was very fun. If not for two doubles on the card, I would have been close to even par on the day. I need redemption!
Following the round I powered up my UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) and did some photos and video of the course from above. I prefer to use the term UAV because “drone” has gotten a bad name. It isn’t an invasion of privacy and it isn’t going to blow you up. It is just taking pictures of the golf course!
Rhodes Ranch Golf Club – Aerial view of clubhouse and holes – click for more
Rhodes Ranch Photo Gallery
I’m very happy to have gotten some new pictures of Rhodes Ranch. I had some very poor quality, dark images in the Hooked On Golf Blog Rhodes Ranch Gallery, presumably back in the (literal) dark ages when I didn’t know how to take a photo.
I’ve now deleted all the old crappy photos, and put a few new ones up. I’m still processing some of the images, so check back for more later.
While at the Championship Course at Sand Hollow Resort this past Sunday I broke the seal and opened up a brand new Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 Beta 3-Fairway to begin my testing for an upcoming review. I hit the club a few times on the range and a few times on the course. I’m not ready to post a review yet because, unlike lame golf blogs and golf equipment review sites, I actually PLAY the club for about a month (12-20 rounds) before I do my review. I test clubs on real golf courses, not on swing analyzers. I don’t just read the PR sheet or manufacturer’s website and regurgitate their club descriptions, and I don’t post stock photos of the products.
Tour Edge Exotics SCG7 Beta Fairway – click for more
I can say that the first impressions I’ve got with this club are that is is extremely attractive and classy looking. Off the tee I hit dead straight lasers on the course Sunday, one leading to a great birdie. I struggled a bit hitting her off the ground as I have yet to settle in on the proper ball position.
Exotics XCG7 Fairway Sole – click for more pictures
Stay tuned for my full review and for now, check out the HOG Tour Edge Exotics XCG7 Beta Fairway photos by clicking the link in this sentence or the photos in this article.
Most people think of Utah as a ski destination and for good reason. The snow here is regarded by many as the “greatest snow on earth.” Golf has a huge impact on the state as well. The size of that impact was not really known until a 2012 study done by independent research company SRI, commissioned by Golf 20/20. I was stunned at the impact and the numbers found in this study. Golf isn’t just a game here in Utah, it is an industry. It is an efficient industry which produces more dollars per acre than other big local industries yet has a fraction of the ecological impact. All of this while providing a fantastic outdoor activity, green space, scenic beauty, and providing jobs.
The Numbers
The 2012 golf industry in Utah generated $806.6 million in economic impact.
The number of golf patrons exceeds the number of ski patrons.
The golf industry in Utah accounts for over 9,600 JOBS.
Those jobs the golf industry creates in Utah produce $250.1 million dollars in wages.
Golf in Utah produces $16,035 per irrigated acre. The nearest competing industry is alfalfa farming at $774 per acre.
Golf brings in $5,529 per acre-ft of water. The nearest competing industry is once again alfalfa farming at $365 per acre-ft of water.
For all of you who think golf courses take up too much space or use too much water, golf in Utah represents only 3.8% of the state’s turfgrass and only consumes 0.65% of the diverted water.
Golf in Utah produced over $11 million in charitable giving.
Governor’s Golf Month Proclamation
In light of these amazing findings, which I merely highlighted a few big ones, Utah Governor Gary Herbert signed a proclamation yesterday at the state capitol declaring May in Utah as the month of golf. I was happy to be in attendance along with many of the biggest players in Utah’s golf industry.
Utah Governor Gary Herbert Signs Utah Golf Proclamation
I had a chance to speak with the Governor for a few minutes and he is very excited about these findings, and helping the game to flourish and grow in the future. “The continued health and growth of the golf industry has a direct bearing on future jobs, commerce, economic development, and tax revenues for a large number of Utah’s communities and industries.”
I let the Governor know of my independent work as a golf blogger and builder of golf websites, including the Utah Golf Guru site. I joked that the study numbers and the $805.6 million are a little low since they didn’t account for any revenue created by Utah golf bloggers. Make that $805,600,001.
I received an interesting invitation to the Utah State Capitol to be a first hand witness to Utah Governor Gary Herbert’s “Golf Proclamation.” I’m headed up there shortly. Golf is apparently doing very well here in Utah, and the Gov is going to proclaim May as “Golf Month.”
A recent study found, “golf contributes more than $800 million to our (Utah) state economy, supports more than 9,600 jobs, and accounts for more than $11 million in annual charitable giving.” Further, “there is not a state in the country that has a larger percentage of their golf courses that are open to the public.”
These are good things, and I’m sure the Governor will be telling us more later this morning. I’m looking forward to being in attendance, and likely seeing many of the top people in the Utah golf industry, many of whom are my friends and business associates.
Sand Hollow Links Course
Following the proclamation there will be a round of golf played at one of my home courses, Bonneville Golf Club. Maybe I’ll even get to play with the Governor. I think I can take him. Hope he brings some extra cash.
Today is Cinco De Mayo, May 5. Wishing you HOG patrons a great day of happiness and golf.
Cinco De Mayo
I’d also like to mention a happy birthday to my long time friend and bass player in my old rock band, Johnny.
Finally, the inspiration for this post and many others in the nearly 10 years of golf blogging here comes from my old pal Rich, also known as Eat Golf.
Hats off, cigars puffing, and frosty beverage raised in the air!
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