A RANGE WITH A VIEW
Way back, when the earth was young, when they had just barely named dirt, a great river ran through the Rogue Valley. It carved out a huge flat area and left a few hills on each side. That part of the valley is now known as the Agate Desert. A few years later, when they had invented the word homestead (1860’s), a number of hearty souls decided they wanted to live in and around the Agate Desert. A few more years later, the government invented the words artillery range (1940’s), and they decided they would use the Agate Desert for playing with guns, and things that go boom and make big holes. Still, even more years after that, Jim Cochran decided to build a golf course in that same area (1990).
Cochran is the designer, builder, and sole proprietor of Stone Ridge G.C., and he remains involved in every facet of the course. He can be seen early in the morning, and late in the evening applying his personal touch to the watering, raking traps, weeding flower beds, or whatever needs to be done. Stone Ridge opened in 1995, and in 1998, Golf Digest voted it, “Oregon’s #1 public course with green fees under $50.” The course provides breathtaking views on 18 different golf holes, each with its own character, and with four tees to choose from, it allows the average golfer a good time while providing a challenge to scratch players as well.
The yardage from the tips is a challenge at 6,738 yards, while the blue and white tees are 6,314 and 5,823 yards, respectively. Most players around a 10 handicap play from the whites. The Par 72 course shoots 35 on the front and 37 on the back. The front nine has one par 5. At 456 yards, #3 offers risk and reward opportunity. A well hit drive can put you out about 200-220. The dog-leg left allows you to shave off 10 to15 yards across the water to a narrow green for an “on in two” landing. Or, you can lay up (like we do that!).
Hole #4 is an innocent looking 412 yard par 4, but it is the number one handicap hole on the course. Two ponds guard the left side and unless you are down the middle, the mounds on the right can make a difficult, uphill lie, second shot.
The irrigation canal borders #5 on the left and woods flank the hole on the right. Down the middle is the goal, as always, and the fairways are fairly wide and accepting, but anything awry can add extra strokes.
Hole #6, another dog-leg left (90 degrees) is another risk and reward decision. If you decide to cut the corner, you need a solid 250 yard drive across the tall rough. If you hit the hit 250 yarder straight, the fairway turns into tall rough. Starting to see a pattern?
Signature hole #7 is an uphill Par 3. It’s guarded by a trap on the left and a waterfall and creek on the right. Aim below the hole on this green. It’s a treacherous downhill putt if you don’t.
Except for the blind shot, severe downhill, narrow landing area, woods on the left and right, couple trees in your way, #8 isn’t bad. Big hitters have been known to hit the green on their drive. Hint: Aim for the cream colored house on the horizon. It’s right in line with the green. The hole is cart path only, for safety sake (can you say steep?). Some say the Vortex runs through its green (see Laurel Hill article in February issue for more on the Vortex). Putts break the opposite of what you predict and what you think is an uphill putt runs out way more than you expect.
After a hot dog and a beverage at the turn, #10 is a long uphill par 5 at 451 yards. This is the beginning of a 3 hole climb to the top of the hill. The green is two-tiered and a fun putt from any level. Number 11 is an uphill blind shot on the drive, but it is here where you start to get a sense of the beauty of the course. From the tee box, you can see part of the original rock wall that was built in the 1860’s when the land was homesteaded. Number 12 tops the ridge and is guarded by the rock wall at the back of the green, thus the name “Stone Ridge.” The original homestead dwelling was at the top of #12 just beyond the stone fence.
Number 13 is where you get your money’s worth even if you’re having a bad game. From up top, the panorama of visual stimulation is breathtaking. You can see the Table Rocks, the layout of the golf course, and the Agate desert clear to White City. The town is named after Camp White, an army camp and training facility from the ’40’s. Soldiers from Camp White used the land for war games and artillery practice. And, you can see a green way down the hill. The 280 yard hole is steeper than a cow’s face and scary even to walk. Like #8, carts are not allowed on this Par 4. What is really fun is that even though it’s guarded by woods on the left, and woods and a creek on the right, you can potentially make this green in one shot. If you hit it just right, there is a slot between the cart path and the sand trap at the bottom of the hill that allows the ball to roll right to the green. Some can even make the green on the fly.
Interestingly, between #13 and #14 on the right side of the of the cart path, you can see remnants of cement “spider holes” (6′ deep fox holes) the army used during training in the 1940’s (wonder how many of their shots went in the woods).
Number 14 is another downhill shot from an elevated tee box. Club down one club on your second shot. You finally reach the bottom of the hill at the Par 5 446 yard #15. Again, risk and reward. There is a pond on the right on the approach. A slice here is NOT good.
When Mr. Cochran was digging out the ponds on #15 and #16, he says he found numerous mortar shells, bullets and grenades. Now the ponds are getting filled up with errant golf shots. It would be interesting to know if the number of golf shots in the ponds match the number of shots made when it was an artillery range. I’ve contributed my share.
Number 17, yet another elevated tee, is a 134 yard Par 3. I suggest you drop down two clubs so you don’t fly the green into the tall grass behind it. Did I mention that the course has lots of woods, water and tall grass?
Finally, #18 is a straightaway 459 yard, Par 5. Again, risk and reward (broken record here). If you can get to the 200 marker, you can make it in 2, but alas, Dry Creek runs right in front of the smallest green on the course.
When you get to the clubhouse, and you’ve had time to lick your wounds, and nurse your woes with a favorite beverage, you will look back on your round and want to come back for more. The course does make for a lot of “would’a, could’a, should’a’s” in the club house.
Realizing I may have made Stone Ridge sound like the course from “you know where”,the course can be forgiving, too. Fairly decent shots can be rewarded with a second shot on and a two putt. Par can be had at Stone Ridge, and no matter what you shoot, the course is fun and affordable (under $50!), the history is interesting, and the views are fantastic.
By Cliff Cowley
Cliff Cowley lives and works in Southern Oregon. When he is not on the golf course, he teaches English at a local middle school in Medford. He runs a writers’ group for young writers, and puts on a young writers’ camp, sponsored by the Oregon Writing Project and Southern Oregon University.How to Get There
I-5 Exit 30, Crater Lake Hwy./Hwy. 62 East to White City. Turn right (east) on Hwy. 140. Course is 3 miles on the right (you can see hole #16 from the highway). Turn right on East Antelope Road. You can’t miss it!
Places to Stay
Medford Oaks RV Resort is just a few miles east of the course at 7049 Hwy. 140. They gladly accept overnighters and offer complete facilities including laundry, pull through sites, Wi-Fi, pool, even a fishing pond. 541-826-5103
The La Quinta Inn and Suites offers a Stay-N-Play package for $99.99 which includes a 2 room suite for one night’s stay and one round of golf with a cart. Suites have a King size bed and a Queen sofa sleeper. Additional vouchers for rounds of golf can be purchased for $30.00/person. La Quinta is located on 2020 Leigh Way, White City, on the corner of Hwy’s. 62 and 140. 541- 826-0800 or 1-800-753-3757.
While You’re There
The clubhouse features a deli where you can purchase your favorite beverage and custom prepared sandwiches. With a fully stocked pro-shop, head pro Scott Lusk, can provide you with new clubs, clothes, and lessons. With over 30 years of experience, he is well known for his ability to teach the beginner, as well as providing needed “tune-ups” for the frequent player. Outside the club house, there are two large putting greens and a driving range with real grass tee boxes.
