The Retreat & Links at Silvies Valley Ranch - McVeigh's Gauntlet Course

McVeigh's Gauntlet is named (the gauntlet part anyway) is named after the challenge of shooting par and getting a t-shirt (and drink... and maybe something else I can't recall)... but it could also be used to describe the golf on many of the holes (not to mention the hike).

That said, I really enjoyed making my way up down and around this little hilly course. The challenge (I found it to be the most difficult golf of all the courses on the property) was both welcome and fun.

As noted in a previous review... a few of the 7 holes are pretty much "hit the green, or go searching for a ball" situations. 1 (bottom of a hill to a hilltop) and 2 (hilltop to hilltop" are both like this, followed by #3 which is a target golf par 4 that will tempt you to fire at the green 200 yards away (I took a whack at it with a spare ball and wasn't much worse of than on my errant second shot, so it's not a terrible strategy if you've got a fairly accurate 200 yard club, the target is pretty small though so emphasis on the accurate part of that).

It gets a bit easier and (relatively) more conventional after that, and, as a bonus after #3 there is a beer tree with a cooler stocked with free beer, tough to argue with that.

#6 is a fun hole, 244 downhill, I hit a 4i pin high (but way right so it was all the way at the bottom of the greenside hill. % is the most conventional hole out there, so enjoy it (and the reprieve) when you get to it.

the Gauntlet is where you can take one of the notorious goat caddies (but only in the morning and only if you request is ahead of time, so be sure to get on that if you want one... I missed that in the "fine print" and missed out on both counts). Honestly though, visiting the goats at the caddie shack was probably as much goat as I really wanted on my round, so it worked out fine for me.

Probably my least favorite part of the course was the bonus hole... too long and curvy to putt and to narrow with too small a "green" to really try to chip (which didn't stop me from playing it that way). But, hey, it's free golf so how bad can it be!

As I mentioned, it's challenging, and I didn't come close to the 23 needed to earn the gauntlet prizes (I shot 28). But it's a blast and might be the course I'd play the most on future visits (just as a night-cap for other rounds I played earlier in the day).

The service at Silvies is always top notch

I had the chance to play McVeigh 7 hole course. It may be the only 7 hole course in the world!?

Lets get the cost out of the way. NO way is it worth what they are asking for a greens fee, but it is so unique I had to try it. I did not use the goats, but certainly a good gimick.

Holes 1 and 2 are borderline unfair, they are similar to those crazy fake golf calander pictures. Either you hit the green from the tee, or you keep trying until you do (no where to drop). The course is on a massive ridge and exposed to heavy winds, but endless views!

Time will tell if this is a hit, but it is a good solid 7 hole exec course. Golfers like the punishment, and this course gives you pleanty.