Over the past few weeks, we have had several groups come out to shoot the course, all of which have said, the conditions have been perfect for a great afternoon with the friends.

Typically throughout the summer months you have to deal with the heat and a little dust, not so in December.  The temperatures at Whites Valley for December have averaged around 40 for highs and 20′s for night time lows.  If you are looking to practice in winter conditions now is the time to come out.

The goal will be to keep shooting until we can no longer take the Rangers from station to station.  Looking at the long range forecast this could very well put us into the end of January.  If you have any questions on reservations please give us a call.  Winter shooting brings a whole new challange if you are willing to brave the elements.

The opening day of the hunt was Saturday, September 17, 2011. My husband and I are from Logan so we had to make the seven and a half hour drive to a town called WaWa. It is just an hour west of Beaver, Utah. We arrived to the cabin at 10:30 p.m. to find that two of my brothers and their families showed up as well as my parents to enjoy the hunting experience with my sister Tausha (who also had a pronghorn tag) and me. For me, the best part was being with my brothers and husband to enjoy the outdoors and the nervous excitement of hunting.

My brother Scott told Tausha and me that we had to be up and ready by 6:00 a.m. Well after sitting in the kitchen for an hour waiting for him and my other brother John to wake up, we went off on the hunt. Tyson, my husband, and I went with John in one direction, while Tausha and her husband Steve went with Scott and Dad in another.

We drove around the property on dirt roads looking for the antelope. After the first hour we spotted them a mile away, but at the angle we were at, we would have to crawl the whole mile. Instead we drove around so we could come at them from a different angle. We parked the truck and I had the gun strapped around my shoulder while John had the spotting scope and Tyson binoculars. We were lucky that the wind was blowing towards us and away from the antelope, making us positive they wouldn’t catch our sent. We walked briskly for about ¼ of a mile and then we were coming up a little hill where if we were to stand up fully the antelope would be able to see the tops of our heads. John told us that we had to crouch as we walked towards them. After we crouched for 600 yards my thighs were burning. Just when I thought John was going to tell us we could start to walk again, he got down on his hands and knees and started to crawl! I couldn’t believe he was literally crawling through gravel, sage brush and pricklies. I figured I had no other choice so I too got on my hands and knees holding in the cries of pain I wanted to let out as we crawled another 400 yards. Then John stopped me and motioned for me to come look through the binoculars. There, just 405 yards away was a herd of antelope with one pronghorn.

John quickly set up the spotting scope so I could use it as a shooting stand, resting the stock of my gun on it. John told me to quickly get the antelope in my vision and shoot when I was ready. Frantically, I tried to find the antelope in my scope, but I was shaking so much that I couldn’t see it. Just when I got it in my vision, ready to shoot, something spooked the antelope and they started to run away. Keeping my gun on the pronghorn as it ran I asked John if I should still shoot. He told me to wait until they stopped. Just then John sat up and started to make a loud kissing sound. That stopped the antelope. The pronghorn was almost facing me straight on, but he turned slightly enough I figured I could still reach the broadside of his body. John said, “Shoot it Kay Babe.” Just then I realized I didn’t have ear protection on and that the loudness of the gun might hurt my ears. I said, “John, what about my ears?” He replied, “I don’t care about your ears, just shoot it NOW!!!” I took a deep breath and pulled the trigger. I heard John say, “You hit it Kay Babe, now shoot again!”

I looked in the scope to see the wounded pronghorn limping towards us. I had shot just under its belly and broke its back hip. Now tears were welling in my eyes and I felt terrible that I put this animal in so much pain. Everything in my scope was blurry because of the tears. I told John I couldn’t see anything because I was so sad. He said, “Okay Kayla, I know you are sad, but pull yourself together and shoot it!” I tried my hardest to aim and pulled the trigger hoping I would put it out of its misery. I missed it completely. John said, “Throw another one in and try again.” I used all my energy to pull myself together and shot it again. This time I hit it in the top of the back, killing it instantly and dropping it to the ground. John and Tyson were so excited giving me high fives. I didn’t know what to feel. I felt horrible that I had just killed an animal, but happy to share a fun experience with my family.

We spent the next hour and half looking for the antelope in the thick alfalfa. Once we found it we noticed that one of the horns has been chipped. Had the horn not been chipped it would have scored a 73 to 75, just 5 points below a record pronghorn. That’s okay though, it was quite an adventure.

The second place team consisted of, Kevin Norman, Mike Norman, Landon Gines, Sara Gines.

The third place team includes, Tim Wayment, Bill Doutre, Dusty Harbertson, Doug Harbertson.

For the first time ever the tournament featured a four man scramble allowing the team to use the best score per hole to count toward the team score.  The day started with a shotgun style start with intense competition throughout all nine holes of play.

“We saw several great teams shoot the course today,” said Stuart Petersen of Spirit Ridge, “the morning conditions were pretty ideal for straight shooting, but by 10AM the winds kicked up causing the longer shots to drift a bit”.

The Spirit Ridge Staff decided to run a scramble style format to give this tournament a little different perspective.  ”By doing a four man scramble the team was able to use the best score from the team to count towards the teams score for the particular hole,” said Aaron Doolin, “it also enable a little more equality building in a natural handicap for the teams.”

Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is definitely a unique shooting experience.  It is the only Gun Golf Course of it type in the entire world.  It is the best of the outdoors all wrapped up on a 10,000 acre facility giving the outdoorsman all of the elements you would anticipate on a real excursion.

We want to thank all of the teams that came out to compete in the African Safari.  We hope to see you all come out for the other featured events we have scheduled throughout the rest of the 2011 Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf season.

New Driving Range

The driving range will feature a 100, 200 and 300 yard traditional style target allowing shooters to put the grouping on paper.  Once you find your mark the driving range will feature our steel style gongs placed up the canyon with targets ranging from 400 to 1000 yards.  The the longer range targets will be our traditional spinner style systems giving the shooter an instance report of the hit.

The driving range is just south of our club house proving easy access.  It is tucked in one of our sage brush covered slot canyons.  Shooters will enjoy the solitude and scenery in addition to the shooting.  In typical Spirit Ridge fashion the driving range shooting station provides the shooter a cement pad as well as a covered shelter for those not shooting.  The station will have a couple shooting benches as well as chairs.

To access the driving range we offer a couple options.  The best and most economic way to enjoy the shooting range is to purchase a single person Driving Range Membership.  The membership will cost $50 and is good for one calendar year.  If you choose not to purchase the annual pass we will be charging $20 an hour per person.  You will need to call in advance to schedule time at the range.  The range will be reserved on a first come first serve basis.

Over the next 30 days we will be setting up additional targets to really bring the range up to full capacity.  We encourage our

Look down range.

shooters to take some time to come on out and check things out.  Thank you for your continued support of the new sport we call Gun Golf!

Spirit Ridge kicked off this season with our invitation-only Top Gun Tournament, featuring 50 of our most-skilled gunmen from last seasons shooters in both the Masters and Classics division. In order to receive an invitation to shoot in the event, shooters must post at least two qualifying scores throughout the regular season. If their score is one of the top 25 within their division, they are given the opportunity to compete in the tournament with a chance to earn a name on the course as well as some serious swag.

Starting bright and early, the masters took to the course making their way around the mountain from hole to hole. They have the opportunity to shoot an Eagle (hole in one), a Birdie (second shot), or if they missed both of those shots, they come to a closer hole and shoot for Par.

After shooting three eagles at station three, Rich Reeder commented on how his first round went, “I feel jittery,” he said, after doing a little dance. Thus the effect rifle golf has on some if the greatest marksmen. It strikes excitement in the hearts of men.

When asked how he thought he was doing, Dave Atkinson said, “You know I’m out of the running, but I’m having a good time and that’s all that matters.”
It may be a competition, but winning isn’t everything, its about the camaraderie that passes through each gunmen as they help one another to shoot their best.

The experience Rifle Golf provides is unique and lifelike. Looking through the scope of a gun and spotting the target brings a feeling of pure exhilaration. Tom Christensen, ace spotter, regrets not getting the chance to shoot the course. “I did a great job spotting, but it’s nothing like pulling the trigger. I’ll definitely be out here to shoot the course as soon as I can.”

The new facility improvements turned out to be a big hit for returning riflemen. Clark Carlisle said, “It’s nice to ride up to each station and not have the dirt blow back in your face.”

The settled gravel was a big improvement compared to the loose dirt, providing a more pleasant experience for this season.

As for the first place winners, both winning for the second year in a row, Eric Murray of the Masters division with a total score of 22, and Clark Moss of the Classics division with a total score of 17. Each won a custom built rifle, courtesy of Brad Stair from Cross Canyon Fire Arms, in any caliber of their choice up to .30 caliber. Each rifle is at price value of $3,800.00. A special thanks goes out to Cross Canyon Fire Arms for donating two incredible pieces of art. Not only did they win incredible prizes, but they have earned themselves bragging rights as this seasons top gunmen.

There were many opportunities to win prizes, money, and a name for yourself at Top Gun through a raffle system, putting money into a cash pot, as well as shooting to be in the thousand yard club. Many went home with amazing prizes not to mention a story to tell. A big thanks goes out to all that participated and we can’t wait to see you out on the course again this season.

Masters Division:

1st -Eric Murray
Score: 22
Shots: 16
Hit “Unique Shot” on 1st station for -1 off score

2nd – Josh Williams
Score – 22
Shots – 17
Hit “Off Hand Shot” on Hole in One station for -1 off score

3rd – Tyler Schoffield, Rich Reeder, Joel Peterson
Score – 26
Shots – 19


Classic Winners:

1st – Clark Moss
Score: 17
Shots: 14
Hit “Off Hand Shot” on Hole in One station for -1 off score
Hit “Unique Shot” on 1st station for -1 off score

2nd – James Christensen
Score: 20
Shots: 14

3rd – Dan Rast
Score: 20
Shots: 16
Hit “1000 yd Shot” on Hole in One station for -3 off score

1000 yd Club @ Top Gun:

• Leo Williams – Classic
• Jared Garn – Classic
• Dan Rast – Classic
• Craig Bingham – Masters
• Jake Page – Masters

Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is Getting a Facelift

This past month has been packed with action for Spirit Ridge. Not with tournaments per se, but with virtual recognition from national media personnel and putting final touches on all improvements.

Upcoming Events:

Tournaments start this month, with two tournaments in the month of July! The Top Gun Tournament (invitation only) is July 9 for last year’s top Classic and Master shooters. Vortex Extreme Tournament (invitation only) is July 16 bringing the outdoor industry leaders to compete covering the course on foot and timed.
Two new tournaments have been in fruition. One is a Predator’s Only Tournament and the African Safari. More news to come on the specifics of these tournaments.
As well as a Women’s Only Tournament. Stay tuned to find out more information. For a list of all the tournaments this season please visit our website www.spiritridgeriflegolf.com

POMA Day

Because POMA’s annual conference is being held in Ogden, UT this year, SRRG decided to hold a media day out the course. This media day will be Aug 10 and involve any and all media members. Each media member that chooses to come out to the course will be given a first hand walk through of the game and the course. Thus, providing them with the first hand experience to then be able to continue to write featured articles about the new and exciting game of Gun Golf.

New Website Launch

Speaking of websites, a new development in Spirit Ridge’s website is in progress. SRRG 2.0 will launch by July 15 giving a more user-friendly experience with substance. Some perks to the newly developed site will be a leader board to highlight top shooters, an online store to purchase SRRG apparel, a convenient capability to book your tee time online, a community forums for viewers to post rifle golf comments and all the information you need to answer any questions.

IMPORTANT Safety Updates

As the sport becomes more accepted by the general public, we have made the decision that ALL shooters will need to wear eye and ear protection at all times while at the shooting stations. We have also added a Certified Range Safety Master to the course, to help improve the safety of all participants. In an effort to keep the range a fun, yet safe environment guides and SRRG personnel will be on the look out for any safety violations. A simple reminder will be given when a safety rule is violated. Repeated breakage of safety rules may result in being asked to leave the course. We have had an enjoyable time over the past 5 years and want to continue to see safety excellence. As loyal participants please keep safety first while out on the course.

New Driving Range

Want a great way to dial things in before hitting the rifle golf course? Try out the newly developed driving range. Close to the club house, the driving range will give gunmen a chance to practice their skills before hitting the course. The range will distance anywhere from 1 to 500 yards giving time to warm up your skills. With the ability to set up targets as far as 1000 + yards. If you don’t have time to shoot a full round of rifle golf, the driving range can give you a “quick fix.”

Spirit Ridge is excited about this season’s new additions to its course. In order to create a better experience for all, we have incorporated gravel around all the shooting stations as well as a water truck to keep the dust from flying, high-definition target maps, four Polaris Ranger Crews, all making it easier to get around. We also have new and improved target systems.

The winter is finally over and it is time to get your gun, ammo, and four-wheeler ready, because Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is offering more tournaments, more prizes, and more customer accommodations. The first day of the year will start June 25, so call now to reserve a slot. 435-764-6980

Tournaments and Dates

TOP GUN TOURNAMENT (Invitation Only – July 9^th) - Our annual Top Gun Tournament is a great way to start the season. This is an invitation only event. Shooters were determined by posting two qualifying scores; we then took the average of those scores to determine the invite list. This year’s shooters will be competing for a custom made rifle from Cross Canyon Fire Arms. The contestants are definitely sharp shooters! The competition will feature two divisions, the classic and the masters. There will be a first, second and third place prize. Even if you are not one of the guys competing, this is a great event to come on out and watch. Hope to see you soon!

VORTEX EXTREME (Invitation Only – July 16^th) – For the first time, SRRG and Vortex are teaming up to present The Vortex Extreme shooting competition, bringing a new style of gun golf to Spirit Ridge. We have invited many outdoor industry leaders to send their top shooters to come and compete for the ultimate bragging rights. This tournament will challenge both endurance and marksmanship. Instead of riding an OHV to each station and taking time to set up each shot, contestants will have to travel the course on foot and will be timed on how fast they can cross the finish line. The teams will travel nearly seven miles, stopping at four different stations.

The general public is welcome to attend and witness this exhilarating tournament. The tournament starts at 6:00 a.m. and will continue throughout the day or until the last team finishes the race. There will be food and beverages to purchase. Come witness one of the most extreme events to hit the shooting industry!

OPEN INVITATION TOURNAMENTS – Beginning in August we will begin hosting Open Invitation Tournaments. Participation is on a first come first serve bases. Prizes for these tournaments include a variety of gear from Vortex, gift cards from Sportsman Warehouse and many other unique prizes. Don’t forget that in order to be eligible to compete in next year’s Top Gun Tournament you have to post two qualifying scores. The tournaments are a great way to get your scores on the board. You can also come out on non tournament days to post qualifying scores.

Tournament Dates:

o August 6^th – Predator Only (open invitation)

o August 13^th – African Safari (open invitation)

o September 10th – Buck Fever Tournament (open invitational)

o October 8^th - Spirit Ridge Classic (open invitational)

o November 12^th – Thanksgiving Special (open invitational)

Partnership Update and Recognition

We wanted to thank all of our partners who continue to support the vision of establishing the sport of Gun Golf. Without our sponsors we would not have the ability to continue to develop and evolve the sport. We would like to especially recognize Sportsman’s Warehouse, Vortex Optics, and Cross Canyon Fire Arms for their leadership and community goodwill. We would also like to recognize the partnership of Africa Sport Hunting Safari, which provided a full service African safari hunt to the winner of our African Safari Tournament, and yes we are doing it again this year! This year, we are pleased to announce our partnership with Sergeant Sniper Rests, they too will be adding to the value of SRRG tournaments.

Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is always looking for additional partners to help advance the sport. If your company is interested in teaming up with us in any way, please give us a call, we are open to new ideas and connections. Please call: 435-764-6980

Group Events:

The SRRG facility has been undergoing continuous improvements over the past year and now has new facilities to host large groups. These amenities include a club house, overnight camping, indoor plumbing, and showers. We also cater meals, taking all the stress off of you. From our facility you also have access to a world class pheasant club, sporting clays and 3D archery. Our operation is great for team-building exercises, family reunions, company retreats or a unique get-away to help improve customer relationships. We have customized packages to help meet all your group’s needs and give you the best price possible! Call us today to set up your personalized rifle golf event. Please call: 435-764-6980

Partnership with Box Elder County Tourism Board

As a business operating in Box Elder County, Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf is extremely grateful for the support and guidance we have received from the Box Elder County Tourism Board. The county strives diligently to help highlight business’s or attractions which draw visitors to the Northern border towns of Utah. Spirit Ridge Rifle Golf was fortunate enough to be one of the recipients of the Box Elder County Tourism Grant. This grant money will enable us to continue to improve all elements of our business. We are committed to developing the most realistic and advanced shooting facility in the world. Some improvements we hope to accomplish this year include; gravel around each station, water truck to spray the trails an improved website to offer online registration, book group events, real time weather updates, bragging board of tournament winners. We hope the improvements will continue to establish SRRG as a world class shooting destination. Thank you Box Elder County for your support!

The author of the article, Tom Austin, wrote, “After a short drive up Interstate-15, I soon found myself at Spirit Ridge overlooking an amazing, vivid, life-like, selection of black silhouette animal targets with bright white, highly visible gongs in lace of their vitals. The targets were nestled among hip-high Western sagebrush, choked with reddish-brown foxtail chess and green cheat-grass. Just like in practical hunting scenarios, some targets say level with the solid shooting benches as well as several uphill and downhill angles to factor into the shot. I shifted the Predator and other shooting paraphernalia from the Rhino to a shooting bench and began to shoot the course.”

Now check the article our yourself:

http://www.myvirtualpaper.com/doc/hunting_illustrated/hi49predators/2011030101/#36

For all you veterans of SRRG, let us know if you think Tom Austin accurately described what it is like shooting at SRRG. Just make your comments on this post.