Business has picked up at Lakeview Golf Course this summer.
Entering the peak golf season, the city-owned golf course is ahead of its marks from a year ago in terms of total revenue and rounds played.
Through the end of May, Lakeview saw a 10% increase in revenue compared to the same time in 2023, and a 20% spike from 2021, during the time the entire golf industry experienced gains as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic restricting other activities.
With the increase of business, the overall goal of creating a premiere 18-hole golfing destination for all to partake has come at a very opportune time.
“We strive to have good (course) conditions on a daily basis,” golf and cemetery superintendent Jason Gunnare said. “Starting with the greens, mowing all of the fairways, raking bunkers and everything else, we want to provide the best experience for all golfers, regardless of ability.”
Gunnare credits Lakeview’s grounds crew for keeping the course in playing shape, which has seen substantial growth since opening day on March 11. Through May, a total of 10,029 rounds were played, more than double the number (4,703) from 2022.
The course recently changed its tee sheet to eight-minute intervals to accommodate more people wanting to play, as 100 to 140 daily rounds are played during the week depending on the weather forecast, with weekend rounds totaling upward of 200.
A number of factors have contributed to the increased traffic of the course. Part of the growth came as a result of the situation at Wild Oak Golf Course in Mitchell, which only opened nine holes for play in 2024 after reversing the decision to close the course back in January.
Through speaking with clubhouse manager and head pro Eric Hieb, Gunnare noted the number of new golfers Lakeview has seen this season as the main reason for the growth the course has seen. Golfers have not only come from Mitchell and surrounding communities, but from as far south as Florida.
“A lot of it has been new faces and new people getting into golf for the first time or getting reintroduced to golf,” Gunnare said. “We’ve had people travel through town, and some make a point of coming from a distance just to play here.
“Eric up at the clubhouse keeps pretty good tabs of what’s going on there, and he says that there’s a lot of people he’s never seen before,” he added.
Through the various memberships offered by Lakeview and the Mitchell City Fun Pass, the golf course has reported 639 total members so far in 2024, up from last year’s count of 543. While single and couples memberships are on par from 2023, family memberships are up from 228 last season to 318 in 2024.
“Lakeview’s a very inviting place,” Gunnare said about the growth of family memberships. “Eric’s staff in the clubhouse does a very good job of greeting people and getting people set up and making the most effort to get as many people as possible onto the golf course.”
The current practice facilities offered at Lakeview include a 200-yard wide driving range and three practice greens for golfers to work on all facets of their game. As new faces and groups have taken in the welcoming atmosphere at the course this season, the golf itself has always been the priority.
“We’re here for golf,” Gunnare said. “That’s our main focus, and that’s what I think we do well. And people see and enjoy that.”
Lakeview is preparing to host both rounds of the annual Mitchell city golf tournament this year, scheduled for the July 13-14 weekend. Work will begin on Phase II of the planned eight-phase Lakeview master plan to improve the course on Monday, July 15, following completion of the city tournament.
Phase II of the renovation involves a reroute of the back-nine and construction of a new par-3 which will become the new No. 14 hole. The par-4 11th hole will be reconstructed with a new layout, and both existing No. 13 and No. 15 holes will have new tee boxes installed. The current par-3 No. 12 hole will be abandoned.
Gunnare said golfers can expect signs in the clubhouse and on the course directing cart traffic, along with construction areas roped off to all traffic. Temporary greens will also be set up in fairways in order to divert golfers away from the construction zones. Officials are hopeful the renovations will be finished by next summer.
“I’m hoping after all the construction is done by the end of August, we’ll actually have 18 full greens that people can play on,” Gunnare said. “That might be utilizing our nursery green to a point, but I think it will work out.”
