Dalhousie evolves into a private club

The metamorphosis of the area's newest golf course has continued as Dalhousie Golf Club recently made the transition from a semi-private facility to private. During its first two years of operation, Dalhousie, which opened in June of 2002, was available to public play for $60 a round during designated times. But the Gary Nicklaus-designed course, which was created with private status as an objective, officially closed its doors to the public on Feb. 1. The move came just a month after Golf Digest listed Dalhousie as one of the top 10 new private golf courses in the nation.

Nonmembers in the community may still play the course, but they must now be guests of members.

While closing its doors to the public, the club opened windows of opportunity to younger golfers, establishing a junior golf program, available to children of both members and nonmembers. Children ages 8-18 can purchase student memberships, which include instruction twice a week for 10 weeks, as well as use of the new practice facility, limited play on the course and competition. Student members can earn more playing privileges based on playing ability and knowledge of the rules. The program is $250 for children of nonmembers and $50 children of members.

The club has also been evolving in other areas. Still without a clubhouse, Dalhousie opened a downtown location for social use and dining. Plans were also formulated to build housing on the golf course premises in an effort to attract national members. Construction on that project is expected to begin as soon as weather permits.

Other courses in the area are experiencing change to lesser degrees. An ongoing semi-renovation is continuing at Kimbeland Country Club in Jackson. The course utilizes 20 holes, which allows for two holes to be shut down at any time without 18-hole play being interrupted. Club professional Jim Davey said no major design changes are planned for this year, but he said the course still has a long-range plan of re-routing the back nine, which would eliminate Nos. 11 and 13 in the current configuration.

Bent Creek rebounds

What could have been a disastrous year for Bent Creek Golf Course in Jackson ended on a positive note. The tornado that ripped through Jackson last spring crossed over the course and brought down trees on the property. The twister, which destroyed course-side homes, narrowly missed the clubhouse. After closing for a couple days following the storm, the course rebounded strongly and recorded an increase over its total rounds played in 2002.

The year left co-owner Mike Litzelfelner thankful and optimistic, with continued improvements to the course and services planned for 2004. The course will hold numerous tournaments this year, including the Joe Uhls Memorial on April 19 that will feature former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog as the guest speaker at a banquet that evening. The tournament, open to the public, will benefit the Southeast Missouri State University baseball program.

"We want to expand our services," Litzelfelner said. "We're trying to offer as many different things to as many different people as we can."

As part of that effort, Litzelfelner said the course has arranged for a launch angle monitor to be available on dates that will be announced. The monitor, using by touring pros, tests ball speed, spin rate and launch angle to best fit a golfer to the equipment that optimizes his or her swing.

"I don't know if anyone in the area has ever had one," Litzelfelner said. "It's just being offered through us. It's something I'm real curious to see myself."