Dalhousie offers public its first look at new course next week

It doesn't take much to bring on a case of golf fever.

A nice day, watching the pros on TV, a postcard, golf-gadget infomercials, household chores. ...

What's it take to bring on an epidemic?

How about the opening of a championship golf course in town?

Symptoms should be rampant next week when the public opening of Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau takes place Tuesday. The 18-hole Gary Nicklaus designed course, which began construction two years ago, will open and let out the golf bug.

"It's really exciting," Dalhousie golf director Jack Connell said. "It's been fun to watch it all materialize. And it just keeps getting better."

The land off Bloomfield Road, 2.5 miles west of Interstate 55, has been transformed into a canvas for Nicklaus Design. The course neatly carves into the rolling countryside, leaving trees and water as aesthetic obstacles. From firsthand experience, it's definitely a piece of art that promises to only get better with time and maturity.

Connell said the creation has left many first-time viewers wide-eyed.

"The thing I've said from the start, most people don't realize how big a project or how great a facility this is going to be -- not only for golf, but for the community," Connell said.

The layout, which will eventually contain 27 holes, is a captivating creation even in its infant stage. Golfers will enjoy the journey through a layout that carries a Scottish scent with deep, grass-walled bunkers and heather rough. Many of the bent-grass tee boxes are elevated, giving a good view over the heather at the zoysia fairway, usually ample in width but requiring well-positioned shots for the best approach to angled greens.

The holes are memorable and capable of producing a warm feeling of achievement when a good score is carded.

Unique features are 67 fingered bunkers and a gargantuan 18th green that measures 90 yards deep and 17,000 square feet. Depending on hole position, it can play as a par 4 or par 5, making the course par 71 or 72.

With its design and length, which ranges from 5,299 to 7,242 yards, it's a course that could someday attract a professional event. Numerous greenside hills provide a good seat and could accommodate sizable galleries.

While Dalhousie is a gem in the making, its nature may change from public to private in the near future. Membership size will dictate when and if the course becomes private, and that could be as soon as Labor Day, Connell said.

The course rates to the public will be $55 (plus tax) on weekdays and $65 (plus tax) on weekends. Tee times can be made by calling 332-0818.

Ace falls at Kimbeland

Louis Spinner of Cape Girardeau carded his sixth career hole in one Monday at Kimbeland Country Club.

Spinner used a sand wedge to ace No. 4, a par 3 playing 134-yards. Witnesses to the shot were Jack Evans, Ed Hess and Nub Boswell.

Of his half-dozen aces, Spinner has carded four at Kimbeland.

Kimbeland C.C.

The bragging rights for winning the Kimbeland Ladies Guest Day Shamble will have to be shared.

The team of Barb Johnson and Martha Hamilton found itself tied with Lillian Schneider and Betty Belote at 67, one stroke ahead of two other tandems in championship flight. It was a day of sharing as six teams tied for first in "A" flight, four tied at the top of "B" flight and three tied in "C" flight.

Also, the Kimbeland women recently took possession of the SEMO Ladies Golf Tournament traveling trophies after winning the 11-club competition at Malden Country Club. The top four scores from each club accounted for the team score. Kimbeland, which won both the low net and low gross, had its top scores turned in by Johnson, Schneider, Sharon McCune and Peggy Fee.

Cape Girardeau C.C.

Brian Stevens and Mike Brown won the gross score competition by five strokes at the two-day Member-Guest Tournament held over the weekend.

The pair finished with a 133 total.

The overall net winners were Mike Kohlfeld and Kevin Cushing at 116.

Beth Mapes and Laura Raden tied for medalist at the Women's golf Association's weekly event, Sarah Cochrane placed first in play of the day -- "Low Putts for 18 Holes." Betty Price won the nine-hole competition.

Chip-A-Ways

Dee Johnson shot 39 on the front nine to place first in A flight at the Chip-A-Ways' competition at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Liz Grimes won "B" flight and Jean Graham captured the low-putt competition.

Chip-A-Ways member Joann Williams carded a hole in one in a two-lady scramble at Sikeston Country Club. Williams used a 7-wood to ace No. 6, a 129-yard par 3.