Jaycee Municipal prepares to unveil new look

Nearly a year has passed since the last shot was fired at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

The mandatory cease-fire is nearing an end.

The course, which has been shut down for 11 months due to a $1 million renovation, will reopen for play June 11.

The reopening falls on a Friday, and the public will be able make tee times from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. the preceding Monday, June 7. The first available tee time will be 7 a.m.

"I think people are going to be pleased with it," Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation director Dan Muser said. "It's going to be a lot different course than what they played there the last time."

Muser said a series of events will mark the reopening of the course, including a ribbon cutting Thursday at noon.

The public will be able to get its first look at the course June 7 and 8 in a nonplaying preview. At the preview, people will be able to walk the course from 3 to 6 p.m. both days. The course also can be previewed by cart at a cost of $3.

"We didn't want to do a play preview, but people can get out and see," Muser said, stressing the first day for play will be the following week.

A grand reopening will be June 23. Muser said that event still is in the planning stages but likely will include some give-aways, hole contests and reduced cart prices.

"I think people are just going to be happy, though, just having it open," Muser said.

Patrons will find two major changes in the course. The facility now sports all-new bent grass greens after Oliphant Golf Inc. of Scottsdale, Ariz., was contracted to replace the previous Bermuda grass greens and install a high-tech water irrigation system for the entire course.

The putting surfaces will be 50 percent larger on average with increased undulation, ranging from subtle to tiers.

The second major change was the rerouting of five holes, Nos. 11 through 15, on the back nine. The rerouted holes traverse the same tract of land but with greens in new locations.

Muser noted the five new fairways were sprigged in late summer with Bermuda, which is a warm-weather grass.

"The five holes we re-aligned, obviously they've got probably two summers to really grow in well," Muser said. "They'll look pretty good by the end of the summer."

Muser said the rest of the course is thriving without the pressure of play.

"The greens really look good," Muser said.

The course has basically been in a growing and maturing phase since the completiton of green reconstruction in mid-September.

Green fees will be $16 on weekdays and $18 on weekends. Cart rentals will be $12 per person for 18 holes.

Tee times can be booked at 339-6340.