CORSICA, S.D. — A vision will become a reality on Friday night for those heading out to Dakota Trails Golf Course.
The nine-hole public golf course located on Corsica Lake is hosting a grand opening for its newly constructed clubhouse, a project that was discussed by the five-person board of directors for several years before moving forward with the plans back in September.
It became apparent the course was going to have to grow along with its membership, having more than doubled in size following the installation of real grass greens to replace the old turf greens in 2016. Seeing steady growth of rounds played and members over time necessitated the need for additional space at the course, which is located 8 miles east of Corsica and about 10 miles north of Armour.
“It was very tight quarters,” Dakota Trails secretary Mike Neugebauer said of the old clubhouse. “That was the space we were able to work with and we just overgrew that. It was something we had to do to accommodate all our members and we think it’s going to be a great asset to the surrounding communities.”
Neugebauer serves on the board alongside president Jay Spaans, vice president Rocky Nelson, director Brady Burns and treasurer Mike Plooster. While each board member has their own unique experience with the game of golf, each one is committed to bringing people together through the game.
“Golf is one of those sports that you can do from a very young age to a very old age,” Spaans said, “And it’s kind of a family-oriented deal. I see a lot of families golfing together and spending time together, and we added this clubhouse just to kind of enhance the experience.”
Visiting other places around the state to research designs for the venue, the new clubhouse features several large windows to create an open feel and give the illusion of still being outside with natural light filling the space. New televisions, an improved sound system and a longer bar to accommodate more people creates a sports bar feel.
Outside, the clubhouse is defined by an expanded patio on a rock base to distinguish its look from the old building and current cart shed, where community members can sit out there for a drink overlooking Corsica Lake and the No. 9 green when the round is finished.
The total project cost around $300,000, with much of the funding being raised through membership fundraisers. Initially hesitant to present the idea of a fundraiser to the Dakota Trails community given the high cost of the project, the board was surprised at their response.
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“Everybody that was at that meeting when we presented the fundraiser was overwhelmingly in favor of supporting the project,” Spaans said. “A lot of members were in favor, so it encouraged us as a board to move forward as well.”
At the center of the bar is a glass cutout displaying golf balls from each of the individual members who made donations towards the clubhouse, a reflection of the support everyone from the surrounding communities has for the course as it continues to grow.
The new space has allowed Dakota Trails to provide more flexibility than before regarding events, having hosted a junior varsity golf meet where they can accommodate all the golfers and is set to host a graduation party in the coming weeks.
Feeling a sense of completion with the clubhouse being the last piece towards a decade of upgrades, the board members want to continue seeing the course continue to grow into the next generation.
“This course is a place I can remember going golfing with my grandparents when I was in grade school,” Plooster said. “Seeing it go from turf greens to grass greens and being part of the clubhouse expansion has truly been a rewarding experience. Now, my kids are going out there golfing with their grandparents.”
The grand opening of the Dakota Trails clubhouse begins at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 2, with dinner, followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony at 7:30 p.m. A live music performance is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.
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