Build Golf Mason County
Mason County Democrat March 27, 2024
Speakers on both sides do their best to sway council
Speaking to the Havana City Council on the topic of expanding the number of liquor licenses in March of 2024, Megan Wilson-Friedrich stated
“As much as I love Havana, we’re never going to be another Grafton. We don’t have the natural resources around us and we don’t have enough population to sustain everything we bring in,”
Someone needed to say it.
We don’t have the natural resources that attract tourists to Grafton and the population of Mason County declined by 1,580 from 2010 to 2020.
Although many may be skeptical, the truth is Mason County does possess an underutilized asset.
Sand, or more specifically, dunes consisting of Plainfield sand.
Sand and Golf
“What the Karoo does have is sand, and for golf architects and developers, that’s like sticking a shovel into the ground and striking gold.”
“With sand, they will surely build it -- and golfers will travel to get there”
Sand based courses are less expensive to build, allow for superior drainage, and enable more creative, natural-looking features.
The end product is cheaper to maintain while providing firm and fast playing conditions.
Sand is essential though it is not sufficient on its own.
You also need compelling topography, a tranquil setting, and diverse, native vegetation.
A few sites in Mason County have the necessary ingredients.
Golf in Rural Areas
Wild Horse Golf Club Gothenburg, NE
This rural farming community has a population of 3,447. Local farmers donated their time and machinery to help keep construction costs low.
“After the Sand Hills GC opened and was quickly recognized by golf course architecture conoscenti as one of America’s greatest new courses, a group of people in the little town of Gothenburg, NE formed a community effort and desired to build a course of similar characteristics of their own. Through a State resident only share offering and golf course lot sales effort, the very modest sum of approximately 1.6 million dollars was raised to buy the land and build a minimalist prairie links style golf course.”
"The secret has certainly gotten out. Last year, officials say 41 states and 11 countries came to Gothenburg to play Wild Horse G.C."
Sand Valley Golf Resort Adams County, WI
A 2 1/2-to-4-hour drive from major metros, A walking only resort with a peak rate of $325. The site was formerly a pine plantation on Plainfield sand. Our very own Sand Ridge State Forrest is a pine plantation on Plainfield sand.
“We had brilliant architects and lots of sand, and we were thrilled to see what reemerged out of the dormant sea bank is just as inspiring and beautiful, in its own way, as an ocean,” Michael says. “People who have spent their whole lives in Wisconsin get here and say, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this before.’ Or people come from out of state and say, ‘This isn’t what I expected to see in Wisconsin.’ It’s such a unique landscape— sand, prairie, savannah, golf—that’s the key difference.”
"If you look at per capita, tourism spending here is about $10,000 per county resident," Krug said. "We've got a very small county, 20-thousand people, and we've got five times that number of people just coming to visit Sand Valley itself." "On average, they usually employ about 600, 650 people per summer," Krug said.
Links
“Feature interview with George Waters” https://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/feature-interview-with-george-waters/
“Soil, topography and setting” https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php?topic=3512.0
“What's More Important, the Topography or Soil?” https://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,34015.0.html
“What the Karoo does have is sand, and for golf architects and developers, that’s like sticking a shovel into the ground and striking gold.” https://golfweek.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2024/01/15/cabot-world-player-open-citrus-farms-saint-lucia-point-hardy-new-courses/76362173007/
“With sand, they will surely build it -- and golfers will travel to get there” https://www.powerfades.com/features/1cea81cf-02e8-45b5-9ac5-420885c1e5be
Wild Horse Golf Club: “After the Sand Hills GC opened... a group of people in the little town of Gothenburg, NE formed a community effort” https://golfclubatlas.com/in-my-opinion/wildhorsegolf/
“The secret has certainly gotten out. Last year, officials say 41 states and 11 countries came to Gothenburg to play Wild Horse G.C.” https://www.golfpass.com/travel-advisor/galleries/the-secret-is-out-about-wild-horse-golf-club-in-gothenburg-nebraska
“Sand Valley: America’s Next Great Golf Resort” https://linksmagazine.com/sand-valley-americas-next-great-golf-resort/
“Sand Valley drives economic boom... 20-thousand people, and we've got five times that number of people just coming to visit” https://spectrumnews1.com/wi/milwaukee/in-focus/2022/06/30/in-focus--sand-valley-drives-economic-boom
Contact
buildgolfmasoncounty@gmail.com