SOUTH HEART, N.D. — Pheasant Country Golf Course in South Heart will remain closed for the 2022 season as the course undergoes significant changes.
In a letter sent out to its members earlier this week, the course detailed their plans to revamp and improve course conditions with the vision focused on opening back up in 2023.
A number of changes are in place to improve course conditions. Winter conditions in North Dakota can make it difficult to maintain fairways, greens and other course architecture.
The conditions of the course had gotten worse over the last year, which prompted them to pull the trigger on the renovations.
Pheasant Country Golf Course General Manager Kirby Robb said they considered keeping nine holes open while working on the other half of the course, but ultimately decided to work on the entire course in one summer so they can open up entirely once construction is over.
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All members who purchased season passes are able to get refunds. But Robb said some members aren’t requesting refunds, instead allowing the course to use that money towards restoration efforts.
The big changes include replacing their irrigation system and pump station, which will cover more ground and operate at a higher efficiency.
The entire course will be reseeded and the cart paths will be resurfaced. Other construction will include expanding the water hazard on hole 11 and adding bunkers around the course.
Golf courses have certain life expectancies and sometimes need large changes like this. According to the American Society of Golf Course Architects, greens can have life spans between 15 and 30 years. Irrigation systems can last between 10 to 30 years and pump stations 15 to 20.
Pheasant Country Golf Course opened as a nine hole course in 1996 and went up to 18 the following year.
Some parts of what Pheasant Country Golf Course has to offer will remain open. The pro shop will be open during regular business hours, as will the driving range. Youth clinics and summer golf simulator leagues will also go on during the 2022 season.
Robb said they aren’t fully closing the door on play in 2022, stating if they finish the renovations by the fall they could reopen this year. But a 2023 opening is more likely and will be excited to welcome back members and residents of southwest North Dakota to the course.
