MITCHELL — Wild Oak Golf Course will bring forward a different look and feel to local golfers upon its return to an 18-hole championship facility.
The new layout, scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2026, will feature nine new holes either carved out of the existing holes west of the current clubhouse, or built completely from scratch. It will also move away from links-style golf with the addition of trees in open spots throughout the area.
As owner Chase Kristensen explains, the layout came from only having limited room to work with upon completion of the sale of the course back in April.
Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic
“The design somewhat came from being essentially landlocked, so we only had so much ground we could work with to get 18 holes fit in,” Kristensen said, “But based on the new design, everybody’s been driving out here and saying, ‘It’s not going to play any easier.’ It’ll tend to be a pretty good challenge.”
The acquisition of the golf course only included the property west of Firesteel Creek to avoid the flooding issues that plagued the original back nine over the years, necessitating the redesign. As it stands, only five of the new 18 holes will be on the clubhouse side of the course, which has been split by East First Avenue since it expanded to 18 holes in 2004.
The design was inspired by courses being built on the east coast with only 12-hole layouts or shortening the length for players, particularly with families, to go out and play a quick round during the week without having to set aside a lot of time to get a full 18-hole round in.
Blake Durham / Mitchell Republic
“Back in the early 2000s, golf courses went longer, adding 500 and 600-yard par-5s and really gearing it towards the long hitter,” Kristensen said. “People on a Tuesday or Wednesday night want to be able to go and play 18 in 2 1/2 or three hours, and make it a thing where they don’t need a full Saturday to get 18 holes of golf in.”
The new 18-hole layout at Wild Oak will play as a par-70 measuring around 5,700 yards from the back tees, 1,000 yards less than the original layout. However, accuracy will be placed at a premium on the course with the addition of 65 trees planted and another mass tree plant scheduled in the coming weeks.
Hazards will be more pronounced, especially with the new par-4 hole along First Avenue, dubbed the “Lake hole” with water being placed in most golfers’ landing spots off the tee to the right of the teebox. The new par-5 hole on the eastern end of the course will feature Firesteel Creek along its right side.
Blake Durham / Mitchell Republic
While discussions are ongoing about how the course will be routed once other upgrades come to fruition in the future, such as a new clubhouse being built, the return of two 18-hole courses to Mitchell has Kristensen excited for what it could look like, bringing state and local golf tournaments into to the area alongside city-owned Lakeview Golf Course.
“We’re really hoping that we can get as many state golf tournaments lined up coming to Mitchell having both courses available,” Kristensen said. “We’re going to sit down and have some conversations about having some two-day tournaments that might involve both courses and are excited to work with (Lakeview) on the potential of us moving forward.”
Regarding current renovations, the installation of new irrigation systems on the course is on track to be completed by the end of the next week, with seeding of the areas to take place during August with the hope the weather cooperates in addition to the remaining new holes.
Wild Oak is also looking to get its new website online soon, along with posting updates and promoting events on the course’s social media pages, including a fairway festival on Friday, Sept. 5 that’ll feature live music, food trucks and activities for kids to participate, reinforcing Kristensen’s goal upon becoming the owner of the course.
“We’re just trying to create a family-friendly place for families to come out in Mitchell and have fun all week and all summer long,” Kristensen said. “Whether it be coming out to the pool or playing golf, it’s just creating an experience that people can enjoy without having to leave Mitchell and having it right here at home.”
Blake Durham is a Sports Reporter for the Mitchell Republic, having joined in October of 2023. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in December of 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in Communications. Durham can be found covering a variety of prep and collegiate sports in the area.
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