By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Dry Lake Brewing at the corner of Lakin and Main is always a busy place on Thursdays. This week, a few more people piled in for the Great Bend Recreation Commission's presentation on its new golf course. GBRC Director Chris Umphres said the big project began with a gift.
"Definitely a big shoutout to the friends of the Great Bend community," he said. "They donated the golf course to the Rec Center. We're able to now start work on getting funds to bring that to the community. Recreation is just such a big part of what we do as a rec commission. Now, these are some of the avenues we can provide to the community."
A question of any project of this magnitude is cost. Private funds and sponsorships will drive the construction and re-opening of the former Stone Ridge Golf Course on the northeast side of Great Bend. Daily fees and yearly membership dues will help keep the facility as a public facility starting in the spring of 2027.
"The capital campaign we're working on now is going to be privately funded, really a big push on this Giving Tuesday," Umphres said. "There are some matching funds that go into that. We definitely have to have private funding to get this going. We've said all along that the capital funds have to come privately, but the Rec Commission is in a very good place to be able to manage it and operate it once we're up and running."
Illinois-based Kemper Sports operates more than 200 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and resorts around the United States, including golf courses in Kansas. That organization will staff the new facility, which will likely include local employees. Architect firm Quitno Golf will help design and maintain the course at a professional playing level.
One of the biggest changes to the existing facility, which has sat vacant for the last three years, is the demolition of the current clubhouse and the construction of a new 3,500-4,500-square-foot clubhouse that will include a four to six pickleball courts, a kitchen, a dining lounge, and a pro shop.
"There's a lot of rust, there's a lot of animals in there," said Umphres. "There are a lot of roof leaks, mold, that kind of stuff. I think the best bang for the buck is to bring it down. The pro side of it is now we're able to build a clubhouse to suit the new needs and add pickleball. I think pickleball is kind of an underserved area. We join that with the golf community, and it could be a very nice place for everybody."
The golf course will remain an 18-hole course with some alterations of hole layouts and green locations. Front and back nine yardage will be more evenly distributed with the new layout, and some trees will be removed to widen the play areas. Cart paths will be available throughout the course. Green fees are expected to be competitive with other area courses.
Clean up of the existing facility will begin this winter with the demolition of the clubhouse and the removal of trees, weeds, and undesirable grass. A complete greens re-grassing and tee and fairway conditioning is planned for the summer and fall of 2026. Other course features like bunkers and the driving range will also be addressed. Limited play on the new course is expected to begin in the summer of 2027.