Progress being made at golf course clubhouse

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Progress continues on the clubhouse at the city-owned Woodland Hills Golf Course, formerly known as the Fort Scott Country Club.

Golf Course Advisory Board member Beth Nuss told Fort Scott Rotarians recently that the golf course is in "great shape," and that the efforts to make the clubhouse's quality comparable to the course are moving forward.

The site was originally a 100-acre farm. The house on the property, which is thought to have been built in 1912, has been added on to several times.

"That building was in poor shape," she said, when the city purchased the course in 2011. But with the help of Fort Scott Community College Construction Trades instructor Kim Coates and his students, that's changing.

"We want to make the clubhouse a good experience," Nuss said.

In a follow-up with the Tribune, Nuss said the projected final cost for the clubhouse is "a fluid situation as we go along. We compiled bids from local vendors prior to our initial start, as we wanted to make sure this was within our resources.

"With any building projects, many adjustments are made, but we have done well so far to stay within our vision.

"We started with insurance money from the clubhouse roof, $36,891; Golf Course Advisory Board, $10,000; Community Foundation, $2,000; and individual citizens, $5,500.

"The Golf Course Advisory Board donation came from money that was left over from the initial fund raising effort to help purchase the golf course. The funds left over are to go toward assisting with expenses related to the golf course," she said.

"We have said all along that we were shooting for $100,000. Although I am thinking we will do better than that, this would give us wiggle room if needed and any money left over would go to a new cart shed (for the 23 rental carts that are being housed there now).

"I have received an estimate of around $20,000 to pour the pad and to build a large metal building to house the carts.

"The city has not committed any funding to the clubhouse project. The old clubhouse was very inefficient to maintain from utilities to upkeep from the deterioration of the building."

Nuss told Rotarians that the board plans on doing some additional fundraising after the first of the year.

Coates and his students have been at work since late August.

Coates said the building project, expected to result in a 1,900-square foot area, was coming together.

"We're getting it winterized," he said.

Work has been ongoing in the kitchen and with the bathrooms.

Interior work will be done next semester and during the summer.

At present, Coates has six FSCC students taking part.

Coates himself did the plumbing and ductwork, with electrical work done by the students.

"We average about three hours a day, although some days, we're out there the entire time."

When finished, the new clubhouse will boast a large porch area and southwest and backside windows.

Coates said they've worked hard to purchase all the materials locally. He added he expects the city to save money on the utilities by switching to the new building.

It's been rewarding, he said of the experience.

Once the new building is complete, Nuss said she expects the old clubhouse will be torn down and the city will take bids for that project.

In response to a question from the audience, Nuss said the course now has 106 paying members and noted that, "it's amazing how the amount of play is increasing.

"We're proud of what we have. And having a new clubhouse will make this an even better golfing experience."