The River Island Golf Course board of directors hopes to add nine holes to the Oconto Falls course within the next few years.
River Island is a nine-hole golf course, with the option of 18 holes if golfers use the alternative tee boxes and complete the course a second time.
In order to get the expansion project started, Kelvin Johnson, a member of the River Island board of directors, spoke to the City Council on June 9 about removing trees on the property to make way for fairways and greens.
The extra nine holes were part of the original plan for the golf course, which was established using land given to the city by the Wisconsin Michigan Power Company in 1940. The land was deeded with the restriction it be used only for recreational purposes. In 1960, the city gave the property, through a quit claim deed, to the River Island group, which is a nonprofit organization, to be used as a public golf course.
In comments after the meeting, Johnson said the additional nine holes will help attract visitors to Oconto Falls and provide youth golfers with nine holes for practice while adult golfers are playing.
“We’re trying to build our youth golf organization, and it’s pretty tough. We have limited space down there. We have leagues going on every night of the week, so this will open it up,” he said.
“It think it would definitely enhance the course itself,” Cindy Neta, River Island general manager, told the Times Herald.
Johnson said he hoped the expansion could be done in two to four years. Funding would be from a variety of sources. For example, the organization has stockholder members who might be interested in investing.
“For nonprofit organizations like us, there are grants out there we will try to get, and we’re always looking for donations,” he said.
Trucking equipment has already been offered by McDermid Trucking.
“It’ll be mainly volunteer work. I’ll be out there with a rake,” Johnson said.
Before the work begins, the City Council directed City Attorney Larry Jeske to review the deed restrictions and limits to tree removal.
Alderman Kevin Rusch asked whether mature trees on the golf course property might be removed and sold as valuable timber by the city before the trees become too old for harvest.
Jeske is scheduled to report back to the City Council on July 14.
