World-class golf course for Rome becoming a reality
January 8, 2014
January 8, 2014 Article in the Wisconsin Rapids Tribune
Written by Karen Madden/Daily Tribune Media
The sand, sand dunes and scrub brush on this former Plum Creek Timberland property in Rome is ideal for the links-style golf course planned by developers. / Photo courtesy Craig Haltom, Oliphant Golf
ROME — A 360-acre European-style golf course first proposed in 2011 is on its way to becoming a 1,500-acre multicourse reality.
In December, Mike Kaiser, who created Brandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon, purchased 1,500 acres of land owned by Plum Creek Timberlands, said Craig Haltom, a representative from Oliphant Golf, based in Madison. Oliphant will construct the golf course, which will be north of Badger Avenue and east of 15th Avenue in Rome.
Rome Town Chairman Phil McLaughlin said he met with Kaiser a few weeks ago to discuss plans for the golf course, which will be called Sand Valley. He got insight into the type of golf course planned for Rome and the type of people who go to them. “I would not be surprised to see famous people showing up to play the course,” McLaughlin said. Kaiser has selected golf course architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw to design the first course in the Rome project, Haltom said.
“These guys are the best of the best,” Haltom said.
Kaiser picked the architects from an extremely talented pool of candidates, Haltom said. Crenshaw is a two-time Masters champion.
“I think it’s safe to say this development, with Kaiser involved, is one of the most high-profile things that will happen in golf in the next few years,” Haltom said.
There isn’t a lot of development of new golf courses happening, and there are very few projects that have goals as ambitious as the project in Rome, Haltom said. The planned golf course could become one of the best in the world, he said. Kaiser reached out to people who told him they wanted to be involved in any new golf course projects he started, Haltom said. About 120 people have paid $50,000 each to be a “founder” in the golf course. Given the current economic climate, it was a good way to get part of the money for the project, Haltom said.
Work will begin in 2014 with clearing and some type of rough shaping, Haltom said. The people involved will be walking around the property a lot to determine exactly what is there and to determine the best way to lay out the holes “Until we get the trees down, we’re not sure which direction it takes,” Haltom said.
Construction on the first course should start in 2015. It likely will open for some type of preview play by the founders in 2016. In 2017, after the plantings are mature, it will open to the public. The schedule could change, Haltom said.
The course will be a links-style course, taking advantage of the sand, sand dunes and brush that already are on the property. It will be a golf course similar to those seen in Europe.
If the first course is successful, Kaiser will proceed with plans to build additional courses on the property, Haltom said.
The town feels Sand Valley is a perfect fit, said Jon Sonnenberg, Rome Highway and Public Works director. The town is built around recreation, and the golf course fits into that.
“It will make us a go-to destination for golf,” Sonnenberg said.
Sand Valley is big for Rome in more ways than one, McLaughlin said. It will serve notice to other recreational developers that Rome is a good place to locate.
“I’m trying to promote the idea to as many people who might listen that there’s a lot of land for sale to do those things,” McLaughlin said.
The new golf course fits in with the Wisconsin Trapshooting Association’s new facilities placed in Rome, McLaughlin said. The new course also will shine a light on the golf courses already existing in Rome. Since the links-style course is different from the current golf courses in the community, people will play on more than one course, McLaughlin said.