Investor Ben Davis lines up to drive off hole No. 1... or what will soon be hole No. 1 on the golf course planned east of Beaver Creek. Surveyors work in the background plotting a road through the development that will include an entertainment facility and 34 residential lots.
By Jolene Farley
An idea conceived one and one-half years ago is becoming a reality. A golf course near Beaver Creek will be open by next spring if things run according to plan, according to investors.
Construction work began Tuesday shortly after investors closed on an 86-acre parcel of land east of Beaver Creek purchased from Steve and Kathy Thurman.
Surveyors began plotting the road to a planned development of 34 lots available for home construction, a nine-hole golf course and an entertainment facility.
A limited liability corporation was created by investors Mike Blank, Rod Scholten, Ben Davis, Leonard Scholten and Dan Van Otterloo before beginning the project.
Financing wasn't the biggest hurdle for the project, Davis said. A development including several housing lots, a golf course and an entertainment facility needs extensive planning.
"No one has ever set something up like this in less than six months," he said.
Prairieland Development, a state entity formed to spur development in rural Minnesota, was instrumental in moving the project along.
"They worked with us on a business plan and discovering if there was a viable market (for the project)," said Davis. "They were instrumental in helping us."
Investors hope the road will be complete and the lots sectioned off and sold within the next two to three weeks.
Median price of the lots is $26,000 to $27,000, with higher end lots priced at $30,000 to $31,000. Least expensive lots are priced in the low 20s, according to Davis.
Some lots are already spoken for, even though the partners did not actively market them. Word of mouth is basically what sold them, Davis said.
Local contractors will be used for all construction, with the five partners acting as general contractors, according to Davis.
All construction companies involved met with the partners last week. "Everybody is in line and ready to roll," said Davis.
When asked how the partners came up with the idea of building a golf course, Van Otterloo said, "We love the sport and we spent so much time on different courses. We watched how they were developed, the tree placement and scenery."
This love of the game led to the idea that they themselves could build not only a golf course but a whole development.
Extra credit for the project becoming a reality should be given to Rod Scholten and Mike Blank, according to Davis. "They have really done a lot of the leg work," said Davis. "They are the golfers; we are the caddies."
Amenities in the entertainment facility, which may be open as soon as next spring, include a banquet hall seating about 300 people with a built-in stage area and a bar and restaurant seating 70 people.
The partners shy away from a sports bar atmosphere for the clubhouse. "It's going to be a community clubhouse. We want to make sure everyone is comfortable," Davis said.