Mitchell Republic Midweek Update April 2 with Chase Kristensen and Luke Hagen

MITCHELL — There’s quite a bit of construction going on a Wild Oak Golf Course.

On Wednesday morning, workers were ripping out trees and renovating the new-look course as it changes ownership to Chase Kristensen, of Mitchell. A massive hole has been dug out of where the former driving range was located.

Kristensen, a former Dakota Wesleyan University golfer and Plankinton native, is set to have a ribbon cutting Friday with the Mitchell Chamber to celebrate taking over Mitchell’s privately owned course, located in the south-eastern part of the city.

There will be a community gathering following the ribbon cutting.

Kristensen says there already have been communications about having family events, college tournaments and high school state tournaments when the course gets back to 18 holes with its new layout.

What more could a golfer want than to own a course?

“I don’t think it’s anything anybody plans on doing, ‘Let’s own a golf course,'” he said. “But it’s an opportunity that we saw and we’re kind of excited to get this thing going back to a full 18 holes.”

Luke Hagen was promoted to editor of the Mitchell Republic in 2014. He has worked for the newspaper since 2008 and has covered sports, outdoors, education, features and breaking news. He can be reached at [email protected].