Two Rivers Golf Club focusing on long game during flood recovery

DAKOTA DUNES, S.D. (KCAU) — With the amount of happy golfers seen on the golf course, it’s hard to believe that the Two Rivers Golf Club was inundated by the Big Sioux River last month.

“Whether we’re 9 holes, or we’re 18 holes, people are having a good time,” general manager Rodd Slater said.

A tragedy struck in June for the golf club when flood waters submerged 15 acres of club property.

“We’ve had our experience with a lot of floods over the years, but this one being six or seven feet higher than the record, it was a little bit different,” Slater said. “We have a couple holes that border the river. Our parking lot is right on the river. The clubhouse and our maintenance barn were right on the river, so those were inundated.”

But now that the cleanup is over, Two Rivers doesn’t plan on rushing the recovery process.

“We’re right in the middle of recovery and we’ve done what we needed to,” Slater said. “We have all the tools and commitment from our ownership to make it what it needs to be. But a little bit of it is Mother Nature now, and we can’t really rush it, so we’re watching our grass grow and it’s just going to take a little time.”

For now, club members are enjoying a 10-hole course.

“Everyone was very enthusiastic about the season, and it’s not what everyone pictured, but that’s kind of life and so we’re serving people with what we have,” Slater said.

“It was devastating,” club member Mick MEnage said. “I had a vantage point to look at Two Rivers here, and when it was flooded, the whole bottom half was just like a lake for Big Sioux. It’s really remarkable how it has come back.”

“I think it’s probably going to take until next year for it to fully come back, but it should be just as good, or better than ever,” club member Bob Montgomery said.

Despite the shortened course, Two Rivers is currently running at normal operating hours with a temporary clubhouse and the help of other nearby golf courses.

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