Newsletters

GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Happy May to everyone!  Since my last newsletter, golf was a big question mark, but since then golf courses have been able to open up and is great news for everyone!  I know everyone has been a little stir crazy hanging out at home!  Getting home projects done is great and productive but sometimes we all just need a break and have some fun.  That is where The Wilderness comes in!

Great news!  The Wilderness golf course and Grill will be opening Friday, May 8th.  The Wilderness Grill will be open for Take Out orders.  As it is most everywhere else, things will be a little different at The Wilderness.  Here are just a few things we have put in place to help keep everyone safe during this time.

1.Temperatures will be taken of all guests when arrive on property.  If you have a temperature over 100 degrees, guests will not be allowed on property and directed to see a health professional.    
2. Credit Cards will be the only form of payment accepted.  No Cash.It is highly recommended to pay for your round in advance over the phone.
3. Tee time reservations are required.  No walk in traffic. 
4. Please arrive promptly 30 minutes before your tee time to help with social distancing around the clubhouse and driving range.
5. Driving range and practice green will be open for playing guests only.
6. All guests must leave the facility upon completion of their round.
7. Wilderness staff will be wearing masks and gloves.  All touch points will be sanitized every hour including the restrooms.  Sanitizer stations will be located at each entrance for all to use.  

For a complete list of guidelines, please visit our website at www.golfthewilderness.com/news/blog.

With the limitations put upon us due to Covid 19, I am thankful that golf is an available outlet for everyone to get outside and enjoy a fun activity.  I look forward to seeing you at The Wilderness. Just know we are doing everything we can to insure your visit is a safe and memorable one.

Happy Golfing!

Ryan Peterson
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GOLF ​COURSE SUPERINTENDENT

Here we go, guys and gals!!! Flip those calendar pages to May, trade in your winter sweatpants and hoodie for khakis and polos...a little side stretch to the left then the right, and LET’S GO...it’s golf season.  May 8th, The Wilderness GC will be open for business, and while it’s been a busy few weeks here on the grounds crew, we couldn’t be more excited to have you out.  Now let’s take a second and talk course, Corona, and Crew.

Course…
    Now rumor has it, there was quite a bit of snow this winter...fortunately for us, that snow cover acted like a nice winter quilt and with all the fall precautions taken care of, the course came out of winter very well.  While the tees and greens look absolutely great, we had some varmint damage on the fairways.  We put out sand and seed to cover those areas. 

Other than that, it has been a very productive couple of weeks.  We pulled covers on the 16th…

Hole #10 Green above - Hole #17 Green below

and got our first mowing of the greens on April 23rd...fairways a few days after.

Hole #11 Green above - Hole #18 below (Lasers!!)

My grandfather used to tell me, “you make hay while the sun shines”...so with the beautiful weather we had, the crew got after it. First...

Hole #12 Tee

then we aerify...

Hole #11 Green

While we aren’t at mid-season form just yet...we are certainly on our way.  Here is to a beautiful May.   

While there is no one more excited to have golfers back than we are, don’t for a second think that Covid-19 isn’t on the forefront of our thoughts in setting up the golf course. Provisions will be made to minimize any contact, and we need your help to make it all work out.  The biggest thing you will notice is that there won’t be a single bunker rake on the entire course.  So it will be up to the golfers to pay-it-forward and give a little shoe rake of your stance and divot (assuming you hit behind the ball,  :)  There will be no ball washers on the course...make sure you put a little water on your towel before you get to the first tee.  There will be no trash cans on the course...so please, please keep your trash with you until you return to the clubhouse.  We will have foam in the cups to keep the ball from going to the bottom and the cup cutter will disinfect the flag every morning.  

Some good news, in talking to a few doctors, they assure me, that there is no chance of spreading Covid-19 while fixing ball marks on the greens.  (haha...a little ground crew humor...no, but really...ball marks, fair game) All joking aside, you can rest assured, that we are doing everything we can to make your visit a SAFE and enjoyable one.  

As I wrap up my monthly newsletters, I want to take a moment and recognize many of the workers that I have the distinct fortune of working with...this month is Howard Ankrum.

Howard has spent his whole life in Minnesota, married with three children, this retired building inspector started here in 2008.  Growing up on a farm, the big golf course equipment came easy to him.  Well, except for the time he tried to mow the rough with a fairway mower.  Asked what keeps him coming back, he said the crew.  He enjoys the friendships that he’s developed during the season, and loves meeting a few new faces year in and year out.  Howard is a volunteer firefighter and an avid hunter and fisherman (but isn’t everyone Up North).  If you see Howard, say thanks, not only for what he has done, but for what he still does.   

This brings us to the end of the page...I hope you have enjoyed, and maybe learned something new.  If you enjoy this type of thing...feel free to follow along in our summer journey to provide the best this course has to offer.  We have a new twitter page @WildernessGCM and our Blog ‘Between the Trees’.  As always, we look forward to seeing you on the 1st tee and keep it between the trees.  

Ryan VerNess

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DINING ROOM MANAGER

With all the changes being made lately, I am excited to say our opening date was not pushed back. May 8th we will open to the public! We are so lucky to be able to provide you with the opportunity to get outside while maintaining a safe distance. Due to COVID 19, some things had to be changed on our end to keep staff and our guests safe.
 
One of the changes made is opening the Wilderness Grill as take out only from 11:00AM- 6:00PM 7 days a week. This has been a big change for the Wilderness, since many of you have experienced the great standard of service provided while dining with us. We will still be here to greet you with a smile and provide your food and beverage needs. Golfers may order food and beverages before their round as well as pre-order for the turn. While out on the course you will only be able to place an order for food at the turn by calling in and paying over the phone with a credit card, unless you have prepaid at check in. Upon making the turn, staff will bring your order out to you as you are not allowed to re-enter the clubhouse after check in, except for the use of the restrooms. Beverage cart will continue to serve snacks and beverages on certain days but please stay 6ft from the cart.

Looking forward to having you soon!

Kendra Swanson

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WILDERNESS CHEF

 

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DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING