New management keeping green ‘green’
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RONAN – After nearly a quarter-century of being owned by an original group of investors who built it from the ground up, the Mission Mountain Golf Club has come under new ownership that hopes to restore the course so it can continue to serve loyal locals and create a more of a draw for southern traveling Canadians to stay in Lake County instead of pushing further south to Missoula.
Developers Mike Maddy and Dennis Duty say that keeping the golf course under operation could be a key part of the success of the new Red Lion Hotel. The duo has spent years planning the Ridgewater Development in Polson where the new hotel is being built.
“We really believe that the golf course is essential to the tourism in the valley,” Maddy, new owner of the course said. “Polson has a great golf course, one of the nicest in the state, but you can’t get people to drive in and golf at Polson (and stay). We want them to stay overnight.”
In the tourism shoulder season of April, May and June, Lake County has warmer weather than courses in Whitefish or Kalispell, meaning Canadians flock southward in droves to get their time on the green. But Maddy believes many of those southward bound cars will keep traveling Highway 93 after they hit the holes at Polson to a different course in Missoula if a closer Ronan option isn’t available.
“We thought it would be in our best interest to keep the course alive,” Maddy said. “We truly believe the viability of our market in Polson is tourism.”
Duty and Maddy started work at the course last fall, before they had even purchased the property.
“Our focus this year has been 100 percent about grass,” Maddy said.
The first person hired on the new team was Golf Superintendent Stein Anderson, who has kept the grass alive and thriving through the winter months.
“We want to keep the green green,” Duty said.
Ronan Golf Coach Matt Olson said the work Anderson has done “is impressive.”
“In the short time he’s been here, he’s done tremendous things,” Olson said. “It’s much better.”
Brian Grosswiler remains the Golf Pro at the club. Micki Grosswiler will manage a full bar while the restaurant, under the direction of Dakota Beeks, will feature American food. As time goes on, a fancier dinner might be available one night per week.
“We’re also looking into maybe having a wedding venue out there,” Maddy said. “The background is beautiful, the scenery is beautiful.”
Maddy and Duty have no intention of further developing the land around the course, though Duty was the mastermind behind the successful Mission Bay golf community development in Polson.
“This is meant to keep people buying locally,” Maddy said. “We don’t want people going north or south.”
As of April 1 the course will be fully open for play. Prices will stay the same, but patrons can expect to see new mowing equipment and irrigation infrastructure coming soon.
“We’re excited to get this thing back on track,” Duty said. “In the past it has been a beautiful golf course, and it just needs some tender, loving, care.”
