MITCHELL — Just over a year after new owner Chase Kristensen set out to take over the Wild Oak Golf Course, the new layout is already seeing significant transformation.
The course’s newly expanded 13-hole layout is now officially open, marking another milestone in the renovation project that began shortly after Kristensen purchased the course in April 2025. The redesign has expanded Wild Oak from its longtime nine-hole layout to 13 holes, with the remaining five holes expected to open within the next 30 to 40 days, completing the project’s transition into an 18-hole course.
For Kristensen, the project has never been about simply adding holes. It has been about creating a more playable course that can withstand the flooding issues that tested the previous layout for years.
“Stepping into this, we weren’t going to try and face that same issue. So we have tried to take a different approach and use ground that would not flood,” Kristensen said. “That was the first challenge of trying to figure out how it was all going to fit with the ground that we had, but now it’s all about getting it done and getting the grass to grow.”
The reconstruction required extensive dirt work across the property while using nearly every available inch of land. Once the new layout was established, crews installed an entirely new irrigation system, updated drainage throughout the course and constructed new greens and tee boxes. There are two brand-new par-3s that are already in use in the first five holes of the course, giving players a sample of the new construction early in their round.
“Once everything got shaped last spring, we put in all new irrigation and everything has been updated,” Kristensen said. “And the greens that had not been drain tiled in the previous nine holes all got torn up, and are all fresh drain tiled. Those are coming in nicely right now.”
The upgraded course now features greens that were built to United States Golf Association specifications designed to improve drainage and playing conditions, helping eliminate many of the weather-related issues that limited play on the old layout.
According to Kristensen, much of the heavy construction was completed over the past year, allowing the focus to shift toward establishing healthy grass throughout the course. The changes have already drawn positive reviews from golfers who have played the new layout. Kristensen said many players have enjoyed the course’s layout while appreciating the fresh look and new design elements.
The waterfall feature is pictured at Hole No. 8 on Wednesday, July 15, 2026 at Wild Oak Golf Course in Mitchell.
Chase Kristensen / Wild Oak Golf Course
Among the most talked-about additions is a waterfall installed in front of the new Hole No. 8, formerly Hole No. 5 on the original course, creating one of Wild Oak’s best features. The project continues to move forward beyond the opening of the first 13 holes, which are all currently located between East First Avenue and East Havens Avenue. The remaining five holes are between Firesteel Creek and East First Avenue in the section that included the course’s previous back nine.
Representatives from the USGA visited the course last week to begin measuring and rating the redesigned layout as official scorecards are prepared ahead of the course’s full 18-hole opening. For now, the course has a unique 4,096-yard, par-51 layout before the final five holes are finished.
While golfers can already experience much of the redesigned course, additional improvements remain ahead. Kristensen said the final five holes should be starting to move along within the next two to three weeks, bringing the course to its full 18-hole design within the planned 30 to 40-day window. Long-term plans also include constructing a new clubhouse, although Wild Oak expects to continue operating out of its current clubhouse for one more season before beginning that phase of the project.
The property will also continue to evolve with additional landscaping and water features. Nearly 200 trees have already been planted since construction began, with plans to add even more trees, ponds and other aesthetic improvements throughout the course.
The new Hole No. 11 is pictured on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at Wild Oak Golf Course in Mitchell.
Chase Kristensen / Wild Oak Golf Course
Kristensen said patience has been one of the biggest lessons throughout the process.
“I have just been learning to be patient, and know that everybody might not quite see your vision yet but just to stick with it,” Kristensen said. “I hope when it all gets done here, I think everybody will see our end vision and how it’s going to look.”
For Kristensen, a Plankinton native and former Dakota Wesleyan University golfer, the project carries personal significance. Having played Wild Oak for years and living adjacent to the property, he couldn’t stand by when he learned the course might close down.
“Once we heard it was going to close, I didn’t want that to happen,” Kristensen said. “We decided to take the project on and it has been a great experience so far.”
Wild Oak will celebrate its progress by hosting its Fairway Fest community celebration July 24-25. The free event will feature live music from Dustin Evans and the Good Times Band, raffles, 50/50 drawings, inflatables for children and access to the pool area, giving golfers and community members an opportunity to experience the renovated facility together. The event is open to the public.
While the final pieces of the renovation are still taking shape, the opening of the 13-hole layout offers golfers a first look at what Wild Oak hopes will become one of the region’s top public golf courses. With the remaining holes nearing completion and additional improvements already planned, Kristensen’s vision for the course is quickly becoming a reality.
“It is really starting to come together, and I just can’t wait for people to get out here and experience it when it is all finished,” he said.
Trey Houchin is a sports reporter for the Mitchell Republic. Trey graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 2025 with a bachelor’s degree in sports media and covers a wide variety of topics. A Missouri native, Houchin can be reached at thouchin@mitchellrepublic.com.