MITCHELL — Wild Oak Golf Course, a privately owned course in eastern Mitchell, is on its way to be sold.
Chase Kristensen, 32, of Mitchell, is the primary buyer of the 18-hole course that dates to the 1920s and sits along the Firesteel Creek. Wild Oak’s future was uncertain at the beginning of the year when owners, including the Backlund family, announced its closure due to the course “losing money on a continuing basis.”
A letter of intent to sell has been signed by Kristensen and the current owners. Kristensen emphasized the plan is to return the course to 18 holes.
“Hated to see it close down and go away,” Kristensen told the Mitchell Republic on Friday morning. “It’s very exciting. I don’t know how else to put it.”
Kristensen, a loan officer at Farmers and Merchants Bank in Plankinton and former Dakota Wesleyan University golfer, declined to share terms of the deal since negotiations are ongoing.
Negotiations between Kristensen and the Backlunds began in April. Wild Oak has been with the Backlund family for 28 years.
“We don’t have a done deal yet on this golf course thing,” said Dave Backlund Jr., co-owner and clubhouse manager. “We do have a letter of intent signed but there are a couple of other things that have to happen for us to get to a purchase agreement and then to get that signed.”
Mitchell City Councilman John Doescher is a former Wild Oak course manager and who lives alongside the course in its home owners association (HOA).
“I’m excited about it. I was the first to build a home out here,” Doescher said. “I don’t know all of the fine details, but both parties have signed the letter of intent.”
Doescher has been the secretary of the HOA since its inception. Prior to opening last year, the course sent a letter to the HOA stating its intention to close with the hope to sell to a new owner. HOA leadership was concerned about the course closing because it runs through the neighborhood and likely would hurt property values. Later, the course altered its plan and opened the front nine of its 18 holes for use.
Wild Oak is included in the GreatLife umbrella, which allows paying members to use any participating South Dakota golf courses and workout facilities for a single fee. Tom Walsh Sr., owner of GreatLife, has been a co-owner of Wild Oak Golf Course. It is unclear whether Wild Oak will continue to be under the GreatLife umbrella with its new ownership. A call to GreatLife’s corporate office went to voicemail and Kristensen declined to comment whether continuing the partnership with GreatLife is included in the deal.
The entrance sign to Wild Oak Gold Course on Monday, Jan 15, 2024, in Mitchell.
Adam Thury / Mitchell Republic
“Super excited, my wife (Shelby) and I, and I guess our goal is to return an 18-hole championship course to the Mitchell community,” Kristensen said. “Before springtime is our goal to get everything to fall into place. Be ready for opening in the spring.”
Kristensen said he has a three-phase plan to update the course over the next five years. The first phase is starting on the redesign to get the course back to 18 holes.
Doescher said there have been multiple meetings with the current owners and city leaders in hopes that the city would purchase the course. The city owns and operates Lakeview Golf Course.
“Definitely have a lot of time in the place,” Backlund Jr. said, “but it’s one of those deals that when you have to compete against the city and you lose money every year, it’s just a lose-lose deal.”
Wild Oak, which is available to the public, provides 6,902 yards of play, has its own driving range, a pro shop, restaurant/bar and a swimming pool. It expanded from nine holes to 18 in May 2004, when Doescher was managing it. A housing development that now includes 40 homes and 20 available lots was constructed around the expansion.
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 lhagen@mitchellrepublic.com.
