The calendar may display January, but members of the Diamond Trail Golf Club (DTGC) in Lynnville already have their sights set on the upcoming golf season. And an exciting season it will be with big changes being made to the structure of playing at the golf course.
Ever since opening in 1997, the DTGC has been a members-only golf course. In 2019 and beyond, however, the DTGC will be open to the public – no membership required – in hopes of drawing more golfers to the course.
The DTGC Board of Directors proposed dropping the members-only rule to the DTGC members last fall, with changes made to the by-laws at the annual meeting on Saturday, Jan. 19, at 1st State Bank in Lynnville.
In a letter sent out to DTGC members prior to the meeting, the board of directors shared the biggest challenge the golf course has faced over the years is retaining members and recruiting new golfers, especially younger golfers. The DTGC is not alone in this as other area courses have battled that same trend.
In order to draw more people to the golf course and ensure the DTGC prospers for many generations to come, the following changes will take place at the golf course in 2019:
1. The 10-mile playing radius restriction will be eliminated. In the past, people living within a 10-mile radius of the course could only golf if they had a membership share, or if a share-holding member reassigned their playing privilege to that person. At the DTGC’s inception, that was the way the majority of small-town courses were set up.
Dropping that restriction in 2019 will allow anyone (member or non-member) to play at the course as desired with three options: Daily pay and play, annual pass, or membership holding pass. The difference in the latter two options is those with a membership holding pass have voting rights, can run for the DTGC Board, and have an equity stake in the course.
2. Categorized pricing will be added. Offering tailored pricing to groups such as students and younger players/families encourages involvement in the DTGC among these age groups. Membership options for 2019 include junior (under age 23), 35 and under single player, 35 and under family, single, and family.
3. Leagues and tournaments will be open to the public. Members and non-members can play in leagues and tournaments for a separate fee. This will hopefully increase participation and enjoyment in the DTGC leagues and tournaments.
4. A monthly payment option will be added. Many golfers don’t enjoy receiving their full dues bill in the middle of February when it’s too cold play. So, the DTGC has partnered with 1st State Bank to give golfers the opportunity to pay monthly for their annual dues and cart lease. This option decreases the financial stress of paying the annual dues by allowing them to be automatically paid on a monthly basis. The payment cycle for each year will be Feb. 15-Jan. 15.
5. The cart lease policy will be amended. With this change, golfers will be able to purchase either a “single” or “family” cart lease for the season.
The DTGC is a quaint, nine-hole golf course tucked into the rolling hills of Lynnville. It features a course-wide, 100-percent paved cart path, large greens, varying types of terrain, a driving range, and paved parking.
Anyone wanting to purchase a pass for 2019 or ask questions about the changes at the DTGC may call the clubhouse at 641-527-2600 or contact a member of the DTGC Board. They are Brad Zegers, Stan Vander Weerdt, Vickie Nikkel, Mike Terpstra, Tim Zylstra, Kent Baarda, and Nick Beyer.
On behalf of the DTGC Board, Beyer encourages community members – especially non-members – to “come give the DTGC a try because it’s a great opportunity to socialize in our community, and it’s a fun and well-cared for course.”
