Changes are coming at the Kingfisher Golf Course.

It’s all for the good, local club pro Gary Wilson explains.

Work is under way to extend one hole, complete with a brand-new green, and rebuild the green on another.

The par-4 eighth hole is being extended by 50 to 60 yards, depending on pin location, with its new green, said Wilson.

The hole currently runs from south to north along the eastern edge of the front nine between Bowman Avenue and State Highway 33.

Passersby on S.H. 33 can see the construction of the new green.

Meanwhile, par-3 seventh hole is having its own work done.

A temporary green is in use as the full-time green is being rebuilt.

That hole runs west to east along Bowman Avenue.

Both new greens were designed by Mike Chambers, who also designed the putting green near the clubhouse.

Wilson, who has been manager of the course since 2009, said a goal of the Kingfisher Golf Association has been set to rebuild all the greens on the old side of the course (north of Bowman Avenue).

It will take place over several years so as not to impede use of the course by golf club members and visitors.

Wilson said the greens on the original portion of the 18-hole course were built in the 1960s when there was less attention paid to drainage.

He said when greens lack sufficient drainage (sand and gravel below the bent-grass green surface), they tend to become water-logged, especially in the summertime when they are watered heavily, and coarse grasses like poa annua can infest the greens and damage the putting surface.

It’s going to take several years to replace all the necessary greens, but it will provide a better course, Wilson said.

Several members of the golf club have been especially helpful in the work currently taking place, Wilson said.

Bob Bollenbach of Bollenbach Concrete provided the dirt for the No. 8 green.

Ron Townsend of Ranger Services moved the dirt using his own company’s trucks as well as those of Shawn Scammahorn’s MMS Construction.

Townsend also provided some of the dirt work on the green prior to it being molded for the new green.

The cost to build a green is around $30,000, but Wilson said the cost has been sharply reduced for the Kingfisher course due to the donations of materials and labor.

Both new greens are expected to be ready for usage by next April.

The fall months are the best time to make green repairs as that time frame gives the grass greens time to get established over the winter months and be ready for the hard work of summertime.

Wilson said the golf course has fully recovered from the drop in usage during the early COVID-19 infestation.

“Our single memberships total 278 now and the number grows to 400 when family usage is figured in,” he said.

He said the golf course is at the point when membership income and green fees and cart usage are about even as course usage has grown continuously during the summer months.

“We were behind early in the year, but now we’re ahead,” Wilson commented.