Is golf around the corner at Metamora Fields Golf Club?

Is golf around the corner at Metamora Fields Golf Club?

Abnormally wet weather in 2009 and '10, coupled with record rainfall so far this spring, has pushed back the grand opening of central Illinois' newest golf course. But the endless rain has not dampened the optimism of a family who dove head first into the golf industry when analysts and feasibility studies cautioned against it."As soon as the sun pops out," Brinkman said. "We're going to hop on it and hopefully get it done. But until I see the first golfers on the first hole, I don't think it will seem real to me."The driving range at Metamora Rory McIlroy Said Masters Is In Past Fields - a 25-station, bentgrass hitting area - was scheduled to open May 4. The front nine could be open for play in early JuneAnd the entire 18 holes?"Well, that's a moving target," said Dan Budzius, general manager of the facility. "We have a grand opening set for July 11, but if this rain keeps rolling it will be a little tougher to manage that."We'll have to see once we finally get seed in the ground."More than half the golf course is completed and nearly ready for play. But four holes - Nos. 10, 11, 12 and 17 - are behind schedule and might not be playable until late summer.

Even though the grand opening of the golf course - initially projected for 2010 - will likely be a year behind schedule, the clubhouse already is a powerful economic engine for the development. Budzius said weddings are already booked well into 2012, and that the restaurant served more than 800 guests for brunch on Easter Sunday.

If the quality of the product and operations on the inside are any indication of what to expect outside, it should be a good year for Metamora Fields."The Rings, D.A., Steve, Turf Solutions Group ... they all want the perfect product coming out of the ground when we open," Budzius said. "Because the first impressions are so important, impactful and, of course, memorable."In this case, we've had great success with the clubhouse. And when we open the range, that will be a great experience. When we open nine holes, people will see the quality is there. When we finally get all 18 open, we think that same feeling and experience goes through all 18."There's no doubt the product is very, very, very good. It's just a matter of finally being able to have the opportunity, from a weather perspective, to showcase that."