Ninth hole reconfigured at Oak Hills

Too many balls hitting Ellis Boulevard

Oak Hills Golf Center assistant clubhouse manager Bryn Boeckman consolidates cages of practice balls after collecting them during a sweep of the driving range on March 7, 2016.
Oak Hills Golf Center assistant clubhouse manager Bryn Boeckman consolidates cages of practice balls after collecting them during a sweep of the driving range on March 7, 2016.

Jefferson City officials dedicated the new ninth hole at Oak Hills Golf Center on Wednesday morning.

According to officials with the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, construction started in January 2015, and the improvements included draining a pond because it was leaking, sealing it and removing silt from it.

They hoped to have the project done by last June or July, but because of heavy rainfall at that time, the work was completed until late last fall.

The hole went from a par 4 to par 3. One of the main reasons for the change was the excessive number of golf balls hit onto Ellis Boulevard. The new configuration makes it harder for balls to get onto Ellis, approximately a 130-yard shot.

The back tee was extended and a forward tee was constructed.

A new green complex was put in along with two sand bunkers and a cart path was added.

The irrigation to the hole was also upgraded.

The upgrades to the hole were part of a 2002 master plan.

The hole was designed by Arthur Schaupeter Golf Course Architects for $4,500, and construction was done by parks and recreation staff for $60,000.