Steel Proof Protection: Fargo Country Club Builds Flood Wall

Golfers at the Fargo Country Club will no longer have to reschedule hitting the greens due to flooding.

The club has finished construction on a flood wall that is part of its three phase flood protection project.

Officials at the country club say in the last eight to 10 years, the golf course has flooded more than 15 times.

They say the wall is an addition that will allow golfers a little more peace of mind.

A 580 yard rustic steel wall is now in place helping to solve the ongoing flooding issue that the Fargo Country Club’s golf course has experienced over the years.

Michael Charest, General Manager at the country club, says flooding has been one their major setbacks.
 
“The Fargo Country Club is this great old traditional golf course that’s been around since 1898; however it floods,” said Charest.
 
Charest says the $1.7 million project was funded through members, and has become a unique trademark of the course.
 
“Putting up a steel wall isn’t something a lot of golf courses do its not typical so there was some trepidation about it, but we looked long and hard also how it was all going to play out,” said Charest
 
Charest says the wall will provide up to 30 feet of flood protection.
 
And for long time trainer and golf pro Mark Johnson, the wall is an addition that will allow for more tee-times.
 
“Definitely help keep those golf holes open through those nuisance flood events,” said Johnson.
 
He says the wall will help keep holes 14, 15, and 16 dry which are usually where flooding hits the hardest.
 
“The rounds our members play, we’ve seen fewer rounds being played, because they maybe couldn’t play the holes affected by high water or flood damage,” said Johnson.
 
Charest says this is only phase one of a three phase flood protection master plan, with phase two and three still in works.
 
“Kind of a catch all that Tom Leeman is working on as a part of the master plan, to re-irrigate the golf course, re-grass the golf course…maybe change some things esthetically,” said Charest.
 
The total project is expected to cost up to $3 million.

Phase two and three will still need to be approved by members.