Should Lakeview Golf Course have its own official ranger?

MITCHELL — When a golfer steps out of the Lakeview Golf Course clubhouse after checking in, they are greeted by a wide open green space at the 170-acre course. Now, golfers may be met with a new face tracking their swings and moves.

The Mitchell Golf and Cemetery Board, at its regular meeting on Monday, May 12, discussed adding the position of a course ranger at the 18-hole city-owned golf course. The board noted the ranger position would have to be approved during future budgetary proceedings of the Mitchell City Council.

The discussion pivoted on the volume of people who are new to golfing at Lakeview, who may not be aware of how to be respectful to other golfers and to the golf course itself.

Golf play and memberships at Lakeview have doubled since the pre-covid years, according to Clubhouse Manager Eric Hieb, who has been Clubhouse Manager since 2015.

“We were a lot slower. You could come out and play whenever. There wasn't as much wear and tear,” Hieb said.

Hieb noted that many private courses went out of business in the pre-covid years because not as many people were playing golf. Things have changed. In 2024, a record 37,000 rounds were played at Lakeview, roughly 12,000 more than in 2023.

“People are just playing golf,” said Hieb, who noted that all demographics of golf are up. With more play, complaints have arose from some of players.

Hieb, 35, has two volunteer course rangers, who have provided Hieb with feedback and solutions on how to improve education on the course, including where people drive golf carts.

“There's a certain etiquette that we want people to abide by to keep the course in prime condition throughout the summer months,” Hieb said.

Many larger golf courses have rangers, according to Hieb. The ranger’s job will be to educate golfers on best practices to get the most out of their play time, not to nitpick golfers about what they are doing wrong.

An ideal ranger is someone that knows golf and how to have a respectful conversation with different personalities, according to Hieb.

Rangers “explain things in a manner that comes off as helpful,” Hieb said.

Many of the regional high schools and colleges use Lakeview for practice. Hieb commissions the various high school tournament groups to leave the course in better shape than when they found it.

Hieb started working at Lakeview in the eighth grade under Clubhouse Manager Merv Bouchie and worked in 12th grade under Clubhouse Manager Dan Sabers, who now serves on the Mitchell City Council and is the council liaison to the Golf and Cemetery Board.

Proper course etiquette includes showing up 10 minutes before a scheduled tee-time, with golf clubs ready, to be checked in and assigned a golf cart.

“If you show up late at your tee-time and you're trying to hurry to the first tee, the next crew might already be ready,” Hieb said.

The pace of play at Lakeview is in 8-minute tee increments, with a 9-hole game limited to two hours of play. Single golfers or odd-groups will be paired up until a foursome is reached to maximize everyone’s time on the golf course. If a group is taking too long, a ranger may step in and let a group skip ahead to remove the congestion.

“We just want people to keep up,” Hieb said. “No one wants to come out and spend six to seven hours on the course.”

Lakeview Golf Course Clubhouse Manager Eric Hieb, seated in back, gives monthly update.

While the Mitchell City Hall council chambers receive audio and video upgrades, the Mitchell Golf and Cemetery Board met at the Golf and Cemetery Maintenance and Office building near Servicemen's Cemetery, as pictured on Monday, May 12 in Mitchell.

Marshall Mitchell / Mitchell Republic

Rangers also ensure players follow course rules like where they can drive and park carts and how to fix divots.

Golf clubs are necessary to go out on the course. While Lakeview offers club rentals at $10 club rental per nine holes of play for those who may not have brought them, Lakeview expects avid golfers to bring their own clubs.

Golfers may not want someone looking over their shoulder, Hieb acknowledges.

“I want everybody to come out here to have a good time,” Hieb said.

About four to five rangers, in rotation, would meet Lakeview’s needs, according to Hieb.

The result, Hieb hopes, is that the course will be a consistent product for anyone who comes to play it, and that unnecessary wear and tear on the greens and fairways be reduced. Maintenance crews mow and take care of the course grounds on a daily basis.

“I don't think people realize how much effort and time it takes,” Hieb said.

Marshall Mitchell is a reporter with the Mitchell Republic covering local news and politics. He has over 15 years of experience working with leaders, authors, non-profits, and small businesses in publishing, marketing, and content creation. He moved to Mitchell in December 2024, and can't wait to hear from you. Reach out to him at mmitchell@mitchellrepublic.com.