Kim Fundingsland/MDN Dusty Zimmerman, executive director, Minot Junior Golf Association, says the new Jack Hoeven Wee Links Golf Course is experiencing a comeback year following a two-year closure due to flood control construction.

It’s got quite the look, something you might expect to see in Scotland. On a smaller scale of course, but Minot’s redesigned Wee Links golf course is an attractive layout with smooth greens tucked in and around rolling undulations. It is as picturesque a nine holes as imaginable, and all for junior golfers.

“People are super excited about it,” said Dusty Zimmerman, Minot Junior Golf Association executive director. “We have adults calling and asking to play. We tell them they need a child with them to play a round.”

And that is the whole idea about junior golf, getting kids on the course to learn a game they can play for a lifetime. Of course, the new version of the Jack Hoeven Wee Links layout is much different than the first one. Major alterations were necessary due to flood control project construction that brought a large dike onto what was formerly part of Wee Links. The construction closed the course for two years. It opened up this past May.

“They took out three holes for the project and were required to replace those,” explained Zimmerman. “We went further south than the course was previously and added three holes out there. We brought in a golf course specialist and added a great deal more features. He kind of did it after courses in Scotland.”

The original Wee Links was basically a one level layout. The revamped one is much different.

“It really enhanced the course,” said Zimmerman. “The old part of the course was pretty flat.”

Junior golfers are those age 14 and under. The cost to play a round of golf at Wee Links is one dollar. So too is renting a set of clubs. The cost is kept low to encourage more youngsters to take a swing at golf.

“The board feels strongly about teaching life skills here too,” remarked Zimmerman. “Honesty, how to introduce yourself to people and such. We’re trying to raise good people here.”

Zimmerman, who began her duties with Junior Golf this past June, said “some people don’t know we’re here” and that one of her goals was to “reach out and make sure people know we are here.”

Minot’s Junior Golf programs are funded through gaming sites at various locations in Minot. It enables the program to do a variety of things to promote junior golf and also other activities for Minot youth.

“We want to step up what we’ve been doing with Junior Golf, not just in Minot but in the region,” added Zimmerman. “Hopefully you’ll see some of that down the road, as long as people keep supporting our gaming efforts.”