ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. — Golf lovers will soon have a new course to play in the Quad Cities area. After closing six years ago, the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Course plans to reopen this summer.
The course is one of the oldest in the country. In 1897, Capt. Stanhope Blunt, commanding officer of the Arsenal built himself the original five-hole course. It was only nine years after golf had been introduced in the U.S. when the country's first course, St. Andrews Golf Course in Yonkers, New York, was established. The Arsenal course was expanded to 18 holes in 1902.
According to golf manager William Starcevich, it was actually built in part by imprisoned Confederate soldiers.
It closed in 2018 due to lack of use. At one point, the Arsenal was trying to find a private company to take ownership of it and run the course, but it never found a private partner.
The course will reopen with nine-holes and be owned and operated by the Arsenal.
"I think somebody had a brief wisdom moment, and they decided it's going to reopen," Starcevich said. "The opportunity to bring back such a historic venue is really what we're here for."
It will be open to both people living and working on the Arsenal and the general public.
The original clubhouse golfers might be used to won't be reopening. It will instead be in a shared space in Building 60 with the Lock and Dam Lounge and the Island Oasis Café. There will be a new pro shop and golf simulator.
Starcevich and his team have been working close to two years to get the golf course reopened.
"You literally couldn't see the golf course anymore," he said. "My first day here I had to get a bush hog because the grass was taller than me."
New irrigation has already been installed, and the fairways have been seeded. Starcevich anticipates they'll finish work on the bunkers by the end of next week.
He warns the eighth hole will most likely be the most challenging for golfers.
There's no set opening day for the course yet, but the Arsenal is working for it to open this summer.
Any members of the public wanting to play the course will need an Arsenal Visitor's Pass. You can get one by visiting the Arsenal Welcome Center at 23 Prospect Drive in Moline and filing out the Access Request Form. Bring your REAL ID and Social Security number. If you don't have the REAL ID, you're asked to bring two forms of identification instead. More information on how to visit Arsenal Island is available here online.