PEA RIDGE -- When Jeff Arnold and Steve Stobaugh decided to reopen a business in Pea Ridge, one of the first things they did was to light it on fire.
Some 18 months ago, Big Sugar Golf Club shut its doors. Mother Nature quickly took over and the 18-hole course, located off Highway 94, quickly reverted back to what it looked like before construction started nearly 15 years ago.
At A Glance
Big Suger Golf Club
Pea Ridge
18 holes, Par 72
Notable: The couse originally opened in 2002, but closed in 2013. It will reopen with new management on July 4. The club is open to the public and monthly memberships are available.
"It was as bad a cow pasture as you have ever seen," Stobaugh said. "You couldn't tell what was what."
Thus, one of the first things on the rebuilding agenda was burning off as much growth as possible. Then came some brush hogging and finally mowing. In just three months, the course is almost back to its old self and it will reopen July 4.
"We are right on target," Arnold said. "We may have a soft opening before July 4 if the greens are ready. But the doors will be open July 4. It is a work in progress, and it will be better next spring than it is right now."
Stobaugh said most of the major work was done on the greens as all 18 had to be totally renovated. One other major change is that several of the women's tee boxes were moved to shorten the course for women. The championship tees for men still measure around 7,200 yards.
A new cart barn has also been built to house a fleet of new golf carts.
"We scrapped the top inch off of every green and then we reseeded them," Stobaugh said. "We also scrapped the fairways and reseed them. It has been a several month process. It is going to be a good."
Arnold and Stobaugh both were members at the club when it closed and they decided the course was worth reviving. Big Sugar was sold at auction several years ago and Arnold and Stobaugh are leasing the course with an option to buy.
"We were the worst golfers out here," Arnold joked. "But we struck up a deal that is good for both parties. We saw this as a great opportunity for us and the community."
"We love the place," Stobaugh said.
Individual ($158), Family ($185), Senior ($145) and Corporate ($250) monthly memberships are available and the course will also be open to the public.
The clubhouse will include a pro shop and a barbecue-themed restaurant. Stobaugh and Arnold have applied for a beer and wine license.
"The response has been great," Arnold said.
Loren and Jodie Allison live in the housing development around the course and they were the first to buy a membership at the new Big Sugar.
"It was just brush and weeds," Jodie said. "We are really excited about what has happened. We have high hopes."
Sports on 06/19/2015