Muskogee golfers soon could have nine new golf holes to challenge them and a sports bar to refresh them.

Eagle Crest Golf Course, 4301 Border Ave., is renovating its golf course to incorporate part of the greens that have not been used since 2004, said Eagle Crest owner Derek Wheeler.

The course also is converting part of its clubhouse into a sports bar. Both renovations, which are expected to cost about a half-million dollars, should be ready early in 2009, he said.

Wheeler said a part of the golf course known as The Village opened in 1997, bringing the total number of holes at Eagle Crest to 27. That part of the course, which winds through a housing development, closed around 2004, he said.

He said the course is being redesigned to incorporate the land that those nine holes were on. He said some of the course’s current 18 holes will be reconfigured or eliminated. The end result will be 18 holes that are “longer and more challenging.”

“We’re starting to mow it down and dress the greens,” Wheeler said, wheeling a golf cart through greens that had been grown over with grass.

“Our big equipment will be in here Monday, and we’ll be putting in tee boxes,” he said.

Wheeler said the course also is adding and redoing ponds through the course “to make it more player friendly.”

He said some families have even brought people out to fish in the bigger ponds at Eagle Crest.

“They’ve caught a couple of 7-pounders,” he said, adding that most of the fish have been bass. “The kids like to catch sun perch.”

The sports bar will feature a fireplace, he said.

The course is offering $200 memberships that allow people to pay $18.20 greens fees, seven days per week. The 90-day promotion began Oct. 1.

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 918-684-2928 or Click Here to Send Email