The Gateway Cities Golf Course has been forced to make a few changes in order to have nine holes of golf this summer, including an alteration to their most famous feature.
The course is located in both Portal, N.D., and North Portal. Its clubhouse and the first tee box are in the U.S., and the ninth green is also on American soil.
It’s the ninth hole that is their greatest source of fame. The tee box is in Canada and the green is in the U.S. Since Saskatchewan doesn’t observe daylight saving time but North Dakota does, it means the ball lands in a different country an hour later.
The distinction has earned the course a spot in Ripley’s Believe it or Not.
But with the restrictions in place for COVID-19, golfers aren’t allowed to play the conventional ninth hole, so a temporary ninth hole needed to be built.
The first hole was reduced by about 60 yards in length, making it a par-4 instead of a par-5, and the ninth green cuts into where the first hole was located.
Since the clubhouse is in the U.S., it has been closed this year. Golfers deposit $10 into an honour box to golf all day.
Club president Ryan Turner said it’s been a challenging year, losing the clubhouse.
“We definitely took a real hit this year, not having any revenue come in from the clubhouse. But we have dedicated members at our golf course and a strong community that supports this golf course, which pretty much kept us afloat,” he said.
Gateway Cities has also received a very generous, anonymous donation that should keep it in the black this year.
Turner said the golfers have coped well with all of the changes.
“All of our members are happy that we can still golf on the Canadian side, and we just made it work,” said Turner.
Since they don’t have access to the clubhouse, golf carts and maintenance equipment had to be moved to the Canadian side of the border.
Turner said the course has been busy. A lot of their members have been coming out every day, and they still attract green fee golfers.
The course was in great shape in late June and early July, but they don’t have irrigation, so it’s been dry lately.
“Our groundskeeper was busy there, cutting grass, and maintaining the course, and the course looked excellent all year,” he said.
Americans account for half of the course’s members, and Turner said they have missed not seeing their American friends, not just on the course, but in general.
