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Le Mars golf course reports recovery after June flood; volunteers, tournaments and tree work highlighted
Summary
Course staff told the Le Mars City Council the course largely recovered from a June flood, with volunteer cleanup, multiple tournaments, new tree plantings and concern about Emerald Ash Borer; staff raised mosquito control and a trail bridge realignment for future attention.
Course staff reported to the Le Mars City Council that the city golf course largely recovered after a June flood, with volunteers and staff restoring playing surfaces, hosting tournaments and beginning proactive tree work while noting a likely Emerald Ash Borer arrival.
Course staff told the council the older side of the course had four greens that were “covered” with silt and mud after the peak flood and the newer side had about five greens affected mostly by debris. Staff said equipment and golf carts were moved to higher ground by the tennis courts and were not lost to floodwaters.
The report said volunteer support was substantial during cleanup. “We had over 250 volunteer hours,” course staff said, noting many people came for one- or two-hour shifts to rake and remove debris. The course hosted several events after the flood, including the 8 Inches Cup in September with 37 groups, the Northwest Iowa NIT college tournament with about 20 teams, and a five-person October event with 33 teams (165 players), all of which course staff said went off well despite some isolated weather delays.
Staff described tree work begun after the flood and noted an Emerald Ash Borer concern. “We really haven’t positively confirmed that we have Emerald Ash Borer yet,” course staff said, adding crews have removed split or closely spaced ash to give remaining maples, oaks and lindens more room and started a tree nursery near the No. 5 green. Staff estimated the nursery trees will take about two to three years before being planted on the course.
Council members and residents asked about stump removal along the creek and access for grinding. Course staff said most stumps remain because crews cannot safely reach them; crews are cutting protruding trees and grinding stumps where equipment access allows. Staff noted one location left of No. 2 green was being cut back so a stump grinder could finish the work.
Mosquito control was raised by council members and staff as a recurring public concern after the flooding. Course staff said they do not hold a mosquito-spraying license and would need to investigate what permits or contracts would be required; they noted prior localized spraying around the fairgrounds and trail in response to standing water but said organized mosquito control for the golf course or citywide spraying had not been established.
Council members also asked about a trail realignment and a new bridge; a council member cited a target of fall 2026 for that work. The meeting record shows no formal council vote on course management, mosquito control or tree removal at the session; those items were discussed and staff said they would research options and report back.
The council session ended with the standard adjournment motion.
