Mapletøn GC names superintendent, GM

Michael Nelson and Zac Gavlak will be the first golf course superintendent and GM, respectively, at Mapletøn Golf Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, scheduled to open in summer 2025.

Nelson previously oversaw turf and property management at Blue Top Ridge Golf Club at Riverside Casino and Resort in Riverside, Iowa. There, he worked with golf course architect Rees Jones from the earliest stages of construction to an on-time, on-budget opening. He also consulted with Jones on the design and grow-in of Dacotah Ride Golf Club in Morton, Minnesota, and prepped courses for PGA Tour and U.S. Open competitions.

Gavlak comes to Mapletøn following stints at Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, Montana, and Milburn Country Club in Overland Park, Kansas. A servant leadership style earned him PGA sections’ Private Facility Promoter of the Year and PGA Golf Professional of the Year honors. Gavlak honed his skills at famous golf clubs in the Rocky Mountains region and Midwest.

“Members will love that no two holes will be remotely the same, and a hole you play on Tuesday will present different shot values on Saturday,” says Gavlak. “From the moment I first saw the golf course routing, clubhouse drawings and entire property, I immediately thought Mapletøn will win ‘best new club’ awards.”

Nelson is smitten by the topography’s diversity: “There are high ridges, low meadows, mature trees, natural streams and long-range rural views, and golfers never feel bored come their thousandth round.”

The players bringing Mapletøn to life include:

• Danny Amundson, managing partner of the club’s ownership group and a Sioux Falls-area native, lifelong golfer and son of a South Dakota Golf Hall of Fame inductee.
  
• Landscapes Golf Management, which is leading pre-opening activities and will operate the club upon opening.
  
• Sister company Landscapes Unlimited’s Project Development Group, which is overseeing all aspects of site planning, design and engineering, permitting, contractor selection, project administration and budget planning, and is undertaking golf course construction.
  
• Golf course architect Scott Hoffman, whose award-winning work includes acclaimed Gozzer Ranch in Durango, Colorado; Lost Rail in Gretna, Nebraska; Monterey Dunes in California; and Scottsdale National in Arizona.

Traversing rolling natural prairies, Mapletøn’s 18 holes are set to present a look and feel similar to Shinnecock and National Golf Links on Long Island, New York. It promises wide bent-grass fairways, sloped landing areas, greens with subtle movements and short-grass surrounds for creative recoveries, and bunkers with natural fescue edges. Extremely short distances from greens to tees will make Mapletøn one of the easiest walks in all golf.

The property’s 210 acres features a landmark, 50-foot, dome-less silo while towering cottonwoods and frequent wildlife sightings provide additional character and tranquility.

True to its golf focus, Mapletøn doesn’t plan to offer tennis, swimming, banquet facilities for large parties or other amenities.

Mapletøn Township’s history dates to 1866 when Norwegian settlers discovered ideal farming conditions. Years following, the Milwaukee Railroad stopped at Renner Station, bolstering residency and commerce. Today, Mapletøn Township’s is home to almost 2,000 people.

Courtesy of Mapletøn Golf Club