Architect Kevin Norby has developed a new 18-hole routing for Williston Municipal Golf Course, located in the Bakken Oil Fields of western North Dakota.

The golf course project is part of a nearly 800-acre development known as Williston Square, which also comprises the former Sloulin Field International Airport. The masterplans for the redevelopment also include housing, commercial, retail, medical and recreation developments as well as plans for a convention centre.

“The city of Williston has experienced rapid growth over the past 20 years due to fracking and the presence of oil and gas resources,” said Joe Barsh, executive director of Williston Parks. “As a result, the city is now well-positioned for housing development and quality of life investments. This project aims to address both by creating a premier golf facility in the heart of the community, while also promoting housing development to meet the current housing demand.”

Norby began developing a new course routing in 2023 after the park district and city of Williston reached out. “The original course was designed by local residents and was really not designed with strategy and modern golf course design principles in mind,” said Norby. “Over time, fast growing trees were planted between holes to provide separation and now many of those trees have reach their life expectancy and are not in good health.”

In June 2025, city residents passed a sales tax referendum that will fund the golf course renovation and a number of other quality of life recreation projects. “The Williston Parks and Recreation District (WPRD) underwent a masterplanning process to assess current and future operations and to facilitate community engagement,” said Barsh. “The feedback we received strongly supported the expansion project. On 10 June 2025, WPRD’s funding was renewed to support the district’s long-term capital projects plan, the golf course expansion being one of two keystone projects within the plan that will guide WPRD’s recreation efforts for the foreseeable future”

Norby’s new routing will see the course completely redesigned and rerouted, with more space for practice facilities. The first six holes will play on gently rolling land with mature trees that is occupied by the existing nine-hole layout. The back nine will be laid out on the unspoiled area of the site that has dramatic elevation changes, deep ravines and native prairie. A new clubhouse will be built in a similar location to the existing building so holes one and nine will be close by. The driving range will also be in a similar location but expanded and oriented in a different direction.

The back nine will be laid out over new land (Photo: Kevin Norby)

“In addition to expanding the course to 18 holes, one of my goals was to create a more spacious routing with expanded safety corridors and improved visual separation,” said Norby. “I walked the site to identify potential green sites and lines of play. The new property to the north of the existing golf course has dramatic topography which makes for some interesting par three holes, but makes it somewhat difficult to route par fours and par fives with good sightlines off the tee. The new par-three eleventh hole is a 260-yard hole that will play downhill to an 8,000-square-foot green positioned in a natural bowl. Shots that miss the green long or to the left have an opportunity to feed back down on to the green. The proposed tenth is a long par four of 470 yards and plays nearly 60 feet downhill through a natural valley. The hole will not have any bunkers and will play to an elevated green. 

The site for the new par-three eleventh, which will be a 260-yarder that plays downhill (Photo: Kevin Norby)

“The wind blows all the time here in North Dakota so the course will play differently from day to day. The course will have wider corridors and will not rely on trees to provide separation. It will have a more natural and more sustainable character that embraces the rolling North Dakota landscape. We’ve provided as many as six tees to ensure the course will be fun for juniors and golfers with slower swing speeds while, at the same time, remaining strategic and challenging for the more-skilled golfer.”

The new course will measure 6,935 yards from the back tee and will feature Kentucky bluegrass fairways and bentgrass greens. The WPRD will hire a contractor to execute construction and has selected Erik Christiansen of EC Design to design a new irrigation system.

“Because we do not take community investment for granted, WPRD aims to prioritise the long-term sustainability of the golf course beyond just golf itself,” said Barsh. “We plan to invest heavily in its design and construction, as well as ensuring access to sustainable resources such as recycled water. In the best interest of taxpayers and local government responsibilities, no shortcuts will be taken.

“Our goal is to maintain the municipal nature of the course. The course will prioritise local users, serve as the home course of cross-country, high school and middle school golf and be the hub for youth golf development in the area. WPRD will strive to ensure as much accessibility and inclusion as possible.”

Construction is expected to begin in July 2026 with the course expected to be playable by summer 2028.