Deer Lake takes on Scottish appearance, adds golf academy

Golf pros Perry Leslie and Dale Fisher are working to transform Deer Lake Golf Course into a recognizable course that will serve as a destination for golfers.

And to help bring golfers to the course and to improve their level of play, Deer Lake has started a golf academy.

Leslie, a golf historian of Irish descent, joined Deer Lake as director in March. He looked at Deer Lake as a place easily convertible to golf courses patterned after those in Scotland. He has traveled to Scotland many times since the early 1990s, taking groups on golfing holidays.

The new look at Deer Lake includes tall grass growing between fairways reminiscent of the Scottish links. The two pros also have decorated the clubhouse interior with a Scottish theme.

"We can almost take you there," Leslie said. "People are liking what they see here."

Building attraction

To attract golfers beyond this area, Leslie and Fisher, both members of the Professional Golfers' Association, have developed an advertising strategy to promote the course, its new golf academy and the entire Springfield area.

"People can come from other places to take golf lessons and enjoy the region," he said.

The pros are working with local hotels to put together golf packages for the benefit of both the golf course and the hotel. Visitors can stay at a hotel, take golf lessons and enjoy other local attractions while here.

Plans are in progress for billboard advertising on Interstate 44. The theme is "Exit 72, exit to Scotland."

Along with the face lift, Fisher and Leslie opened the golf academy at Deer Lake to entice patronage and to help people improve their game.

"The idea of the academy was to let the community know we have golf instruction at Deer Lake," Leslie said. "We can put lessons together for people who want to form a group and have weekly sessions, daily sessions or a one-day all-day workshop," he said.

The concept is slowly catching on as people realize how much instruction can improve their game.

"We've got to do our job; we will make people better," Leslie said.

Both Leslie and Fisher have been in Springfield for about 30 years. Leslie spent 20 years as golf pro at Hickory Hills, then moved to Highland Springs where he was instrumental in starting the Ozarks Open Golf Tournament. Leslie most recently worked at Branson Creek before joining Deer Lake.

Fisher moved from Fremont Hills to Deer Lake, where is he is head golf pro.