From the Ground Up: Backwoods Golf LLC

Owner/developer: Backwoods Golf LLC
General contractor: R. E. Smith Construction Co. (Joplin)
Architect: Ireland Architects Inc.
Engineers: Wilson Surveying Co. Inc., civil; J&M Engineering LLC, structural; and Interpres Building Solutions LLC, mechanical, electrical and plumbing
Size: 15,000 square feet
Estimated cost: $4 million
Lender: Community National Bank (Monett)
Estimated completion: March
Project description: Near Republic High School, a 19-acre golf driving range is going up that’ll be outfitted with Toptracer technology that shows the flight path of golf balls and detailed data designed to help golfers improve their game. Backwoods Golf will be anchored by a 10,550-square-foot clubhouse, featuring 28 climate-controlled driving bays as well as a restaurant and bar, said co-owner Austin Cloud. He said it’s designed with room to double to 56 bays during the first six months of operation. A separate storage space comprises 4,450 square feet, he said. This is the first driving range concept for owners Cloud and Charlie Locher, but the golf enthusiasts have their sights set on eventually taking the concept outside of the Ozarks. Locher also owns Monett-based Architectural Systems Inc.