August 24, 2020 at 8:48 a.m.
Group paints rock at Northwood GC in the image of the Hodag
Group paints rock at Northwood GC in the image of the Hodag
This summer, the rock received a decidedly Rhinelander makeover, which has led to even more photos.
Now, when one sets their target on the par-5 hole, they will see the Hodag staring back at them.
The idea to paint the rock with the likeness of Rhinelander's mythical mascot was the idea of a group of local golfers, and members of the course's ladies league. The project has been on their radar for a while and, earlier this summer, it became a reality.
"From the women's tee box, looking down at that rock, just the way that it was carved out of the ground, it had the potential," said Candy Strand, the artist who came up with the design for the Hodag rock. "We would come up and we would see this and we would all say, 'Oh yeah, that part looks like a face.' When you get closer, there are portions of it that look like the ridge of the backline, and such. The rock itself just looked like a Hodag. We just brought out that image onto the rock. I think people see it now. It was hidden there all this time, but now it's there."
Strand and her friends - and ladies league colleagues - Susan Jurries, Jan Torbenson and Sharon Wales, were instrumental in turning that vision into a reality. The plan has been in the works for years as a way to honor friend and fellow golfer Kay Pohnl, who passed away in 2015. Pohnl was an avid supporter of all things Hodag, and the School District of Rhinelander, so the idea of a Hodag on Hole 7 in her honor made perfect sense.
However management at the golf course at the time balked at the idea, so the project was put on hold. When Green Golf Partners took over the day-to-day operations of the course for the city, the idea was rekindled. In the interim, Strand said the idea and inspiration for the project evolved.
"We all loved Kay. She was everything about the Hodag. We just really wanted to do that, paint that rock, in her honor," she said. "After a few years went by and we weren't granted permission to do it until just this year, we've had a lot of thoughts about the purpose of it.
"For all of us, golf has been a lifetime sport. It just turned into we want to do this for everybody. We want to attribute this to all of our golf families that have been a part of our lives over the years."
The group found an advocate for the project in current PGA professional at Northwood, Kyle Christian.
"I was all for it," he said. "Candy, Susan and Sharon wanted to do it and we finally got some time this year to do it. I told them to go at it. They wanted to get it done years ago, but they were never allowed to. I think it's a great idea."
With the green-light given, the focus shifted to turning the vision into a reality. It was not as easy as slapping a couple of coats of paint on the rock and calling it a day. The elements had taken their tole on the rock in the 31 years since the course was opened.
"Sharon Wales, she has a painting business herself. She was instrumental in planning out and getting the particular paints that would work and stay adhered to the rock," Strand said. "Her and her husband (Ed), and (course employee Brody Kowieski), were instrumental in cleaning it, because it was full of lichen and fungus and all of that stuff. They went out there and scrubbed that thing. I think for a day or two they scrubbed that clean.
"We came out after she had gotten the paints and basically we painted the entire thing green twice to make sure that it was a good coating and then I drew the design on the rocks. The painting crew came and most of it was done by one of my students, Stevie Jurries, and her mom, Susan, who are both golfers and happen to be my best friends. My daughter, Jordan, came out and helped. It took us probably a week, including the cleaning, the painting and letting it dry and painting the next coat."
The group wanted the rock ready by July 4, one of the peak playing times of the season. It took a few days of labor in the sweltering summer sun, but the result was well worth the effort.
"Visually, from the tee box, you can see it already, and seven was already our signature hole," Christian said. "Plus, you've got guys now taking pictured on it. They'll remember the golf course because of that hole and say, 'Hey, let's go back to the course with the rock painted.' We love it."
"I have people that will share the post with me that they did with their family," Strand said. "I have a whole collection of pictures and I know the golf course is also collecting them and, hopefully, sharing them. It's been a really positive thing for the golf course."
Not surprisingly, golfers have paused after hitting their tee shots on the seventh hole to take a picture with the Hodag. That was the intent, and Christian said he is encouraging people to share their photos by the rock to social media, as part of a course promotion.
"There's actually a sign out on 7 if you post on Facebook or Instagram and that month, we'll put those posts into a drawing for a free round of golf," he said. "I think it's a great idea. The feedback, right now, has been really good."
"It was a great idea to promote the Hodag pride and spirit," Strand added. "I think that because the golf course lays outside the city, a lot of people don't always connect it and realize it is part of it."
The golf course property sits outside the city of Rhinelander proper, but has been annexed into the city.
Eventually, the group responsible for painting the rock said it would like to purchase a remembrance plaque to go alongside the rock and is seeking donations. Those interested in donating to the plaque can contact Susan Jurries at 715-482-1202 or email [email protected].
Jeremy Mayo may be reached at [email protected].
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