they play their rounds,” said Doppler.
Riverwood also has a lounge for up to
80 people to enjoy a post-tournament dinner and awards ceremony inside, and larger groups can rent tents in the areas adjacent to the golf shop and lounge buildings.
Also in Bismarck is Hawktree Golf Club,
( www.hawktree.com) where golfers will
notice unique black sand in the bunkers.
According to Jordan Berglund, PGA,
head golf professional for the course, it’s a
“beautiful and challenging 18-hole facility”
that’s consistently ranked among the best
courses in North Dakota and top in Bis-
marck-Mandan.
“We host everything from professional
events to corporate outings,” said Berglund.
“We have a full-service bar and restaurant
to accommodate any event’s needs.”
There is also an on-site pro shop with
merchandise, a chipping green, putting
green and driving range.
Minot
Opened in 1929 as a nine-hole golf course,
today the Minot-based Vardon Golf Club
( www.vardongolfclub.com) has 18 holes
that according to Todd Lee, its head golf
professional, “are not long in distance,
but the greens are always kept in excellent
shape.”
Lee added that after a flood in 2011, the
course is “better now than pre-flood.”
The on-site pro shop offers name-brand
golf equipment including clubs, bags,
apparel and other accessories, and there
is also a clubhouse that accommodates 60
to 80 people for pre- or post-tournament
meal functions and receptions.
The Souris River winds throughout the
18-hole Souris Valley Golf Course (www.
minotparks.com/golf), which opened in
Minot in 1968 and was also impacted by
the flood of 2011.
“The golf course is in better shape now
than it was before the flood,” said Steve
Kotter, director of golf. “The course was de-
signed to stand the test of time, and people
throughout the country have expressed it
is one of the nicest public golf courses they
have golfed.”
Souris Valley features a clubhouse, pro
shop and a banquet room that can accom-
modate up to 150 people.
RIVERWOOD GOLF COURSE, BISMARCK
What type of meeting
did you hold in Bismarck?
The NDBA/SDBA Annual
Convention.
Was anyone particularly
helpful in executing
your event?
The team at the Best
Western Plus Ramkota
Hotel, particularly Becky
Cermak and Ally Kraft,
were terrific to work with.
They answered questions,
provided guidance and
worked with us to ensure a
successful event.
What did your attendees seem to enjoy the
most about Bismarck?
Attendees love Bismarck’s
central location. It’s an
easy drive from anywhere
in the state. This event
included attendees from
South Dakota as well, and
they enjoy visiting North
Dakota’s capital city.
Are there any experiences you would
recommend for groups
that are meeting in
Bismarck?
Bismarck’s downtown has
become a great place to
experience. There are so
many terrific restaurants
and bars; this year we offered a downtown walking
tour and progressive lunch.
The North Dakota Heritage
Center is another fabulous
place to visit. It has the
feel of a big-city museum
and admission is free.
Did you host a golf
event?
We held a golf tournament
at Hawktree Golf Club and
had over 100 golfers on a
beautiful afternoon. Hawktree is such a beautiful
and challenging course—
our attendees love playing
there, so the golf event
always sells out.
How does Bismarck
compare to other cities
where you have hosted
meetings?
Bismarck has so much to
offer! From history to outdoor activities, it’s a great
place to hold a meeting.
Bismarck is easy to get to,
travel around the city is
pretty straightforward, and
people are friendly and
helpful. Visitors from the
eastern part of the state
really enjoy the terrain
and the beautiful Missouri
River.
Would you recommend
it to other planners?
Yes, I would recommend
Bismarck for meetings. We
host a lot of events and
this particular meeting is
held in Bismarck every
four years. Bismarck always has something new
to offer and we have fun
planning exciting things
for visitors.
PLANNER’S PERSPECTIVE
Dorothy Lick, SVP of Education
North Dakota Bankers Association (NDBA)
Bismarck, ND
BISMARCK-MANDAN CVB
701.222.4308
www.discoverbismarckmandan.
com
FARGO-MOORHEAD CVB
701.282.3653
www.fargomoorhead.org
GREATER GRAND FORKS CVB
701.746.0444
www.visitgrandforks.com
VISIT MINOT
701.857.8206
www.visitminot.org
i
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