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The Otter Creek Golf Course in Ankeny has been closed and under construction for more than a year, but Assistant City Manager Dick Ash said he is hopeful that it will be open for business June 1.

“We’re running a week or so behind schedule, but we think we will still be targeting that date for the clubhouse,” he said. “That is our target for the golf course, too, but we need to see how everything goes with spring rains.”

Ash said demolition of the former clubhouse, which contained 4,200 square feet, began immediately after the course closed, and construction of the new $2.3 million clubhouse started as soon as the site was cleared.

“(The former clubhouse) was taken down to build this one, and this one was built right over the top of that building,” he said.”

The new clubhouse will contain 17,000 square feet, making it four times the size of the previous facility, and will be open as soon as it is ready, even if work on the course is not finished. “The course will open this year whenever it is right to do that,” Ash said.

The main floor of the clubhouse, which will cover 12,000 square feet, will feature the Pinnacle Club, a 400-person public-use banquet facility containing nearly 6,000 square feet, Ash said.

“What we have added to the building is the banquet area/community rental area, which includes a kitchen area,” he said. “It’s a catering-type kitchen, which means we won’t do a lot of cooking in it.”

Ash said management already has started taking reservations for August and September for the new facility’s community rental area, but is not accepting reservations for June or July in case unforeseen delays occur during the construction process; similar guidelines are in place for scheduling golf outings and individual tee times.

The main level also will feature storage areas, a golf pro shop, a bar and lounge area and a restaurant. “What we had before was an open area, but now we are going to have more of a lounge, grill, restaurant type of area with seating and a bar, and they will serve grill-type food,” Ash said.

Once complete, the clubhouse will have a 5,000-square-foot lower level providing a garage area and equipment storage.

Ash said the city, which operates the golf course, looked into getting the new clubhouse a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification or obtaining Energy Star recognition, but “it just didn’t pan out.”