SentryWorld Green at hole 18. (Contributed photo)

For the City-Times

After months of furiously paced construction to make up for time lost from last winter’s “polar vortex,” SentryWorld is preparing to open its doors to unveil a large-scale renovation nearly two years in the making.

Construction is on track to be completed soon. Once complete, SentryWorld will mark its place as Wisconsin’s premiere parkland golf course beginning with a variety of special events. SentryWorld will host a number of charity golf outings in support of United Way beginning mid-September, as well as additional charity golf outings in support of other Stevens Point area charities.

Eighteen foursomes have been donated directly to United Way of Portage County to be auctioned off for fundraising efforts. The Golf United! online auction opens Tuesday, August 19 and will close on Friday, September 12. This is the public’s first chance to play the newly redesigned SentryWorld. Winners will play on Tuesday, September 23. More information on the auction can be found at www.biddingowl.com/golfunited. The Golf United! event will also be the media’s first opportunity to take photos and shoot video at the reimagined SentryWorld.

Additionally, two hundred 18-hole rounds of golf have been made available for Sentry employees and retirees in exchange for a $100 per round donation to United Way.

“We’ve worked through the minor setbacks and delays caused by the unseasonably cold winter, assembled an excellent core service team and are very excited to be able to unveil the new SentryWorld to the community,” said Mike James, SentryWorld general manager. “We have a great lineup of special events for worthy charities and a fantastic new facility and restaurant to share with the public. Regarding golf, we want everyone to know that SentryWorld’s course will be back at 100 percent in 2015 and open for the full season. We appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding. Rest assured, it’ll be worth the wait.”

Along with supporting United Way, SentryWorld will invite former pass holders and golf league players to participate in charity events throughout September. They will be able to purchase rounds in exchange for a $100 per round donation to the Humane Society of Portage County, Operation Bootstrap of Portage County or St. Michael’s Foundation. All pass holders’ and golf league players’ donations will be matched by the Sentry Insurance Foundation.

SentryWorld’s golf course and facilities received extensive renovations throughout the past 20 months. The golf course renovation was overseen by famed course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr., who created the original layout in 1982, along with co-project architect Bruce Charlton and onsite architect Jay Blasi. The renovation to SentryWorld’s sports complex—now called the Fieldhouse—was led by architect John Sather of Swaback Partners; with restaurant architect Jim Smith focusing on creating an entirely new restaurant at SentryWorld.

“The reimagined SentryWorld golf course and facilities honor our rich past while looking to the future,” said Pete McPartland, Sentry president, CEO and chairman of the board. “Guests will find that we’ve made good on our promise of keeping a community and family focus. They will feel welcomed and comfortable, whether they’re dining in the restaurant, playing a round of golf or attending a wedding or event.”

The new SentryWorld restaurant will open to the public on September 22, with the inaugural fish fry to be held Friday, September 26. Wedding, meeting, event and holiday party bookings are now available.

SentryWorld, originally opened in 1982, has long been touted for its world-class caliber and signature “Flower Hole” and is widely recognized as Wisconsin’s first destination golf course. The SentryWorld complex comes complete with pro shop, wedding, banquet and event space and its own restaurant.

For the most up-to-date information on SentryWorld and its reopening, visit www.sentryworld.com.

SentryWorld is located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and is owned and operated by Sentry Insurance, one of the largest and strongest mutual insurance companies in the United States. The company and its subsidiaries sell property and casualty insurance, life insurance, annuities and retirement programs for businesses and individuals throughout the country. Headquartered in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, Sentry employs nearly 4,000 associates in 41 states.