Baby Bump Celebration Tour Continues
Last weekend was filled to the brim with baby showers! We spent our Saturday in Topeka celebrating with Makayla’s family and then celebrated my older sister as she’s expecting her first in August as well (photos here). The mothers-to-be are both looking fantastic! However, I think they’re both moving into the stage of pregnancy where getting comfortable is a thing of the past. I believe both are ready to see baby come and the weight to be lifted.
From Rough Around the Edges to Back on the Green
Wednesday evening, we headed to the Ottawa Golf Course for a Chamber After Hours (pictures here). Our community’s golf course has existed for over a hundred years, having been built in the early 1900s as a private country club. Throughout the 20th century, it underwent changes here and there, eventually becoming the nine-hole course we know today. Just a few years ago, the course was owned by GreatLIFE. They managed the property, including the course itself and the clubhouse on the property. In 2022, GreatLIFE decided it wanted to move out of Ottawa and needed to find a suitor. Before listing the property on the market, they approached the City of Ottawa, proposing an agreement that would set an extremely undervalued asking price with a caveat—the City of Ottawa would have to keep the property as a golf course.
So, in late 2022, they struck a deal for $288,000 for the entire space along 68HWY. The reason this is important is that if this deal had not been made, and the City had declined this opportunity, it is almost certain that this space would no longer be a recreational amenity. It would have been leveled and found a new purpose. The result would be that the Ottawa community would likely never have a golf course in town again.
Prior to the purchase, I don’t think many would have blamed the city for declining the space. From what I’ve heard, it was deemed beyond disrepair. The clubhouse was nearly falling in, and really, past its useful life. The course was poorly managed, and golfers played on it as a last resort or purely out of convenience. That is how people spoke about this space just a few years ago. Then, at the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, the City took over the course.
What took place between the deal being made and the course changing hands was some strategizing and goal-setting. The City knew they needed someone who knew the game, knew the business, and wanted to relocate to Ottawa. That guy was Rob Mlynar. Rob is no stranger to the area, having grown up in Lyndon, just to the west, and is an Ottawa University alum. He’s also no stranger to the business, as a member of the PGA of America and having led/managed countless tournaments at numerous private facilities, he was the perfect fit. What’s happened in those short two years is nothing short of miraculous. Rob has breathed new life into this facility and completely changed the Ottawa Golf Course's reputation.
The change is evident in some of the anecdotal evidence in their programming numbers. With over a dozen JrPGA players, over 60 regular players every Thursday evening, 50+ ladies on ladies nights, and growing senior programs in the mornings. Each year seems to bring new growth, more golfers, and more excitement around what is happening at this facility. If you follow their Facebook page, you’ll see their extremely condensed schedule of engaging programming, with a little something for everyone, regardless of age and skill level.
As someone who wouldn’t even consider themselves a beginner golfer, more like a stranger to the game, I am still grateful for the City’s decision to purchase this space and give it new life. When people choose to live in an area, or stay in an area, they need more than just roads and infrastructure; they long for quality of life. That can come in many forms, but one of the big ones that Ottawa has in spades is our parks and recreation. The Ottawa Golf Course complements the many outdoor activities that Ottawa can hang its hat on. Kudos to the City of Ottawa and Rob and his team for all the work that has been done to make Ottawa’s Golf Course worth visiting.
OAYP Gets in the Game
Yesterday, after work, the Ottawa Area Young Professionals teamed up with the Ottawa Recreation Commission for an evening of 9-square and gaga ball. If you’re unfamiliar, both are super popular rec games that are frequently played by summer campers and youth in after-school programs. As a result, we put the ‘young’ in young professionals and got into a field day mindset for some games, orange slices, and friendly competition (pictures here).
This partnership extends past last night, as every YP member also receives a 30-day punch card to the ORC facility. A generous gift from our friends at the ORC, and just in time to get into shape this summer. It really does pay to play! This is just one of many programs that OAYP has planned for this year. Stay tuned!
Ottawa’s Summer Nights Sound Better at Legacy Square
Next Friday, Legacy Square hosts its first of two concerts this Summer. The Green Shoebox band will be playing some classic tunes while the Chamber works the beer garden. We’ll have food trucks, drinks, live music, and all that’s missing is YOU. Check out all the details here on the event page (view that here). If you’ve been collecting your Adventures in Ottawa pins, we have one with your name on it!
Hopefully you’ll join us for this FREE concert. The only way we’re able to put these free concerts on each year is because of some amazing businesses that sponsor the series. You can check them out here (view sponsors here). If you see any of these businesses, give them a thank you for supporting our community in this way!
Soccer Fever Is Spreading
As an avid soccer fan, the past week has been an absolute blast! So many great games on the world’s biggest stage. The cherry on top is that the Kansas City area is a part of it! Hosting its first World Cup game on Tuesday, KC got spoiled by an in-form performance by one of the greatest of all time, Messi. I believe he broke three records in that game, adding to his extremely long list of accomplishments. If you’re not a fan, there’s no better time than now to give it a shot! Makayla and I are joining some friends at the KC2026 Fan Festival at the WW1 memorial today for the USA’s second game. I look forward to sharing more next week. Have a good soccer-filled weekend!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
