Putters and Scoops opens for season

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Ready to get outdoors and have fun? Putters and Scoops at Ravine Lake Park is opening for the season this weekend with a full menu and, of course, South Dakota State University ice cream.

Under the ownership of Deanna Helvik, who purchased the enterprise in February, Putters and Scoops, located at 800 Easy Street, will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. each weekend through Memorial Day (May 25). After that, it will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week.

“I’m very excited for it,” said Helvik, who also works full time at the Plainsman. “I want to see it grow.”

Helvik will have a staff of about 10 people, both full and part-time, to help her operate the site.

To comply with social distancing restrictions still in place, Helvik said they will be offering to-go orders this weekend. People can place their orders at the door, and enjoy their food on picnic tables.

The menu will include sandwich wraps and panini and salads, along with pie, floats, smoothies, SDSU ice cream and South Dakota State Fair Wonder Bars.

“I have appetizers like fries, onion rings and cheese balls,” Helvik said. “It will all be air-fried, so it’s healthier.”

Putters and Scoops, located in the 1930s swimmers’ changing house, has seating for 30 people inside, and will also have a full concession stand offering candy and soda on the north side of the complex next to the 18-hole miniature golf course.

Although the miniature golf course is undergoing a renovation, people will still be allowed to play the game this weekend.

After Memorial Day, Putters and Scoops will offer rentals for paddle boats, paddle boards and kayaks.

“This summer we plan to have have a mini golf league for adults and kids,” Helvik said. “We’ll have birthday party packages, and I will have season passes this year for golfing, paddle boards and kayaking so they don’t have to pay each time.”

Ravine Lake Park also has a walking trail of almost a mile, with a fishing dock and gazebo on Izaak Walton Island. The lake is stocked with catfish, walleye, pike and crappie.