MEDORA - Randy Hatzenbuhler will try the patience of the weather gods this year.

Hatzenbuhler directs the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation, and he has more invested in rainfall than most people, unless they farm.

There's a new golf course growing in south of Medora, and people are very anxious to take a swing at it, judging by the phone calls he's getting.

What it needs badly, after a long dry fall and winter, is some sweet, gentle rain.

The problem is, tourists don't really like rain, especially if they're in the outdoor amphitheater watching the Medora Musical.

So, what he's hoping for is just the right amount of rain at the right time and not when hundreds of people are lined up with tickets to the musical in their hands.

"We'll be really picky in our wishes this year," Hatzenbuhler said.

When all is said and done, the foundation will have $4 million invested in the golf course.

It was supposed to be ready for play this spring, but the public opening is off schedule and may be delayed until next spring.

Hatzenbuhler said the inclination is to let the seeded grasses fully mature, rather than push the opening and cause damage.

He said the foundation board isn't ruling out some use later this summer, but it doesn't want to rush things, either.

"We want to make a really good first impression," he said.

The course is five miles south of Medora on land abutting the Little Missouri River. It's laid out with holes on the riverbottom, overlooked by holes in the rugged hills above the river.

Michael Hurdzan, the golf course architect, said the early arrival of winter last year prevented the completion of three of the 18 holes and delayed some seeding.

Hurdzan, one of the world's expert course designers, said the experience of working in the Badlands and with North Dakotans was top flight.

Besides finding some of the nicest people in the world in North Dakota, he had an opportunity to design what he believes will be one of the best courses anywhere.

"If it's not one of the best courses in western North Dakota, it's one of the best in the United States, period," Hurdzan said. "It's just going to be a fabulous golf experience."

He said he expects people will be a little suspect at first, trying to imagine a golf course in the rugged dry Badlands.

When they see it, their reaction will be, "Holy cow, look at this. It's pretty neat," he said.

Hatzenbuhler said most of the course work that's left is relatively minor. Not all his hopes hinge on rainfall, because some of the golf course will be irrigated from 300 acre feet of Little Missouri River water impounded in three reservoirs.

The next major project will be constructing a clubhouse, Hatzenbuhler said.

The clubhouse also will be the trail head for a planned walking and biking trail between the golf course and Medora. Some federal highway money will be used in its construction.

It's estimated that 12,000 rounds will be played on the course annually when it's operational and increase to 19,000 rounds. Green fees will be in the range of $39 weekdays and $49 weekends.

(Reach reporter Lauren Donovan at 888-303-5511 or scoop@ndonline.com.)