After nearly six years of fundraising and working with the City of La Crosse, the fundraisers for a $1.15 million new pavilion at Forest Hills Golf Course will be cutting the ribbon Friday at noon.

The pavilion replaces the old country club building that was demolished twelve years ago, according to Dave Clements, one of the main fundraisers for the project.

The course is historically significant as the third oldest in Wisconsin, having begun in 1901.

Current and former business leaders began fundraising for the project, which Dave Clements describes as capitalizing on one of the three best views in all of La Crosse. He puts the view looking up at Grandad's Bluff from the golf course alongside the view from Riverside Park of the River and the view down on the City from the top of the bluff.

The pavilion is not enclosed - fundraising couldn't reach the level to enclose it, but it does provide a permanent place for events and concessions during busier days. It allows the course workers to serve food out of the pavilion, particularly when there are golf outings. 

No City taxpayer dollars were spent on the project. A portion of the funds raised are being kept for maintenance of the facility. 

Clements says more than 3300 golfers enjoyed Forest Hills golfing last year.