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Team effort earns Riverview students chance to putt for years to come

Eighth grade English Language Arts teacher Sam Wright (left) and Northwest Elementary School Principal Mark DuBois (right) took some of the first putts on the new Riverview Middle School putting green after its dedication on Oct. 21.
Eighth grade English Language Arts teacher Sam Wright (left) and Northwest Elementary School Principal Mark DuBois (right) took some of the first putts on the new Riverview Middle School putting green after its dedication on Oct. 21. Photo by Joni Knott.

A new putting green at Riverview Middle School will allow students both on the golf team and in physical education classes to practice their golfing skills for years to come.

"It was a team effort to put it together and it actually worked," says Northwest Elementary School Principal Mark DuBois. "Ultimately, it was just something that I thought would be really neat for the kids. Hopefully the kids will get to enjoy it."

In 2013, DuBois - then athletic director at Riverview - had, and pursued, the idea that the kids at the school should have a place to practice their golf techniques and skills. Now, 16 months later, the putting green is ready for use.

"It just so happened that I was driving by highway 5 one afternoon and saw them out spraying the (former Frazanda) golf course because they were going to make it into farm ground," said DuBois. "I thought why not give it a try."

The sod was donated to the middle school by the new land owners and has been cared for by Dubois, Sam Wright and other members of the staff and student body.

"The kids laid the green along with the faculty and Mr. Dubois worked really hard at getting it to a point that it was going to maybe make it," says Riverview Principal Curt Crago. "From there, Sam Wright was the individual who really took the lead in keeping it going, working on it, mowing it, preparing it, dressing it and getting it to a point that it is at now."

Wright teaches eighth grade English and language arts at Riverview and says he took on caring for the green due to his love for the game of golf, something that was instilled in him by his father.

"This green would certainly not have gotten so far along without incredible support and help," says Wright. "I have to thank all of the faculty and staff and numerous students who have made this initial sodded move from Frazanda, and most recently helped me to heavily top-dress and get it to this level."

The new putting green will be named Dubois' Dornoch and has been dedicated by Crago "in the memory of Jack Wright (Sam Wright's father) who instilled in his sons the love of a noble game."

The Royal Dornoch Golf Club is a top-rated golf course in Scotland.

Complete caption: Eighth grade English Language Arts teacher Sam Wright (left) and Northwest Elementary School Principal Mark DuBois (right) took some of the first putts on the new Riverview Middle School putting green after its dedication on Oct. 21. The new putting green has been named DuBois’ Dornoch and dedicated to the memory of Jack Wright to honor those who played a pronounced role in seeing the project to its completed state.