A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
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Over the last weekend of August, the Cloquet Country Club hosted its annual Dan Sheff Memorial golf tournament, an adult-child event that has become the second- largest tournament of the summer. “It is very gratifying seeing families coming together to enjoy the game of golf at our facility,” said CCC golf pro Bill Manahan. “We’re happy to host the event.” More than 170 golfers teed it up for this year’s festivities. Typically, teams are parents and grandparents partnering with children or...
Bob Bromme recently stopped in Cloquet to catch up with friends and to pay a reverent visit to the site where his wife is buried, and where he will be, too. He's 88 now, born in 1933, and lives in Surprise, Arizona. I caught up with him at the Pine Knot office to listen to tales of his storied past. Bob said he couldn't figure out why a columnist might want to interview him; after all, he's "generic." Hardly, Bob. Bromme's parents moved to Cloquet when he was 5 years old. His dad got a job at...
As a kid, I often dreamed, looking out the Scanlon grade school windows, of what magazine cover I might someday grace. I thought it was very possible, in fact likely. Kind of cocky for a little kid. Would it be Sports Illustrated after hitting seven telephone poles in a row with a snowball? Or perhaps Cycling, after getting my one-speed Huffy bicycle to 50 mph on the newly paved 14th Street hill? Of course, after I won my own Scanlon Open, it appeared probable the magazine would be Golf or Golf...
It was a beautiful warm July summer day at the Rugged Spruce Golf Club in Mahtowa. About 25 golfers had played in the Friday morning golf scramble. After nine holes, most linksmen were grabbing for their water bottles and refueling, as recommended by experts, for the final nine holes. One golfer stood out from the crowd. He looked like he hadn't even broken a sweat. His name is Gayle Grant, he's 88 years old, and he walks 18 holes pushing his cart at the Rugged Spruce every Friday. I had to...
After three glorious days of perfect golfing weather, Hermantown's Taylor Sundbom emerged as the champion of the 90th annual Cloquet Invitational golf tournament, shooting a total three-under par. It was the fourth time Sundboom has won the tournament hosted by the Cloquet Country Club. Recent high school state champion and Cloquet native Sam Baker finished two strokes back. John Sheff tied for third at even par. He and Monticello native Brian Moores each shot 213. A total of 175 golfers partici...
After working around some pandemic restrictions last summer, the 90th annual Cloquet Invitational is being held at Cloquet Country Club, this Friday through Sunday (July 9-11), as normal. In all, 175 golfers are registered for this prestigious event, including Alex Kolquist, last year’s champ. In the 2020 championship flight, Kolquist defeated Travis Blais of International Falls by two strokes. It was the second Cloquet title for the Hermantown native, who also won at CCC in 2012. Dan Moline f...
There were police car sirens and flashing lights, celebratory posters, gratified parents, grandparents, friends, school officials plus local television and newspaper reporters at the Cloquet Country Club on Thursday. All were there to welcome home the Minnesota High School League State Boys Class AA golf champions: the Cloquet Lumberjacks. As the school van came to a halt and the doors opened, a crowd erupted into cheers at the sight of the Cloquet golfers and coaches emerging from the van,...
In what will go down in state golf history as one of the most memorable, dramatic individual finishes in high school play, Sam Baker won the Class AA State Boys Golf Championship Wednesday. Add to all of that, the Cloquet boys team won it all as well. Baker beat Beck Erholtz of Staples-Motley by one stroke. They traded the lead back and forth over the last few holes before Baker birdied two of the last three holes to emerge on top at the Ridges at Sand Creek golf course in Jordan. Baker's group...
After purchasing the course in the latter part of 2020, this is the first full year of operations for Rugged Spruce Golf Club owners Jim and Colleen Myhre. They’ve already put in their share of sweat equity with some major improvements to the Mahtowa-area course formerly known as 29 Pines. The weather was kind, and the course opened early this year. They’ve also poured a large concrete deck floor that extends from the clubhouse entry toward the first hole. It is a big slab perfect for out...
Test your local golf knowledge with these question’s from the Pine Knot’s golf guru Steve Korby. And check out this week’s Extra, which features a guide to courses in Carlton County. 1). The new owners of the Rugged Spruce Golf Club in Mahtowa (purchased in 2020) are: a) Bobby and Julie Tamarack b) Jim and Colleen Myhre c) Fred and Grace Sappi 2). The Cloquet Country Club, established in 1923, had the same president of its board of directors for its first 14 years of operation. Who was he? a) Wi...
Chris Klatte is the owner of Grand View Golf Links on Midway Road by the Dry Dock Restaurant, and he holds the lease to operate the public Proctor Golf Course on Highway 2 in downtown Proctor. The golf course business is in his blood. "My grandpa built the golf course in Plymouth, Minnesota," Klatte said. "My dad was the pro and my uncle was the greenskeeper. I grew up working on a golf course." While in Plymouth in 1997, Chris, then 21, had a friend who wanted to partner with him and purchase...
It's early in the 2021 golf season, but Cloquet Country Club manager and PGA pro Bill Manahan has been smiling proudly since Day 1 for several reasons First, and very importantly, when CCC superintendent Jud Crist, staff and volunteers took the covers off the greens in late March, they confirmed the putting surfaces came through the winter in excellent condition. Second, even with the pandemic, CCC had a very favorable financial year and several cosmetic, but needed, updates were being...
The Big Lake Golf Resort is once again open for business. After lots of work by the new owners (Bill Jaskari, Jennifer Serafin, Camille and Chris LeBrasseur, and Amy and Matt DeCaigny), the course is open and welcoming players and guests. Big Lake Golf is a nine-hole, par-27 golf course located at 780 Cary Road in Cloquet, a mile from Big Lake, which lies between Cloquet and Sawyer. It's "The Biggest, Littlest, Toughest, and Friendliest Course in the World" as coined by former owners Joyce and...
Divots Driving Range in Sturgeon Lake is the only driving range between Hinckley and the Black Bear Casino Resort in Carlton. Owned and operated by Luke and Jackie Horton, 2021 marks the fourth summer of operation for Divots Driving Range. For $6 a bucket, participants can get a good workout. “There’s about 60 balls in a bucket,“ Luke said, “and people will leave their buckets about half full for the next customer because they get exhausted … especially with recent heat.” Most of the custome...
The Moose Lake Golf Club is celebrating its 92nd season in 2021. Pro/manager Josh Gamst is now in his 14th season. "Our grills are cooking and our decks and dining room are now open (per guidelines) to serve our hungry and thirsty golfing guests," he said. "The course is greening up fast and getting into spectacular shape." Food specials this summer include Taco Night on Wednesdays and Hamburger Night on Saturdays, both 4-8 p.m. The club's big June fundraiser, Shoot the Moose, is scheduled for...
Kendahl Miniature Golf in Cloquet is in its 56th year of providing generations of families an enjoyable outdoor experience. A third generation of the Erickson family operates the Cloquet landmark. They are open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting, at 812 Sunnyside Drive. The price for 18 holes is $6 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Ask about group reservations and rates by calling 218-879-3314. "I get a kick out of it that some Duluth residents call it their Cloquet summer bucket...
Jim and Cassie Barry have owned and operated the Pine Hill Golf Club in Carlton for the past 15 years. It's located just over a mile south of Highway 210 on Highway 61 in Carlton. Just drive past the Royal Pines Inn, Olsonville, and the Carlton County transportation building on Old Highway 61, and you're there. Originally built by Carlton resident Walter Radzak as a three-hole course and driving range in the 1970s, Bob Kelley designed and expanded the course to nine holes and par 31 in 1996....
Where do you go for relaxation, fresh air, exercise and recharging your batteries? Where is your retreat? Many golfers in the region escape to the Retreat Golf Club, 5 miles east of Floodwood on Highway 2. The nine-hole scenic golf course is open to the public. Esko resident Dan Donofrio has owned the Retreat for 11 years, with the goal of being "the finest nine-hole golf course in Minnesota." He thinks they're on the right track. The Retreat Golf Club offers men's, women's and couples leagues,...
The Scanlon Open. In Scanlon’s long history, it is the most prestigious recorded golf tournament held within its boundaries. The story begins in 1968. My folks had a summer cabin on Eagle Lake near Cromwell. Just north on Highway 73, the city of Floodwood was celebrating its 75th year since incorporation. My dad asked me, while we were at the lake, if I wanted to accompany him to the festival. Sure, why not, I thought — with three other siblings I didn’t get many opportunities alone with Dad....
It's outdoor track season for local high schools and Rol Bromberg Field at Cloquet High School is bustling with more than 100 athletes on the track and field team who just combined efforts to win the Lake Superior Conference championship. This time of year brings to mind a track feat accomplished by two Cloquet athletes - John Angst and George Lange - 50 years ago. The Region 7 high school track meet in May of 1971 was held at the Washington School track in Cloquet. While most teams arrived in...
Could it happen again? Way back in 1962, Cloquet golfing legend Harry "Butch" Newby Jr. was the captain of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers golf team. Could someone from Cloquet again be leading this Big 10 golf powerhouse? It's possible. Cloquet Lumberjacks senior Sam Baker is in the process of rating, applying, finalizing and choosing where he plans to attend college in the fall of 2021. His golfing ability and potential are putting him in a very favorable position for his future...
Cloquet versus Hibbing. Boys basketball 1976 Region 7 finals. Showcased players in this game are future Gopher and NBA player Kevin McHale at 6-foot-10 for Hibbing and 6-foot-3 (and ½ inch) Cloquet center Jay Shogren. The Bluejackets won the game and finished second in the Minnesota boys basketball state tournament. McHale went on to be all Big Ten at the U of M, the third overall pick in the NBA draft, played on three world championship teams with the Boston Celtics and had his number...
Seeing how people are struggling and yet winning battles with Covid-19 reminds me of my friend Dave Boyer - a man with great inner strength and character - and so does my wedding anniversary this month, as Boyer was my best man. One of his goals was to live to 2000 and celebrate the new century. He died in 1999 at age 46 from complications of kidney disease. Growing up, Boyer was one of the best athletes in Cloquet in his age group. I recall seeing his many Punt, Pass, and Kick trophies,...
Wendy Hudler is one of few Carlton County high school graduates who have played Division 1 college golf and professional golf. Hudler grew up on Chestnut Street just above Pinehurst Park in Cloquet. Her family's home was adjacent to an open lot where kids could play outside year-round. Jim Tomhave was a neighborhood buddy. She had older brothers and a sister as well. Occasionally, her brothers used to pack her up with pillows and a face mask when they needed a goalie for their shinny hockey game...
Golf has survived the pandemic, albeit with a few changes in Carlton County the past year. After some pandemic unknowns, the Cloquet Country Club, the Moose Lake Golf Club, and Pine Hill Golf Club opened with restrictions and special rules. Surprisingly, these courses had record player turnout and golf rounds posted. In July of 2020, the Mahtowa 29 Pines Golf Club was sold to Jim and Colleen Myhre and the course name changed to the Rugged Spruce Golf Club. It opened around Labor Day with much...
