Pine Hill in Carlton caters to golfers of all ages

Mark Twain once said: "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Such is the case for Jim and Cassie Barry, who have owned and operated the Pine Hill Golf Club in Carlton for the past 14 years.

Located just over one mile south of Highway 210 on Highway 61 in Carlton, Pine Hill Golf Course isn't hard to find. Just drive past the Royal Pines Inn, Olsonville, and the Carlton County transportation building on "Old 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. The course changed ownership a few times after that, until the Barrys bought it in 2005.

When asked how a person goes about purchasing a golf course, Jim's answer was unexpected.

"Like anything else," he said, "you look on the internet."

Jim worked as a plant manager at a factory that built batteries in the Twin Cities area. He said it was an extremely stressful job that was on his mind from the time he got up until he went to bed.

He had played golf when he was 12 and then took up the sport again at an older age. It seemed that the only time he found solace from his day job was with a club in his hands at the golf course.

The battery factory eventually shut down and Jim began searching for business opportunities in northeastern Minnesota. He preferred a job that was independent, away from the metro hustle and bustle, and without direct sales responsibility.

Although he had no previous experience with golf course management, he found the ad for Pine Hill on the internet under "opportunities" and initiated business transaction conversations.

He then took a leap of faith to pursue what he loved.

Jim said he has learned most of his course maintenance responsibilities through experience, trial and error, and the computer. He calls himself a "fast learner." Course drainage had been his No. 1 issue and, with tons of sweat equity, Jim has the problem nearly resolved.

"Water flows downhill, that's easy," he said.

Jim has made large underground drainage ditches that get the water moving toward Otter Creek. Holes 5 and 6 are adjacent to a swamp and after a thunderstorm there would be a river going across the fairway ... now it is just puddles. He said he works about 80 hours per week.

In addition, there are four part-time employees at Pine Hill. The purchase of the golf course also included equipment - greens, fairway, rough and tee mowers - that need to be maintained. The facility also has a full beer and drink bar with hot dogs and pizza available for hungry patrons.

August is a big month at the course, with Harold's Fiasco golf tournament and the Eagles tourney both on the calendar.

"Harold's tourney is something else," Jim said, noting that Harold's Fiasco is an all-day event at the course, with proceeds going to St. Jude's Hospital. "Over 200 golfers participate; it's unbelievable what he (Harold) does; words can't describe it."

The Eagles tourney usually has about 70 golfers. The big Lost Tavern Open, another typical August tourney, was postponed this year but may return.

Pine Hill has a senior league on Mondays, a men's league on Wednesday evenings and a couples league on Thursdays. Jim thinks they have found their niche by catering to retired, senior and beginner golfers. The course isn't easy and has challenging holes for all golfers, but is flatter and quite walkable. He has seen an uptick in junior golfers this year as well, perhaps a result of Tiger Woods winning the Masters. A nine-hole round, for $14, can usually be played in about one hour and 15 minutes.

Jim and Cassie have no regrets about purchasing Pine Hill. He loves the people of northeastern Minnesota, the challenges, and being able to work on a golf course everyday. Jim is battling some health issues now but is very appreciative of the support he has received by all. This writer wishes him well and thanks him for the great interview.

Steve Korby's interest in writing goes back to when he was in fourth grade and editor of the Scan-Satellite school newspaper in Scanlon. Steve loves sports, especially golf. He welcomes human interest stories and tales regarding Carlton County residents, projects, history, and plans.