Mahtowa course beckons golfers

"It's the finest little

nine-hole course in

Minnesota."

That's what one of the ladies in the clubhouse bar told me as I completed my interview at 29 Pines Golf Course in Mahtowa. I had to try the famous homemade chicken Alfredo pizza and a North Shore microbrewery beer to make my visit complete and perfect. After a few bites and sips, it made me wonder if I shouldn't be chasing down Carlton County's tastiest pizza but I continued in my assignment of reviewing Carlton County's golf courses.

29 Pines Golf Course is located just off old Highway 61 in Mahtowa about 20 minutes south of Cloquet. It first opened in 1976, 43 seasons ago, after Fred and Dorthy Branham converted the old family farm into a sporty, nine-hole, par 34, golf course. When first plotted out, there were 29 pines that separated the golf course from a hayfield. Fred Branham worked at Potlatch, grew up and lived in Scanlon (prior to living in Mahtowa), and designed the original nine holes. Today, the various holes are well defined by rows of pine and spruce trees and woods. Betty and Virgil LaFond operated the course for about 20 years after the Branhams.

Roxanne "Rocci" Olson, the current owner, purchased the course in 2002. It's a great story of fate. It was the late 1990s, and she was working as a brewer in the Hamm's Brewery in St. Paul. She had worked there for 16 years and, if she would have had her choice, would have retired there. She said - and I had to verify this twice - the workers could drink beer during their shift and the plant had an impeccable safety record.

In 1997, she was driving and heard on her car radio that the Hamm's Brewery, after bottling beer for nearly 100 years, was closing the plant, laying off all employees, and shutting down operations.

At the same time, her parents, who lived in a cabin just down the road from the Mahtowa golf course, both had been diagnosed with chronic health conditions. She moved north to help take care of them. Eventually, with her parents still ill, Olson realized she needed to find work. 29 Pines was for sale. With no previous golf experience, and selling her home in St. Paul to garner a downpayment, she bought the course.

"My idea of what a birdie was," said Rocci, "had no correlation to golf."

Her parents both died shortly after she bought the course so they weren't able to see the fruits of her labor. The first thing she did was to tear out the walls and repaint the inside of the clubhouse. She invited the previous year's workers back and asked for help from members.

Rocci said that the fertilizer companies, chemical applicators, beer distributors, and all others involved with the operating of a golf course were patient and helpful in her opening-year learning curve.

Olson said there are always "projects" that need attention. It could be irrigation or drainage issues, equipment breakdowns, scheduling and training staff, business planning or developing the "perfect" homemade pizza crust. Now, she is putting together the clearing and building of a potential campground next to the course. The campground would be adjacent to the Munger bike and hiking trails and with the addition of the golf course could be a nice lure to campers.

29 Pines has Women's League on Wednesday, Men's League on Thursday, and Seniors on Fridays. There are very affordable annual memberships and a special now (except on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings) - after 5 p.m. two people can play golf and rent a cart for $25. Olson said they are the home course for the Barnum High School golf team and youth membership is quite strong and interest is growing. There's been an expanded kitchen and cooler in recent years and a varied menu.

In walking and touring the course, I noticed some very special touches. Throughout the golf course, there are flower beds with perennials and other greenery. Rocci said that the members will add to the flowers with their own personal statements including birdhouses, statues, and even pink flamingos. There is attention to detail with the tree bases trimmed, and tees and greens were in excellent condition. Discounts for golf can be found on Groupon and on the WKLK radio auction. Stop in and play a round of golf. I'm sure you'll feel welcome.

Writer 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.