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
The first green at the Moose Lake Golf Club is directly behind the welcome sign at the entry to the course.
Moose Lake Golf Club pro and manager Josh Gamst stands outside the clubhouse. The course is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.
Tucked a few miles west of the Moose Lake, on beautiful Sand Lake, is the Moose Lake Golf Club.
Established in 1929, this nine-hole club is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. For my Carlton County Golf Course update, I interviewed club manager Josh Gamst.
According to course history, Moose Lake Golf Club was originated by a banker (Richard Lewis), an attorney (Clayton Dodge), and a dentist (Elmer Williams). The three, along with community supporters, were able to purchase the Romanoski farm on the south shore of Sand Lake In 1929.
In designing the course, club leaders enlisted the assistance of Duluth newspaper sports writer Runcie Martin. Martin must have been quite a course advisor during this era as he was also involved in the development of the Cloquet Country Club six years earlier.
The Moose Lake Golf Club had sand greens (and carpeting to put in a player's line) until 1952-54 when grass greens were put in place with the help of a $300 assessment of 20 stockholders. Per organizational minutes, green fees were reduced from 1930s prices to 25 cents for nine holes to 65 cents for all day in 1955. The course has had several brushes with potentially permanently closing the operation, but club manager Josh Gamst said volunteers always rose to the occasion and ensured a viable golf club.
"In our history and to this date, it's a common theme: volunteers have been indispensable," Gamst said.
The Moose Lake Shortstop tournament, started in 1956 and held every August, perennially draws capacity crowds of players and observers. Gamst said the "Shoot the Moose" tournament held in June also has evolved into an important club function. Proceeds from this fun tourney have meant the club has been able to make over $1 million in improvements to the course over the last 10 years.
Gamst made it a priority to mention a group of about 30 senior volunteers known as the "Spirit Group," which recently completed a very large addition to the clubhouse.
Staff were busy prepping for a wedding reception in the addition on the same day I was playing there in a senior golf tourney that had 72 players. Busy clubhouse for a Friday in September.
The course measures 2,453 yards from the white tees and is a par 34 for the nine holes. There are currently around 230 members (who are also the course owners), with Joann Kendall having the most seniority. She doesn't golf much anymore, but has been a member for more than 60 years and still enjoys participating in club dinners and other functions. Gamst has been the course manager since 2008.
The course is in great shape. The greens hold high shots and putt true. The fairways are well defined and in nice condition. Gamst said that there are five workers on the greens maintenance crew and about 20 overall employees.
One very unique feature of the Moose Lake Golf Club - it has its own marina. The course abuts Sand Lake. Just like the historical story with Paul Revere and the British, local residents can decide whether they want to come to the club for a great steak dinner "by land or by sea." There also are a couple of large golf cart facilities with some of the "seasonal" members storing their carts at the club for longer periods of time.
Come and visit this public golf course in Moose Lake. I think you will find it to be a great experience.
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.
