Business Spotlight advertorial: Rugged Spruce transitions to winter

Jim and Colleen Myhre have owned the Rugged Spruce Golf Course for four years now, going into this winter. And going into this winter is right, as the Rugged Spruce is open Wednesday through Sunday for drinks and great food.

"We bought the course on the Friday before Labor Day four years ago, golf season was nearly over, and the course had been closed for a couple of months," Jim said. "We had never owned a golf course - or a restaurant and bar, for that matter."

Jim and Colleen decided to open up the business that first winter just as Covid was hitting its peak. The name was changed from "29 Pines" and the adventure was off to its start.

"We just had to learn about the equipment and what we had," Jim said. Many things were out of date or broken down. Nearly every piece of equipment needed to be replaced. "We really had bitten off more than we could chew," Jim said.

They got to work, starting with hiring a full-time kitchen manager, Sheila Buell, with Colleen taking over managing the bar. "Thanks to great people, things started to fall into place," Jim said.

They've never looked back.

Since Pine Hill's closure in 2022, business at The Rugged Spruce has increased rather significantly. "When we first opened, all we found for balls in the woods were old Top Flites and Nitros. Now, we're finding Callaways and Pro Vs!" Jim said. Golf was slow through July this year, then started to pick up in August. "We tripled our greens fees from 2023 this September," said Jim. "People are starting to find us, and like our mom-and-pop operation."

Local businessman Brian Olsen, and Jim Kunze, who Jim Myhre says volunteers for just about everything, also lent their expertise and hard work from Day 1. The course also found a great maintenance man in Bob Kisler. "You can't run this place without the expertise, abilities and knowledge of great folks," Jim said. Teresa Klejeski is now taking over the role of grounds manager and is responsible for most of the mowing and upkeep on the course.

The Rugged Spruce added Dane Levinski and Katelyn Buell-Hurst to their staff. The two have been a godsend to the business.

"We simply cannot do it all," said Jim. "We've added two high-quality and dedicated managers to our staff to keep things in tip-top shape and provide great service to the public. If you doubt that, just check out our Facebook Page or our new merchandise room." Colleen says that Kate and Dane take a lot of pressure off managing the golf course and restaurant.

Mick and Cindy Geary have been a huge help - Mick built all of the clubhouse dining tables and outdoor planter boxes; and Cindy and Jim's mom, Donna, plant and maintain flowers throughout the course.

As the Rugged Spruce transitions into winter, it becomes a totally different business.

"We close down the course and all the outdoor areas, plant posts to designate a snowmobile path from the Munger Trail, and try to keep the pipes from freezing," Jim says. He and Colleen have made many improvements to stay open for the winter, including installing a new furnace, adding insulation to the attic, insulating the outside block walls and adding a woodburning pellet stove.

"The pellet stove is a nice touch, and people love it," Jim said. "When the restaurant has only a few open tables, it's rare that the table by the fireplace is unoccupied."

For the winter, the bar and restaurant open at 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and11 a.m. Saturday and Sundays ... sometimes earlier if conditions are just right. "Through the year, snowmobiles will be travelling through in the mornings and stop at 10 a.m. If we are there, we will open," Jim said.

Exciting events this winter include music on Wednesdays, led by Boss Mama herself, Colleen.

"I wanted to give this community a chance to hear some great music," said Colleen, who performs at 6 p.m. most Wednesdays, joined by a myriad of talented local musicians. Her band, The Jebberhooch, is a collection of her closest friends from the local music scene. Jacob and Owen Mahon, Jeff Gilbertson, Saul Myhre, Caleb and Brooke Anderson and many other artists play at the Spruce on Wednesday nights. "It's just a lot of fun making music and playing with these talented folks", says Colleen.

Family dinners are the staple of Thursday nights, with each week's menu inspired by local hometown and family recipes. Sheila puts the finishing touches on these meals, which offer desserts as well.

Watch for the Saturday morning breakfast announcement on the Rugged Spruce Facebook page, coming soon.

The Spruce stays open all weekend and offers hot drinks and food and drink specials.

"We're excited for the future and especially snow this winter," Jim said, with the reminder that with the snow come cross country ski trails at the golf course: "We groom about a mile-and-a-quarter of trails around the course during the winter," he said.

******

Rugged Spruce Golf Course Winter Schedule

Closed Monday & Tuesday

Open at 4 p.m. Wednesday thru Friday

Open at 11 a.m. Saturday & Sunday

For more information, call 218-389-9754 or visit http://www.golfruggedspruce.com or find them on Facebook @TheRuggedSpruceGolfClub.