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Renovated cattle farm becomes golf courseBy Danielle Strenke One glance at the lush greens and weed-free fairways and itís hard to imagine that the expanse of land at Countryside Golf Course just outside Palmdale was a pasture a few years ago. Countryside Golf Course is the dream that has become reality for Brad and Janet Johnson of Shafer. When they decided to get out of the business of raising cattle, the couple talked about what they might want to do with their land. ìWeíve been talking about it and planning this for a long time,î Janet Johnson said. Brad Johnson, who has been a recreational golfer for many years, thought the farm land was the perfect setting for a golf course. Getting started was not easy. Start-up costs for a golf course business include several expensive items like various commercial-size lawn mowers and golf carts. The Johnsonís already had a building in mind for the clubhouse ñ the old cattle barn. The renovation of the barn took some time, but it is now nearly impossible to recognize the metal-sided building as a barn. After meeting with golf course designers, Brad Johnson decided he would be able to design the layout of the course himself. What he came up with was a nine-hole, par 35 course that includes a variety of terrains, from wide open fairways to narrower wooded areas. ìI tried to use the landscape of the area as much as possible, sculpting around the trees and pasture,î Brad said. The course opened in June, and has seen business steadily increase since opening,the Johnsons said. ìIt was slow at first, but the word is getting out,î Janet Johnson said. She said not only local people have been stopping by to play a round. ìWe had people stop during the Fourth (of July) from Edina, who were in the area to visit relatives. They ended up coming back to play a round,î she said. Brad Johnson said he has only been able to make it out on his course three times this year to play. ìTalking to different people, they said ëItís a good thing youíre not a die-hard golfer, because thinking you will get to play a lot of golf is not a good reason to open your own golf course ñ thereís no timeí,î he said. Bradís time also is taken up by his other two businesses, an excavating company and farming on 300 acres of soybeans and corn. Janet Johnson usually can be found working at the clubhouse, checking in customers and scheduling tee times. The Johnsons are pleased with the response that Countryside Golf Course has received, they said. A Thursday night mens league has been popular and a womens fun night on Wednesdays recently was added to the course schedule. Janet Johnson said the women in the group did not want it to be a competitive league, but wanted a chance to enjoy playing golf with fun prizes for different contests like longest drive or least number of putts. The club features a driving range that is open daily. On the range, golfers can use the wide open tee boxes and enjoy a beautiful view of the countryside. To celebrate the courseís opening season, a round of nine holes is $10. For information about joining a league, tee times or setting up a golf outing, call Countryside Golf Course at 651-257-6387. The course is located at 34491 Red Wing Ave. (CR 76), three miles east of Almelund and just south of Hwy. 95 and Palmdale. The Johnsons are not finished with their golf course dream, yet, they said. ìItís not perfect, but we think itís a good course already and the improvements weíre planning will make it even better,î Janet Johnson said. ìItís a work in progress,î Brad Johnson added. ©ECM Post Review |