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American Legion gets into golf course business
For more than 88 years, the sign read Concordia Country Club.
Now, a new sign ushers in a new era for the Concordia American
Legion Golf Course.
The Concordia American Legion Post #76 Home has taken over the
operation of the golf course and clubhouse from the country
club.
Organized in March of 1919 and formally opened on July 4 of that
year, Concordia Country Club was unable to continue operation
because of financial struggles.
“Financially, we were just not able to make it work,” Larry
Henry, who served as the last board president of the country
club, said, “Our biggest problem was numbers. The membership was
not large enough to sustain the golf course.” The financial woes
led the country club to look into selling.
“The board decided to look into selling it, and the Legion
caught wind of it,” Henry said, “We talked to them a few times,
and one thing led to another.”
The American Legion purchased the country club this fall and has
since taken over the operation of the golf course and the
clubhouse, now known as The 19th Hole.
“We just thought it would be a good investment for us,” American
Legion general manager Leroy Tholstrup said, “So many clubs are
dying. We thought this would help our membership, and the town
needs a golf course. It would be a bad deal if this would
close.”
The purchase was approved overwhelmingly by both the country
club and American Legion memberships.
“It was a bittersweet deal,” Henry said, “Something that started
in 1919. That is not a fun thing.”The Concordia Country Club
corporation has since been dissolved.
The Concordia American Legion Golf Course will be open to the
public. Those who are not members, can pay green fees to play.
As it was with the country club, yearly golf and social
memberships will also be available. Those purchasing memberships
will also need to be a member of the American Legion, the Sons
of the American Legion, the Amercian Legion Auxiliary or an
associate member. “The associate membership will catch anybody
who doesn’t qualify for any of the others,” Tholstrup said. The
American Legion will begin taking memberships after the first of
the year. Family, single and student memberships will be
offered.
Raymond Mason, who manages the American Legion Club downtown,
will also manage the golf course and The 19th Hole with
Tholstrup overseeing both operations. “They (country club)
needed the individual management because they didn’t have that
in the past,” Tholstrup said, “We will run it like a business
should be run.”
The Amercian Legion has already begun making improvements.
The lounge has been redecorated and work has been done on the
kitchen. Tholstrup said the porch and the dining room will also
undergo improvements. A new sign at the entrance welcomes those
who come to the Concordia American Legion Golf Course.
Increasing membership will be a goal for the club. “I would like
to double it, but I don’t know if that will happen,” Tholstrup
said, “Being open to the public will offset some of that. I
think being open to the public will help pick up some of the
local people.”
Golfing activities such as men’s golf, ladies’ golf and Junior
Golf will still be offered. The 19th Hole restaurant will be
open from 6–9 p.m., on Friday and Saturday, in January. The
lounge is open daily at about 1 p.m. |
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