Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 31

than willing to take their money and welcome
them onto the course, " Safranski says.
" But it is defi nitely a matter of if you build
it, they will come. And it works-I have
heard people say, 'I didn't think I would
ever be able to play again.' "
Braemar also brings in new players with a
Marc Battisini (top) and John Steiner
(below) work on their game at Island
Lake Training Center as part of the
Sister Kenny Golf Program.
golf mentoring program that has been operating
for more than a decade. Players taking
swing lessons are matched up with mentors
(volunteer patron card holders at the course)
who teach the newcomers everything from
rules and etiquette to pace-of-play tips and
even how to make a tee time reservation.
The recently retired Valliere, who created
the program, saw better retention of
golf students at Braemar as a result and
noticed that the mentors got as much out
of it as the students. He said it seemed to
help with the intimidation factor because
the students end up on the course playing
with accomplished golfers.
" The students are now comfortable on a
golf course, " Valliere says. " They are not intimidated
because they are out there playing
with other golfers. It's really an opening
of the door to playing the game, not just
making a golf swing. "
The Money Game
Expense (or perceived expense) may be
the biggest barrier for some people-but
twilight green fees and other discount programs
have changed that in recent years.
It is possible to fi nd a course that fi ts a
person's budget. Even private clubs have
changed their rules of engagement by lowering
initiation fees, eliminating clubhouse
spending minimums and even letting the
public in. These semi-private courses have
existed for decades all over the state.
Osakis Country Club is a nine-hole semiprivate
where 200 members mingle with the
daily-fee public. Manager Linda Kalpin says
it is a nice mix. " We are near Osakis Lake, so
we thought we'd bring in a lot of [vacationers], "
she says. " That way we keep our membership
fees down, because if we were exclusive,
our fees would be quite a bit higher.
Really, our membership fees are dirt cheap. "
The course offers members priority tee
times; there are no mandatory clubhouse
minimums, and membership provides the
sense of community of a country club. Osakis
CC is home to the high school golf team
56%
of players have a
household income of
$25,000 to $100,000
(including Kalpin's granddaughter), which
has played in the state tournament three of
the past four years. They have ladies and
men's days, and several years ago they lowered
green fees for players 30 years old and
younger to help grow their numbers.
Kalpin believes golfers can fi nd the
course that works for them if they look hard
enough. " There are a number of golf courses
to choose from in the area, so golfers can fi nd
one they can be comfortable at, " she says.
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Fall 2011 MINNESOTAGOLFER
29
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011

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