Cook County News Herald

Farewell to the Gunflint Hills Golf Club






 

 

Members of the Gunflint Hills Golf Club met on Sept. 18. The reason for the meeting was to finalize ending of the club. President John Lindell called the meeting to order with Secretary Rosemary Lamson reading the minutes of the last meeting and giving the treasury report. Only eight members turned out for this meeting plus Mike Kunshier. (Six of those are in their 80s.)

The balance of the treasurer’s report, after the purchase of a TV for the clubhouse, was $199.20 and was turned over to Mike for use as seen fit for the clubhouse. The bank account with Yvonne Benson as treasurer was closed out Sept. 13, 2012.

No one had come forward to keep the club going as it had operated for years. This past summer there was no Ladies League, Mixed League or mixed events as in the past. The Men’s League and Senior Men continued with volunteer handicap and score card posting.

Winners of the Senior Men’s League were Frank Rabold and Dick Betz, first; Pete Ryden and Dwain Broe, second; Jerry Kohl and Bob Carter, third; and John Burnett and Jim Philips, fourth.

Men’s League winners were Pete Gresczyk, first; Dinky Pedersen, second; and Ron Gervais and Warren Hagen tied for third.

The club had been active since the late ’50s. Sometime along the way the early records have been lost. Anyone having or knowing of these records, please leave them at the clubhouse, designated for John Lindell, Rosemary Lamson or Eleanor Sjoberg.

In the prospering years, the club held tournaments with folks from Thunder Bay. There were mixed golf events with potlucks on Sunday afternoons. There were exchanges with the women at Silver Bay and Two Harbors and every end of summer there were the tournaments of all the leagues and club championships. For years everyone pitched in to run the events, but as years went by the older members faded away due to death, illness or moving away. We miss those days gone by, but a different way of life and volunteering seems to have come in its place.

The golf course is in great shape and many locals and visitors enjoy its beauty and wonderful greens. It’s open to anyone wanting to begin a new organization. If you have any suggestions, talk them over with Mike or any one of us old folks.

Thank you to Mike Kunshier, Rob Staples and all the course workers. Thank you to all the owners and managers over the years. Thanks to the village for buying the course to keep it going. Thank you to the people who worked for hours posting handicaps and scores. Thanks to all the great cooks who furnished those marvelous potlucks and many thanks to the girls and guys who tended the desk. The golfers appreciated it all.

There are a lot of good golfing days left, so get out there and enjoy!

See you on the course!


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