ALBERT LEA, MN--
Opening a golf course during an economic downturn might not seem like the best idea.“A lot of people have said that well, it was built at a time that a lot of people questioned whether this was going to succeed,” said Wedgewood Cove General Manager Holly Diepenbrock.
But then again, it might be just the thing to drive the economy back to par.....
“I think it's only great in the aspect that it's going to bring more people to Albert Lea and continue to keep the business in the town of Albert Lea,” said Diepenbrock.
Wedgewood Cove Golf Course is opening up it's back nine for the first time, bringing in a packed 10th tee box.
“We've had people come down from the cities, and of course we have a 30 mile radius of several towns: Austin, Owatonna, Faribault,” said Diepenbrock.
Course managers said they're not worried about the slow economy stopping people from playing. “I don't think that the economy or the reporting on the economy is going to get people to stop doing what they enjoy doing,” said Donnie Teeter, the head golf pro and course superintendent.
That includes people like Reid Olson. “My folks stopped by early this morning, said they had a tee time and asked if I could come out,” said Olson. “I was more than happy to come out and play a round with them.”
He enjoyed himself so much, he said he plans to come back every opportunity he gets.
“That's kind of a neat thing to say that we golfed on the first day that this course ever opened--so that was exciting,” he said.
The new course is banking on more golfers like Reid to keep business swinging through the recession.
