You won't find common golf course amenities such as a clubhouse or a pro-shop in Loyal near the school district's five-hole course. But for those who just want to golf, the price is right.
"It's free," said Jim Batchelor of Loyal. "Where else can you go and play five holes and not pay a penny?"
The public is welcome to use the golf course free at any time, although school activities take precedent, said Dan Lindgren, who maintains the course as Loyal High School's building and grounds director.
Physical education classes often utilize the course during the school day and the school's golf teams might be practicing after school, Lindgren said. The golf course also shares space during football season, as the team's practice field is in the middle of a fairway.
Greg Mahoney of Loyal said his four sons often walk over to the course to play. Two of them are on their school's golf team.
"It's just a great opportunity for the kids to pick up the game cheap," Mahoney said. "It's a lifelong sport. You get what you pay for, but you even get more since you don't pay. And it's close by - you just can't beat that situation."
Although the course is small, it allows golfers to work on all aspects of their game, Mahoney said.
"It's good for your irons," he said. "There's only one hole longer than 300 yards - the par 4."
Throughout the summer when the weather is nice in the evening after supper, there's usually several people out on the course practicing, Mahoney said. Some golfers hit a bucket of balls at a target, while others play a few rounds.
Batchelor was high school principal in the mid-'80s when the golf course was created on land between the baseball diamond and Westside Park. The land originally had been planned for a track course but was never developed.
The golf course wouldn't have happened without the vision of former superintendent Ralph Schober, who was an avid golfer, Batchelor said.
"He just felt it would be good for the community and good for the school," said Batchelor, who would like the school board to name the golf course after Schober.
A few years ago the local Lions Club and American Legion donated funds to reverse one of the short holes so errant balls stopped ending up across Highway 98, Lindgren said.
"We're one of the few school districts with its own golf course," Batchelor said. "It gets a lot of use - a lot of townspeople. We know a lot of out-of-town people come and use it."
Those who use the course should follow general golf etiquette, Lindgren said.
"A lot of people put a lot of time and money into that," Mahoney said. "It's kind of the pride of our community."
Source: The Marshfield News (Marshfield, Wis.)