FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAME

BY ASHLEY HANLEY

North Links provides locals a close place to get their golf fix.

“My recollection is that Andrew was playing tee to green by age 10. He definitely learned the game there. We bought the unlimited range pass, so he spent many hours driving, chipping and putting at the North Links range. He likely started that at age 8,” reflects North Mankatoan Craig Christensen. Andrew is now 21 and still playing the sport of golf. A love he developed at North Links.

Andrew’s love of North Links was evident in his smile at a very young age.

Craig and his son Andrew continue to hit the links together on a regular basis. “We’ve golfed a lot of courses over the years, but I think Andrew and I both consider North Links our first home course,” says Craig.

Indeed, North Links helped many locals develop a love of the sport. Located on the outskirts of North Mankato off of Highway 14, North Links Golf Course is a public golf course featuring a traditional, prairie style layout with multi-tiered and undulating greens to challenge golfers of all abilities. North Links features an extensive practice facility, full-service banquet facilities, and a fully stocked Pro Shop. They also offer league play, practice sessions and lessons for any golfer.

The course shares a long and storied history in the community. They officially opened for play back in 1993. It was originally built and owned by the city of North Mankato, making it a municipal golf course.

Shortly thereafter, the golf course went into private hands and has been owned by a family from the Twin Cities since 1996. That family owns eight golf courses in four states under the title Wilson Golf Group.

If golfing isn’t necessarily up your alley, they also offer some amenities for public use and individual events.

They also offer a private banquet room that according to their website, “Our banquet staff specialize in wedding receptions and golf outings of all sizes. The banquet facilities at North Links provide panoramic views of the golf course with outdoor and indoor patio areas to give your event added ambiance.”

With a scenic setting and longstanding history, North Links has plenty to offer any golfer and to the community as a whole.

North Links is unique in the Mankato area as the only regulation 18-hole public golf course.

With the numerous offerings, the course keeps thriving through the decades of service from one local man.

Mike Thomas has been the General Manager and PGA Golf Professional at North Links for 27 years.

But Thomas doesn’t just take the credit himself for how smoothly the facility operates.

He says there is a dedicated group that works to keep the club running.

“We have about 25 people that work at the golf course, 10 or so in the clubhouse and about 15 that maintain the golf course.”

With 50 people working with the clients or behind the scenes, the grass truly is greener on their side of the golf course.

Although the pandemic hit North Links like other area businesses, Thomas says there are also some very positive things that came as a result.

Thomas says, “The pandemic has been a huge boon to the golf business not only in Mankato but the entire world. Golf had been declining since the recession of 2008 and the pandemic reversed that in a heartbeat. Google that and you will have more than I can contribute here,” he jokes.

The numbers back Thomas’ assessment.

“Fifteen years ago, 32,000 people played golf yearly at North Links. Because of the recession and other factors we were down to 19,000 rounds in 2019. During the pandemic and last year we are back to 32k,” he says excitedly.

He credits one big reason for the boost in business.

“Like all outdoor activities golf was / is something you can do safely, and people came flooding back to golf. It's a good use of time and money. It's positive in all aspects of one's life: physical, mental and personal.”

Thomas says it is not just the fun of the game of golf that makes North Links so successful, he says another big draw is that golf is for people of all ages that spans literally for decades.

“Being a public golf course, we have a great cross section of players: small children up to people in their 90s,” notes Thomas. “I have a guy who plays regularly that is 98! Unusual but true. I have many golfers in their 80s, too.”

Andrew Christensen picked up a golf club at a very early age, and has hardly put it down since.

Thomas says he even has quite a few father/son combinations that come in on a regular basis to tee it off, just like Craig and Andrew Christensen.

So, whether it is your first time hitting the green, or the 100th, North Links Golf Course holds a special place in the North Mankato community for golfers of all ages, competitiveness and abilities. 