Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club saved by local family provides distraction for people during pandemic

TREMPEALEAU – Wis. (WKBT) – People can now tee off at golf courses this weekend after permission was given by Gov. Tony Evers’ when he extended the Safer at Home order.

We can keep our distance, socialize, and enjoy a 250-year-old pastime.

“It feels great,” said Chad Landis, general manager of Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club. “We are excited to get going.”

Landis has waited too long for this day.

Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club was purchased by a local family to continue operating in 2020.

“It’s been a long winter,” Landis said. “We were able to open for about three days before all of this hit.”

This pandemic forced nonessential businesses to close.

“We are dealing with it like everybody else,” he said.

This week permission was given to start taking tee times again.

Golf takes patience, but local resident Tyler Shrake said golf is a sport that transcends father time.

“My grandpa always told me that I should pursue golf because it’s a sport you can play for the rest of your life,” Shrake said.

This course was nearly closed for good when the previous owner couldn’t find a buyer.

Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club nearly closed permanently because the previous owner couldn’t find a buyer.

“There was a lot of worry,” Shrake said. ‘This is a big staple in this community.”

Landis and his family came together to keep this community treasure running.

“I sent my wife Amy a text and said, ‘What do you think?’ We called our family and 40 days later we were part of a new ownership team that took over,” Landis said.

This place lives on as a spot to unwind for people like Tyler who is dealing with his own obstacle.

“I am a new teacher. I’m a first-year teacher,” Shrake said.

With schools closed, he has to find new ways to connect with his students.

“One day we are kind of prepping and then three hours later we get a phone call that said, ‘We’re done,'” Shrake said.

He said some kids’ home lives are difficult and they can’t escape right now.

Trempealeau Mountain Golf Club opens after the governor’s green light.

“I think about that a lot,” he said. “I really miss the morning hugs. The smirks from across the room when they’re doing something wrong and I am calling them out on it.”

The countryside this course sits on allows him to escape, for a moment, so he can continue to do his important work.

“It just brings a lot of hope to the community,” Shrake said. “This is awesome. It’s a great place to be.”