7 Minute Miles

When Pipefitters Buy Country Clubs


Hillcrest Golf Club of St. Paul has new owners since the last time I played there – Steamfitters Pipefitters Local 455. I’m pretty sure this is the only union-owned private golf course in Minnesota (and it sounds like one of just a few in the whole country).

This was the third time I’ve played Hillcrest, the first two with former Eagle Eye Photography owner, Steve Smith. Aside from the ownership, nothing much had changed on the course from what I remember. I think some bunkers were removed from the hill fronting the 17th green, but that’s about it.

The greens were typical private course speedy and we couldn’t hold one all day – every approach shot would roll through to the back. With so many elevated greens, being at the back added an extra dimension of fear when putting back to pins located in the front. I also experienced several greens that I just couldn’t read – don’t know if they were optical illusions or what.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this course. It’s not exactly the greatest time to own a golf course, public or private. I know the union paid $4.3 million (in cash even), but I’d love to read the business plan behind that deal. Apparently the purchase agreement includes a commitment to stay private for a minimum of two years.

Hillcrest holds an interesting piece of St. Paul golf history, opening in 1921 as a municipal course and operated as a predominately Jewish private club from 1945 until the late 70s. The current clubhouse opened in 2000 and they’ve been offering numerous specials the past few years in a big marketing effort to stop declining membership. Time will time if the pipefitters have better luck with that goal.

Hillcrest trivia: the 14th tee is the highest point in Ramsey County.

Originally published by DK on September 17, 2011 at 11:05 pm in Golf, Longform


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