By MATT BIGELOW mbigelow@faribault.com
Ever wanted to golf where the pros golf?
The Straight River Golf Course has an aboutGolf PGA Tour simulator program that allows players to play virtual golf at more than 100 different locations, including courses where the pros play, like Augusta National, TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Beach.
Joe Lehrer, the owner of the club is using the virtual golf simulator as one of the many new draws for business. He’s opening a restaurant at the club soon and has renovated the golf course to appeal to a more casual audience. He’s also launching a 17th Anniversary Drive for members who want to join at a reduced price.
“This is the best the course has been in 17 years,” said Lehrer. “The course was so mismanaged before, so we want people to kind of rediscover us a little bit.”
As for the golf simulator, Lehrer said he was inspired to check into the idea of getting one because the clubhouse was too big. The space could be used more efficiently, so Lehrer and a business associate looked into four different simulators in the area and chose theirs because of the enhanced putting capabilities.
The simulator took two days to set up and calibrate and since they set it up in January, the simulator has steadily been booked for rental Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Lehrer said the simulator can be an excellent training device for novice golfers. It can be used during golf lessons, as a driving range, and especially for days when weather shuts down the course. It also can be a great draw for the evening crowd that wants to play after the course closes due to darkness.
Craig Angell of Le Center is one of the guests who frequent the club, and he said the simulator is a great tool to help grow the business.
“It’s the nicest simulator I’ve ever been to,” said Angell. “It allows you to play year-round, there are different games you can play to mix it up and appeal to more people. It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are, you get it for an hour and can swing away.”
The simulator itself allows players to choose the course they want to play at, the time of day, the weather/conditions and even give themselves a handicap. Players can use a variety of clubs, and aside from the massive screen; it is like playing real golf.
Lehrer said he wants his club to appeal to a more casual golfer and said their plan has been to market to families, couples and those new to general golf as a hobby.
“We are a bit of a secret around Minnesota,” said Lehrer. “We aren’t trying to draw in the super competitive or really experienced golfers or the really serious people to our club. We want to get the players who don’t have as much experience or are new to golf, the casual folks who want to have a good time, and the guys who want to have a night out.”
The physical course is composed mostly of par-3 holes, which allows the player to get a round of golf in much quicker than a typical course, and the soon-to-be opened restaurant with the virtual golf simulator give the club a bevy of features that can be enjoyable for everyone.
“All we do is fun,” said Lehrer.

Posted: Tuesday, April 3, 2012 2:57 pm | Updated: 10:23 am, Mon Apr 30, 2012.
By REBECCA RODENBORG rrodenborg@faribault.com
“I don’t know if it was lack of water or wrong chemicals or what,” Lehrer said. “But now we’re working to turn it around. We’re taking the top soil off 13 of the 18 greens and will be re-seeding them later this week.”
The clubhouse on Cates Avenue is going to get some touching up as well. The carpet, which Lehrer said had been in since the clubhouse was built in 1996, is now torn out and lying near the building. The entire floor will be replaced with hardwood and Lehrer said he hopes to polish up the overall look of the clubhouse.
“You won’t recognize it when you walk in this summer,” he said.
Steve Haglind, manager for previous property owner Straight River Holdings LLC, said he was excited to hear of what Lehrer and his family had planned for Straight River Golf Course.
“Joe has come along and he’s got some nice plans for the place,” Haglind said.
Lehrer grew up on a golf course with his parents and said he has always dreamed of owning one.
“I’ve just always had my eyes on one,” he said.
Although Lehrer plans to hire six or seven people to work at the course, his wife Mary and four children ages 24, 22, 19 and 16 will all play active roles as well.
“It’s going to be like our summer home,” Lehrer said. “Some people buy a cabin. We just bought a golf course.”
Along with an 18-hole golf course, amenities like camping, fishing, canoeing and motocross will be available. Frisbee golf and paintball may also make it on the list of activities at the golf course.
“The property was meant for camping, right down along the river, and we’re just following through with that vision,” Lehrer said.
The hope is also to expand the golf course into an events center to be rented for weddings, family gatherings and company picnics. The clubhouse restaurant will be opened year-round and a new chef will be hired.
With the greens being seeded this week, Lehrer estimates the course opening to the public in mid-July. He said the early spring has actually helped him get ahead with the work that needs to be done on the property and isn’t worried about opening the course up mid-season.
“We’re not going to open it until we’re ready to open it,” he said. “We just ask everyone to be patient as the finished product will be worth the wait.”