GREENLEAF (NBC26) — Lil' Haven is a par-three, six-hole short course, and it's Hilly Haven’s newest addition to its practice facility.
“It’s just a fun little course," said Charlie Demske, Superintendent and part-owner of Hilly Haven.
Lil' Haven is an incremental course; the first hole starts at 40 yards, and each hole is ten yards longer than the next. It's a great place for people to warm up or just squeeze 20 to 30 minutes of golf into their day, said Demske.
“It’s just kind of a unique way to make the short course where you kind of keep improving your shots as you go through it," he said. “Time is so valuable to people nowadays, and the short course can be played in a very short period of time.”
It's also a great spot for beginners, said Kristin Stelver, General Manager of Hilly Haven.
“It’s a great opportunity to get exposure to the golf course," she said. "They might feel intimidated to play nine holes even, so they can come out here, get a feel for playing a golf course.“
This Friday, April 30th, is Lil Haven’s grand opening. From 4 to 6 p.m., anyone can come golf for free. There will even be some betting games, to see who can hit closest to the pin and who has the longest putt.
“Super fun," said Stelzer. "We'll have some music along with it, we'll have some beverages out here, we’re just going to be having a great time. The weather looks great.”
Hilly Haven has always been a family business, and Demske hopes Lil' Haven will bring more families together through quick and fun rounds of golf.
“I love just being outdoors and enjoying the nature," he said. "We just have such a nice, beautiful, rolling terrain here, and it’s a different atmosphere. You get a little bit out of town and it’s just a special place to be.“
Lil' Haven is located at the practice facility one mile southeast of the main course at 2419 School Road in Greenleaf. The course does not take tee times; it’s first-come, first-serve. There’s a five dollar fee for adults, to be left in the red box on the kiosk, but anyone 17 years or younger golfs for free.
