Emporia’s golfers have one fewer option for practicing their swings.
Par for the Course, a driving range located at 4602 W. 18th Ave., closed its doors Friday.
According to Penny Hickman, who opened the business seven years ago, the economy was a big reason for the decision to close.
“It just got tough,” Hickman said. “We were trying to keep it open, and every winter we’d have to put our own money into it.”
Hickman also is the golf pro at the Emporia Country Club. She said her position at the country club did not have anything to do with closing the business.
“It just got harder and harder,” she said. “This year, with the economy and stuff, we’re just scared to do it again this winter. We just thought we’d better close it down.”
Par for the Course was opened in 2001. The driving range featured a sand bunker, putting green, golf lessons and a pro shop.
Hickman doesn’t yet know what will become of the property on which the business was located.
“We haven’t really made any arrangements or anything yet,” she said. “We’ll probably end up selling it, but not as it is, not as a driving range. We’ll probably just sell the land and the building.”
Golfers who want to practice their shots can still go to the Municipal Golf Course, 1133 S. Highway 99. The golf course has a driving range of up to 300 yards, a practice sand bunker and a practice green. A bucket of balls at the golf course is $3.
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