Swinging for the future; Meadow Greens owner buys once-leased Ramsey land
Published 10:15 am Monday, March 7, 2016
![Tom Klapperick tees off during the Dave “Tolly” Tollefson Cancer Research Memorial Golf Outing at Meadow Greens in 2014. Meadow Greens owner Mike Grinstead recently bought the former Ramsey portion of his course. Herald file photo](https://www.austindailyherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2016/03/0617-Tolly-tourney.jpg)
Tom Klapperick tees off during the Dave “Tolly” Tollefson Cancer Research Memorial Golf Outing at Meadow Greens in 2014. Meadow Greens owner Mike Grinstead recently bought the former Ramsey portion of his course. Herald file photo
Meadow Greens golf course owner Mike Grinstead may be rolling the dice a little, but he feels it’s worth the risk for Austin and the surrounding communities.
Grinstead has decided to purchase the nine hole Ramsey portion of Meadow Greens golf course, cementing that land’s place as a golf course. The Ramsey portion had been under a lease, but Grinstead wanted to secure the course’s future by purchasing it.
He said it was a tough decision in a time when golf courses are closing, but he feels it is a good one.
“It’s kind of a risky proposition,” Grinstead said. “Austin has supported us for the last 25 years and we felt somewhat obligated to return the favor to the community of Austin. There’s a lot of emotion still tied to that place and it’s a lot of sentimental value for a lot of people.”
Grinstead said the course is in the best condition it has ever been in and he’s hoping to have golfers playing within two weeks, assuming the weather cooperates. He’s glad to have the future of the Ramsey holes secured for the long term.
“We saved the property to maintain a golf course for a long time to come,” Grinstead said. “We were the only ones that could save it, so we did.”
Meadow Greens, which has 27 holes, has included the nine extra holes at Ramsey for the last three years.