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driving a Ford model T southward on the Orono road pulled up sharp to watch a "crazy"man <br /> pushing a lawn mower around in a hayfield south of the road The "crazy"man told me later that <br /> he did feel a bit foolish, mowing in a hayfield with a hand mower. He was Spencer Smith, <br /> starting construction of the then 9th green. Spencer was the grandson of Edward Walsh and <br /> lived on part of his grandfather's property. We often wonder what grandfather Walsh might have <br /> thought had he been able to see his grandson pushing a newfangled mowing machine across <br /> the fields <br /> While Spencer, assisted by Karl on off-school days and evenings, was busy building greens, <br /> the other Charter Member of the golf construction "crew'; Frank Eisinger, was building fairways. <br /> The basic sod was disturbed as little as possible. Frank dragged off rocks, trees, brush, <br /> everything that he could hitch his team to, following this with his horse — drawn disk which <br /> pulverized the high spots. This was followed by dragging a "planker" over the ground, and the <br /> final procedure was rolling with a horse drawn roller. No seed was used on the fairways: indeed <br /> none was ever used on the fairways at Orono except later in areas where grading alterations <br /> were made. The native quack grass, bluegrass and white clover eventually took over providing <br /> a very drought—resistant turf as later years would prove. <br /> The Orono Golf Course would never have existed if it were not for the hard and skillful labor that <br /> Frank Eisinger applied in those difficult but exciting days. As soon as the grass on the fairways <br /> was strong enough and long enough to mow, Frank did the job with his team and three fairways <br /> mowers, very similar to the fairway mowing units now attached to tractors. Mowing fairways and <br /> rough with horses was common practice in the early 1920's. The first tractor mowing of fairways <br /> was at Minikanda in 1919, followed by Woodhill in 1921. <br /> There can be little doubt that any golf course anywhere was "constructed" as quickly as <br /> Orono! By July 4‘h the little "golf house" was ready, putting cups and flags were set, tee stands <br /> arranged and Orono was open for play. Tickets were sold on opening day for $ .35. So great <br /> was the demand for a place to play golf that over 1, 000 rounds were played that year before <br /> the season ended <br /> The present club house was built in 1926 and my bride of June moved in with me in early <br /> July. It was to be our home for the next 38 years. . And it was here that Ruth was born in 1928 <br /> and Bob in 1930. Our business got out of the red that year. <br /> Until 1929 lots were acquired at the rate of two or three each year. A system was worked out <br /> wherein we could buy two lots whenever enough cash was available to pay for one This was <br /> done by simply mortgaging two lots for the price of one, thus giving the mortgagee good security <br /> for his loan. During these transactions the help of Kenneth Bollum of the State Bank of Long <br /> Lake and Alvin Frick of the Wayzata State Bank was greatly appreciated These two men helped <br /> us thru many difficult days. (Mr. Frick was partially rewarded for his interest when he got a hole <br /> on one on the old 7 green!) <br /> At this point in the history of Orono Golf Course a unique personality offered his assistance. <br /> He was the late Albert H. Crosby, treasured personal friend, Woodhill member and Orono <br /> resident One could go into considerable detail as to how he approached us with an offer to help <br /> but help he did by making an ample mortgage loan that enabled us to buy the rest of the <br /> required lots and have some money left for real improvements. He also arranged to have the <br /> land taken out of plat The present Orono Golf Course is somewhat of a monument to the <br /> memory of Albert Crosby. <br /> Good years continued until 1942 when the war took its toll The gross income for golf and <br /> concessions in 1943 was $745.90; in 1944 it was $573.15. The course was "maintained"during <br /> those years by Ruth and Bob, both barely teen agers. Immediately after V. J. day, August 15, <br /> 1945 gas rationing was lifted and golfers swarmed back to play on what was left of Orono. <br /> Play increased so much during the post-war years that the Orono facilities were no longer <br /> adequate to meet the requirements of so many golfers The decision to have Orono course <br /> sponsor a new one carried out and thus the Medina Public Golf Course came into being." <br />