Anoka Green Haven

Anoka Municipal Golf Course

Paperwork approved:

Cost: $60.000 (initial funding for planing was $13,000) + $16,263.31 (1937) + $22,768 (1937)+$11779+$21,636+$12,230 (1936)Architect:

Holes: 9

Acres: 110 - 69 of it golf

Opened: 7/15/37 – Official opening 7/21/37

Course Named: May 2, 1937

What made the Anoka, Green Haven Course, unique was the clubhouse that was built along with the course. It was large, large enough for community gatherings, 120x42.his clubhouse not only had a dance floor and fully equipped kitchen, it had four bowling alleys in the basement. The golf course recreation area also had two skeet shooting fields and four trap fields; an archry field; and an outdoor bowling area. [Sadly, the bowling alley is gone as is the original clubhouse. However, the original chimney is still there - as is the WPA plaque in the side of the chimney.] The two-acre lake was carved out of the old swamp (the entire course was ‘carved out of sandy soil and swamp land.’

It is hard to track down how much work was involved in building a nine hole course, but it was estimated it would take 70,000 man-hours to finish.

These courses are grass roots affairs (Get the pun?) The Anoka Council held a special meeting on December 12, 1935 and gave approval for the course; a follow public hearing in February 12, 1936, the vote was 50–2 to go ahead. The report said 20 men began work on the project, including the clubhouse.

Rates when it was opened: week days - 25 cents/9 holes; 40 cents/18; 65 cents/all day; 30 cents 18/holes before 10 am; Saturday, Sundays and holidays - 35 cents/9 holes; 50 cents/18; 75 cents/all day; 30 cents 9/holes after 1 pm.

The course was named Green Haven, after a contest in May 1937. Miss Clara Wickastrom was awarded a season’s free use of the course. It was later combined into one word, “by use.”

There are a ton of pictures in the file of the construction, including the interior and bowling alley. I suspect this was the jewel course.