SYRACUSE - Kosciusko County is known for the orthopedic industry as well as its many lakes. One undervalued gem might be the abundance of golf courses in the county.

There are eight courses in the county, and for one, this year marks a big milestone.

Maxwelton Golf Club in Syracuse is celebrating its 75th anniversary, while owner and professional Bob Carlson is celebrating his 30th year at the 6,500-yard course.

Carlson and his wife, Rena, bought Maxwelton in March of 1986. He has served as the course's pro since 1975.

The early history of the course is a bit fuzzy, but it was commissioned to be built sometime in the mid 1920's. The actual construction of the course started in 1928 and was completed in 1930.

The original owner is unknown but is believed to have been Scottish or from Scottish descent. The name of the course is derived from a Scottish folk song.

The course itself is quite similar in design as those in Scotland, especially Carnosutie. It features an inward nine running counterclockwise and an outward nine running clockwise.

The unique layout of the greens and area surrounding the greens may be attributed to the fact they were built by using teams of mules.

William B. Langford was the golf course architect and owned a firm in Chicago that built courses from the early 1900s until after World War II.

For Carlson, Maxwelton was the first course he played in 1958. He eventually was a club professional in Colorado and Kansas before returning to the place that got his golf career off the ground.

Carlson said the most rewarding thing about being at the same course for 30 years is seeing young people grow up.

Darrell Krugman, who got his start working in the bag room in Maxwelton, is now the professional at South Shore Golf Course.

"Watching the golf course progress, the trees grow and irrigation system improve has been fulfilling. But to see young folks grow up and come back has been the best part," said Carlson.

While Maxwelton has provided a jumping off point for many golfers, it nearly closed during the Great Depression.

The course was sold to a local group named the North Shore Corporation, headed by Harold Gray. The course outlasted the depression and WWII. During the war, the course was temporarily turned into a nine-hole course as the back nine was used for farmland.

Tom Merritt, an Ohio native, took over pro duties and owned the course from 1949 to 1968.

The coursed changed hands several times between 1968 and 1986 when Carlson took ownership.

A fire in 1984 caused the club house restaurant to burn, which led to the building of its current pro shop, lounge, banquet room and cart barn.

There are three par 5s at Maxwelton, with the longest being the 522-yard 10th hole. The course plays at a par-72.

Maxwelton, as do many of the other golf courses in the county, serves as a haven for out-of-towners and lakers. And for those from out of state, Maxwelton holds up against their home courses.

"The reaction from people is positive," said Carlson. "They like the rolling terrain and find the greens challenging."

List Of County Golf Courses

-Big Boulder, Milford

-Indian Hills Golf Course, Leesburg

-Little Big Horn, Pierceton

-Maxwelton Golf Club, Syracuse

-Raccoon Run, Warsaw

-Rozella Ford Golf Course

-South Shore Golf Course

-Stonehenge Golf Club, Warsaw

-Wawasee Golf Club, Syracuse [[In-content Ad]]