The course was named one of the Top 100 \u201cBest Public Access Courses under $100\u201d in the U.S. by Golf Magazine in 2024.<\/p>\n
After the addition of the Gypsum Grill and Event Center, a 200-seat restaurant and 250-seat event space, Sobieck said the driving range building is \u201cthe next phase of our development.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are trying to be very good community partners,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sobieck said the course and driving range both get heavy use, and \u201cwe need to do something to create more hitting area for our customers.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said he\u2019s hoping the new building, which would be located at 2301 O\u2019Brien St. SW and be operational during the winter months, would fill a hole caused by a lack of winter golf spaces in the Grand Rapids area. <\/p>\n
The building is expected to be 6,022 square feet, with 11 bays – all equipped with garage doors that can be opened for customers to use the driving range. Seven of those are private bays, and four are located in a community room. <\/p>\n
![\"Mines](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/FDIDVRHBCBA4DKJGNX6EP7UURA.jpg\"\/)
A rendering shows designs for a new indoor driving range building at the Mines Golf Club, 2301 O\u2019Brien St. SW. Photo courtesy of Chris Sobieck.Chris Sobieck<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to use the range as we always have in the summertime,\u201d Sobieck said. <\/p>\n
But when it\u2019s too cold to hit outside, he said the garage doors can be closed and patrons can use simulators also installed in the bays. <\/p>\n
\u201cMost people want to get the ball out and see it, but if you can\u2019t do that, they still want to hit,\u201d he said, \u201cand we don\u2019t want to turn them away.\u201d <\/p>\n
The four community room bays can also double as a practice space for high school and college golf teams. <\/p>\n
Sobieck is the men\u2019s golf coach at Grand Rapids Community College, leading the Raider\u2019s Golf Team since June 2025. He was previously the assistant golf coach at Davenport University for five years. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe struggled with what to do in the winter,\u201d he said. \u201cThis will help GRCC \u2026 and we\u2019ll give access to other schools that want to do that, so then it helps us be more competitive, too.\u201d <\/p>\n
Sobieck said the community area can also double as an event space. <\/p>\n
The site plan includes a \u201cbar and kitchen area\u201d in the new building, which planning commission documents described as offering \u201cconcession stand\u201d type food, with burgers, chicken wings, fries and similar items. The bar will serve beer, liquor and soft drinks, covered under the course\u2019s existing liquor license.<\/p>\n
The building would also provide permanent restrooms instead of a porta-john, something he pointed to as another bonus for visitors.<\/p>\n
The plan required no landscaping for approval, but Sobieck said he plans to landscape the new building similar to other facilities on site, with grass and flowers. <\/p>\n
He said the plans also don\u2019t include placing a sign on the road or building. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to keep this lowkey.\u201d <\/p>\n
Greg Postema, a neighbor who spoke during the public hearing, said he would prefer a sign. <\/p>\n
\u201cMe and my neighbor, our driveways are the turnarounds for all the people that don\u2019t know where they\u2019re going,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
In addition to the driving range building, the project includes a paving and expansion of the course\u2019s parking lot, from around 30 to a little over 60 spots, with around half of them being paved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe prefer not to pave it,\u201d Sobieck said, \u201cbut if we\u2019re going to use it in the winter, we feel like we need to pave the parking lot so we can maintain it properly.\u201d <\/p>\n
Walker Planning Director Paula Priebe said the project proposal included two different lighting plans, either wall-mounted light packs attached to the building, shining out and down, or light poles spreading light across the entire parking lot.<\/p>\n
Sobieck said he preferred the first option to limit light pollution for the community. The Commission suggested shorter light poles. Sobieck said the plan is to install those with a motion censor, so they can be shut off when not in use. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe do not want them to be on at night if no one is there,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Michael Kohl, another Walker neighbor to the west of the driving range, said he grew up in his house and bought it from his parents when they decided to downsize, and \u201cI didn\u2019t move next to Disneyland. I didn\u2019t grow up next to Disneyland.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t want to be next to Disneyland,\u201d he said. \u201cWe like our wildlife. We like the fact that we can go out there at night and see the stars.\u201d <\/p>\n
Cole said he has some concerns about the course, and commissioners discussed a possible buffer with more trees or mesh netting between the Mines and his house.<\/p>\n
But Cole also said he is in favor of a new building for \u201csanitary and view reasons.\u201d He said the occasional player uses the edge of the course\u2019s property as an unofficial restroom. <\/p>\n
The planning commission approved the site plan, with conditions on creating an appropriate lighting plan, getting wastewater permitting from the county and installing a \u201cminimal sign,\u201d among others. <\/p>\n
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