Millsite Golf Course in Ferron has new pro

By PATSY STODDARD Editor

Millsite Golf Course has a new pro, Kris Abegglen. Abegglen hails from Morgan and has come to Ferron most recently by way of Richfield.
He grew up in Morgan and attended Snow College where he played basketball. He played golf and basketball for Southern Utah University. He studied physical education. He studied through the PGA after his Junior year in college. and received his class A Membership in the PGA in 1991.
“My first job was at Mt. Ogden golf course where I stayed for three years. I was a Professional Golf Association education apprentice there. I worked at the Carbon Country Club for 10 years from 1988-1998. I was there when they put the back nine in at Carbon. It was during the time I worked at the Carbon Country Club that I began designing and building golf courses. I designed the back nine at Carbon. From there I went to Fillmore for a few years and designed a nine hole course there. From there I went to Richfield where I designed the back nine and remodeled the front nine at Cove View. I’ve been at Richfield ever since.
“Four years ago, I designed the back nine at Millsite. I designed a course at Green River, Wyo. I’ve been in Richfield for the past 15 years as the pro there. The last year and a half, I’ve been the leisure services director in charge of the pool, golf course and parks maintenance. It was a great job and I loved it, but Millsite Golf Course is an opportunity to get back to doing what I really love to do and that’s being involved at the golf course.
“I see so much potential at Millsite. There’s never been a place quite like this. It’s unique. It’s in a beautiful setting with unlimited potential. I want to improve playability without effecting the beauty. I want to get the word out on play here. As we make gradual improvements, play will increase. I hope to increase out of town play. Locally, I would like to teach a lot and have clinics. We are having a youth clinic July 30-31.
“I want to teach and make people feel welcome. As a PGA professional, I can teach all levels of play. Just by knowing people in Carbon, Sevier and Wayne counties, I can attract some of the clientele from those areas to come and play. Just last week 16 seniors came up from Richfield. I will promote Millsite in Carbon and Richfield. I’d like to do a little promotion in Colorado and try to draw traffic off I-70 up here to play. Once people understand how beautiful it is, they’ll be back every year.
“I’d like to promote the golf course with the travel bureau and send golf coupons with them to the trade shows. I see opportunities to work together with the travel bureau on the trade shows,” said Abegglen.
When asked to comment on how some golfers say Millsite golf course is too hard, Abegglen replied, “I think it is too hard for many golfers. But, we need a mind set change. Golf is hard, by nature of the game. You need to adapt to it and learn how to play it. If you learn how to play Millsite, you can play anywhere. You need to learn, if you lose a ball, it’s not the end. Everyone has the same challenges on this course, that’s part of the allure. We’d like to make it more playable, but it’s not a park, it’s mountainous target golf. It’s definitely one of the most unique target courses.
“There is a toughness about this golf course, but it prepares golfers. It’s by far one of the most challenging courses in Utah.
“You will learn by playing here to use the right clubs at the right time for distance and direction.
“I love this area. I love the beauty and the landscape. I enjoyed the time I spent in Price and I respect the coal miners and the work they do.
” I missed interacting with the people I knew. There is a uniqueness to this area. Part of the reason I wanted to come back was the good people here,” said Abegglen.
Millsite Golf Course is open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to dark. The course number is 384-2887.