Ladies League – Meet Our Charter Memeber

Mary Ann Hansen – Living Legacy – A member for 53 years.

All those who golf at the Eagle River Golf Course owe a lot to Mary Ann! Mary Ann has made many contributions to the golf course over the years. Her dedication, commitment and vision have made the Eagle River Golf Course and the Eagle River Ladies Golf League what they are today. Started in 1972, and now the largest ladies golf league in the state of Wisconsin, as verified by the Wisconsin State Golf Association (WSGA). Mary Ann was a founding member, leader of the group for 10 years, the first president and advisor to all her successors.

How did Mary Ann get involved in golf? She had summers free, since she was part-owner for 20 years of the Humpty Dumpty Pre-School here in Eagle River. Some of her prior students are now members of our league. Mary Ann was encouraged by her husband, an avid golfer himself, to take up golf. She signed up for lessons from Ken Check, the high school golf coach. He was such a supportive champion for new golfers, always encouraging. Mary Ann and her husband joined the couples league, where she had the opportunity to meet other ladies with a passion for golf. It was from this involvement and camaraderie among the ladies, which was the foundation of our league today.

Even more impressive is her involvement in the expansion of the Eagle River Golf Course from 9 to 18 holes in the early 1980’s. She was part of a committee of eight that was appointed by mayor, Pike Dyer, to investigate hiring an architect, general contractor, greens keeper, restaurant manager and PGA pro, Tony Wallin. The expansion to 18 holes became a reality with hundreds of volunteer hours put in by the community helping to pick rocks, cut trees, plant trees, pull barbed wire and paint the club house.

Mary Ann does not view herself as a local despite living in Eagle River since 1969. She was raised in the U.P. of Michigan in a little Finnish farming community of Aura, north of L’Anse, on the shores of Lake Superior. After high school, she attended Northland College in Ashland, where she met her husband of 62 years, Dick. His job with Thorp Finance took them to many areas of the mid-west. Their last move was to Eagle River, when he became a banker. Here she was initially a stay-at-home mom for two girls, Polly and Pam, who have blessed them with three granddaughters and one grandson. Some of them, accomplished golfers.

In addition to golf, Mary Ann is involved in church and community choral groups, quilt guilds, and ukulele groups here and in Arizona where they winter. She is proud of her two hole-in-ones; 87 yards and 161 yards, and still trying to catch her husband who has 11. She and her husband also hunted ducks, geese, turkeys and pheasants together, mostly in North Dakota and locally.

Golf is just a game!  We are blessed, remember who is in charge!!