It all started in 1957 when Warren L. Rasmussen
bought a little piece of land...
1950s
…That little piece of land being 28.5 acres in Walworth, Wisconsin. Established on a treeless, vacant agricultural parcel in 1957, the golf range began as the Stop & Sock, a common term to describe the recreational hitting of golf balls. Warren insisted that he always wanted to be a forest ranger or a golf pro so when his law practice succeeded enough to purchase this site, he built a golf range and planted his forest. In the 1957 photo of opening day (pictured above), the young manager in the window was Toby Steivang who later became president and CEO of the Walworth State Bank (now First National Bank & Trust).
Rasmussens at the Range
L-R: Richard, Sally (Keen), Roger, Elaine, David
1960s – 1980s
In the early 1960s the range was operated by a traveling pro named Ken Maxson and he lived in the original brown golf shack. Beginning in 1965 the business was operated by the children of Warren Rasmussen. When the original sign blew down in a storm the name was changed to Big Foot Golf Range.
1980s – 2000s
Family members gave up management in 1987 and the business was leased to other parties under different names including Kokopelli Golf, South Pines, and Big Foot Sports Club.
Today
In 2018 Warren’s son David resumed oversight of the business. He is attracted back by the amenities that never existed when he worked there as a child. This includes the 2,000 square foot clubhouse, air conditioning, modern plumbing, covered hitting areas, the paved driveway and the natural beauty accentuated by the growth of the forest on top of this part of the Geneva Lake terminal moraine.