With chilly spring weather, Grand Forks golfers keeping Albatross busy

The No. 1 thing Andrew Krauseneck, the owner of Grand Forks' Albatross Indoor Golf Club, hears these days is customers telling him he has to be the only one in town happy about the weather.

"I just look back and smile," Krauseneck said.

This first weekend in April, which coincides with the Masters Tournament, is typically the last weekend Krauseneck keeps the business open before shutting down for the summer.

This year, with temperatures Friday still well below freezing, Krauseneck will keep the business open a bit longer.

The temperature Friday, hovering near 20 degrees, was almost 30 degrees colder than the average for Grand Forks this time of year.

Krauseneck usually shuts down when Grand Forks' first golf course opens outdoors, a moment that doesn't appear to be right around the corner.

"People have Cabin Fever and are starting to get the itch," said Krauseneck, who opened the business in 2012 near Ralph Engelstad Arena in the building that formerly housed Suite 49. "Everyone wants to be ready when the season does open."

Krauseneck's business offers three simulators and is open for the public to make tee times, as well as to host company outings and parties.

In addition to public tee times seven days a week, Krauseneck, who operates as a one-man show without any employees, also runs tournaments and two winter leagues that have grown to about 50 teams.

He's also seen an uptick in golfers using the simulators for lessons provided by Class A teaching professionals Mike Slominski and Matt Stricker.

Local college teams and individual high school golfers have also been frequenting the simulators this year, he said.

When Krauseneck's business first opened, Albatross included a full restaurant. Eventually, he decided to focus more on golf but still has a bar, snacks and frozen pizzas.

Now, he's hoping to add more simulators.

"The goal, when I started to focus on golf, is to get up to five simulators to accommodate more people this time of year," Krauseneck said. "I've had to turn people away because I've been booked up."

1/3: Clouds pass over the Albatross Indoor Golf Club in Grand Forks, N.D. on Friday, April 6, 2018. Owner Andrew Krauseneck typically closes the business in the first week of April for the summer, but has been able to stay open thanks to frigid spring temperatures and recent snowfall. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

2/3: Grand Forks' Albatross Indoor Golf Club shines in the spring sun on Friday, April 6, 2018. Typically closing the first week of April for the summer, the business has received increased golfer traffic due to recent cold temperatures and snowfall. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald

3/3: Andrew Krauseneck, owner of the Albatross Indoor Golf Club, stands behind the bar at the Grand Forks club on Friday, April 6, 2018. Krauseneck typically closes the club the first week of April for the summer, but recent low temperatures have kept the Albatross' doors open well into spring. Nick Nelson / Grand Forks Herald