More than 15 years ago, Andrew Bleyenberg played nine holes and carded just 34 strokes at North Bend Golf Course.
The Fort Calhoun High School record still stands today.
“We ain't bringing that up,” the 34-year-old said, cracking a smile, but shaking his head and rolling his eyes, too.
His now-business partner, Ben Wenninghoff, disagreed, though. He wanted nothing more than to razz his friend about the high school achievement as Bleyenberg, Nathan Bloodworth and he open their new Fort Calhoun business, The Bunker.
The membership-based golf simulator operation hosts its grand opening 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at 949 North 13th Street. The owners have advertised a ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:30 p.m. with a “closest to the pin” competition running throughout. The winner will get a free membership.
Bleyenberg owns a personal golf simulator, too, using it to benefit his game when there's a time crunch or it's too cold outside. His partners, Bloodworth and Wenninghoff, have enjoyed getting in a round or two over the years as well.
“It was a big hit,” Bleyenberg said.
So, when the three friends saw the open space off of North 13th Street, they had an idea. After the idea came the necessary serious conversations and, eventually, a plan.
“We decided to pull the trigger and see what we could do,” Bleyenberg said, noting how he believes The Bunker will serve a need in Fort Calhoun. Folks don't always need to drive to Omaha for such things, he explained.
In fact, all three owners note their excitement about bringing the idea to the community they're a part of.
“It's something new and fun,” Bloodworth said, noting how he's looking forward to watching sports and playing golf with old friends and new.
The Bunker's members will have access to the space 24 hours a day, seven days a week all year. All they'll have to do is set tee times to work on their game.
The business owners' simulator allows for virtual play at real courses — displayed on a screen — from across the world. From Fort Calhoun, golfers will be able to take tee shots, hit drives and sink putts at more than a thousand destinations. Grand-opening attendees, notably, will play Missouri's Payne's Valley hole No. 19.
Bleyenberg said The Bunker plans to run a league and has future plans to host tournaments, too.
Ultimately, though, the owners want their business to be a place golfers can golf whenever they feel the itch to play.
“Personally, when I would have to take five to six months off during the winter time, your game can just go in the garbage,” Bleyenberg said. “So, anyone serious about golf, you can come in here and you can swing all year long.”
Bloodworth said he's looking forward to testing that himself.
“We'll see if it helps my golf game,” he said.
“Hopefully it's something the community can have fun with and we can have fun running,” Wenninghoff added.
As for that decade-plus old FCHS nine-hole record?
“It was a lucky round,” Bleyenberg said, still wishing it was never brought up to begin with.
