Course gets new manager

MAT-SU — Settlers Bay Golf Club has a new manager who not only is a superb golfer but a triple-threat business manager and active ax thrower.

She's Mindy Stefanski, who worked for 10 years as the campus director's assistant at Mat-Su College. She left Mat-Su College when her second baby, Saige, was born in 1994.

Beneath her calm exterior lies an amazing talent for winning. Mindy has won almost every local golf tournament she's entered since 1990 — four amateur state tournaments and Outside competitions.

Among Stefanski's other talents, she continues to enter "Lumberjack Sports" with her husband, Joel, in which they both throw axes and compete in cross-cut sawing contests.

Settlers Bay Golf Club asked her to be their new manager last March. On the links she consistently shoots in the low 80s to high 70s. She operates her own medical billing business, and does the books for her husband's tree trimming service.

She seems to have it all — a job that keeps her close to the links; a 10-year-old son, Rhowe, who has already won his first state amateur golf contest in the 6-9 age group; and the esteem of her colleagues, who call her "Min" as they pass by.

She seems to know them all. The only drawback — Mindy finds she still does not get to play any more often than if she were working other businesses, despite being only 50 feet from the first tee, because of all the administrative work she does.

As manager at Settlers Bay Golf Course she has to watch over the pro shop, coordinate the 25 to 30 tournaments that are played at the Settlers Bay links, occasionally pick up golfers who fly into the Settlers Bay airstrip and want to play a round and make sure that all the staff positions are filled and running.

At a slender 5 feet 8 inches tall, with blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes, Mindy looks straight at you when she speaks and maintains a light, honest, businesslike attitude. The people around her — employees, her kids, the customers who come out to play golf — seem to like and respect her, as is evidenced by the easy-going but serious manner in which she is addressed.

The course itself is in the best shape it's been in a long time. The fairways are clean and groomed, the greens are cut precisely to regulation. The course is a standard 18 holes, par 72.

When she addresses the ball she gets into position, makes one practice swing and then wallops the ball like an arrow straight down the fairway about 175 yards in a picture-perfect drive. When she puts her concentration into competition, the ball goes even farther.

"Most people don't know it but we (Settlers Bay Golf Course) are in a little weather micro-pocket," she said of the course. "We get sun when Palmer is in clouds. We habitually have pleasant conditions here when Anchorage is in rain."

Does she like her job?

"You bet! I meet all sorts of nice people," she said. "I have a challenge to keep this course in the black and have fun doing it!"

Does she still enter ax-throwing competitions? "Yes, my husband and I are going to Juneau next week for a big competition," she said.

When does she have time to practice?

"That's what the long Alaska summer days are for!"

The thwunk of an ax hitting a wooden target can be heard at the Stefanski property at all hours. Meanwhile, Settlers Bay Golf Course is active and looking great. Mindy has her hand in both, literally.