APPLETON, Wis. (NBC 26) -- After Bob Burns had hip surgery a year and a half ago, the legendary golf teacher missed most of last golf season. He was hoping to return to giving lessons and running his Appleton golf shop and driving range in 2020.
Instead, the 72-year-old and his family are struggling to keep their 21-year-old business in place.
Bob Burns Golf is temporarily closed amid Wisconsin's "Safer at Home" order, which prohibits driving ranges and miniature golf courses from opening, despite now allowing golf courses to operate.
"You would think that we would be open," Burns said, frustrated. "We do more here for this community than probably any place in the state. And there's nowhere like this in the country."
In April, the Wisconsin State Golf Association and Wisconsin's PGA section, along with three other organizations, hired a lobbyist last month to help reverse Governor Evers' stance on golf, which was initially deemed non-essential.
While that worked for traditional golf courses, driving ranges are still shut down. Burns said he feels they didn't fight hard enough to ranges like his.
"I'm kind of upset with our PGA," he said. "They set this thing up and sacrificed the ranges.
"Why?" he asked. "My place is safer than a golf course, by far!"
Burns and his son Robbie have taken measures to ensure the range is safe for customers. Updates include extra space between stations - up to 25 feet - and bleaching the golf balls after each use before safely stacking them so customers don't have to use a bucket.
Still - the facility can't be used until the ban is lifted. Burns said he has reached out to the state, but has not heard back, and reiterated he feels that the PGA has not done enough to help driving ranges.
"It really doesn't look like Joe Stadler (the executive director of Wisconsin's PGA) is going to do anything to get the ranges open," Burns said. "And I don't know why."
In the meantime, the Burns' are getting creative. They plan to re-shape the driving range greens into a short par three course. That could be legally operated and opened under the revised Safer at Home order.
Burns said he plans to allow children to use the par three course for free, and "maybe just charge five bucks" for adults.
One of the top club-builders in the country, Burns can still make equipment and sell it online. The company is also still allowed to do club repairs, but only for curbside drop off and pickup.
Burns added that he's very frustrated because places like Scheel's and Wal-Mart are open and can sell their golf equipment, while he cannot.
If you would like to help out Bob Burns golf, you can do so via a GoFundMe here.
Wisconsin's "Safer at Home" order is due to expire on May 26.
