When John "Jake" Orloski bought the land that is now Mount Chestnut Driving Range and 9 Hole Executive Course in 1986, he had a simple plan.

The Butler native wanted to make a course accessible to everyone from the duffer to the scratch golfer.

All that was in place at the time was a driving range, which was built years earlier by the previous owner for his child who had polio.

Orloski saw far more potential out of the land.

So, he and a friend grabbed a seven iron, stood at what would become the first tee and smacked a golf ball straight and true.

"Where ever it landed, we would put the hole," Orloski said.

It took years for Orloski to sculpt the course, improving it little by little with each passing season.

Now, three decades later, the course is a beacon for those who are learning the sport, who don't have time to play a full round and for the elderly.

"We get a lot of lawyers and business people," Orloski said. "We get a lot of elderly. We get a lot of families and children. I like it when I see the children come because they are the future golfers."

And future customers.

It seems the nine-hole course that features five par-4 holes and four par-3 holes is recession proof.

Orloski has actually seen business boom the past few years.

"It seems to get better and better every year," Orloski said. "We're in a great location (off State Route 422). We get people from Cranberry (Township), people from Kittanning, people from all around.

"These are the people who are learning the game or just want to play a quick round."

Orloski has no plans to expand the course for two reasons.

"I don't really have much room to expand," Orloski said, chuckling. "Even if I did, I wouldn't. I like it the way it is. It will never change as long as I am here."

The driving range also is a big hit. With 25 tees, there is plenty of room for golfers to take their rips.

Orloski and his wife, Sayne "Toot" Orloski, are kept quite busy by the driving range early in the season.

Because of the wet weather, most of the balls sink into the soft turf.

The Orloskis can be found most days in the spring walking the range, hand picking the more than 3,000 balls whacked by their customers that have burrowed into the mud.

"If you need some exercise, feel free to come out and help us dig them out," Orloski said, laughing. "It'll keep you in shape."

Like Orloski, the owner of Shamrock Golf Course in Slippery Rock sees his 9-hole course as a everyman kind of place — and every woman, and every child.

"Most places don't allow kids to golf there," said Shamrock owner Bob McFeaters. "I allow kids on my course. There is no dress code. There is no rough. There are a few trees and a water hazard, but it's pretty flat. It's a good place to learn."

McFeaters has owned his 9-hole course for 15 years. He's spent most of that time fine-tuning it.

Shamrock is a much longer course than Mount Chestnut. It has only two par-3 holes, a par-5 and six par-4 holes.

Par is 35.

It still serves as an alternative for the golfer who has limited time to play.

"I get a lot of people who, in this day and age, don't have the time to spend five hours playing golf," McFeaters said. "I get the people who want to come out, play a quick nine holes in two, two-and-a-half hours and get on with their day.

"As long as I keep the greens nice, people seem to come back."

McFeaters is a regular on his own course. He plays in several of the leagues at Shamrock.

Like most of the other golfers who tackle the unique challenge at Shamrock, McFeaters struggles sometimes on the two par-3 holes.

"They are challenging," McFeaters said. "There are a few times when I'm out there that I want to remove a tree or two."

McFeaters has no plans to expand the course.

"This is enough for me," McFeaters said. "I like it the way it is."