BRACKENRIDGE — Old habits are hard to break.

The Brackenridge Heights Golf Course, established in 1914, had been a privately owned club for nearly a century.

“For decades, people around here have been told they couldn’t play here,” course owner Rubus Tomson said. “Many of them still believe that’s true.”

The Tomson family bought the facility in 2012 after it had been dormant for a number of years. After 18 months of work, Brackenridge Heights re-opened on June 15, 2013, as a public nine-hole golf course.

“We’ve been fighting to get the word out ever since. All are welcome here,” Tomson said.

When the golf course was purchased four years ago, “the fairways were pretty much dirt, there were weeds everywhere and the greens had little seedling trees growing out of them,” Tomson said.

“There was plenty of work to do.”

Tomson added that an irrigation pipe had broken and when he initially tried to irrigate the course, “it looked like a geyser had sprung on the No. 3 fairway.”

The greens were so cracked and bumpy that the aeration process could not be completed until a cement roller was used to flatten them out.

Today, those same greens are pristine.

“We’re being told by golfers who play here that these are the best greens in the area,” Tomson said. “That’s not me talking, that’s the people who play this course.”

Yet it remains one of the best-kept secrets in terms of golf courses in the region.

“There are people who live two blocks from here who don’t even realize this place is open,” Tomson admitted.

The course itself features four par-4 holes, three par-5s and a pair of par 3s. The longest hole is the 473-yard No. 3, the shortest the 167-yard No. 6.

Tomson said the 323-yard No. 9 hole is the signature hole on the course.

“Trees frame the clubhouse behind the hole. It’s beautiful scenery,” he said. “The entire course offers nice scenery. The course can play challenging or it can be good for beginners. It’s versatile that way.

“One hole offers an uphill shot off the tee which is rather unique.”

Because of different tee placements, the course can be used as an 18-hole facility.

Golfers can play nine holes with a cart for $25, or 18 holes for $35. Walking is an option for $20 and $30, respectively. Brackenridge Heights offers a special rate to foursomes: 18 holes with a cart for $100.

Tee times are encouraged because of late afternoon league play. Food is available on the premises.

“We’ll get walk-ins on the course, but we hate to have people wait,” Tomson said.

The course superintendent is Butler resident Erik Straughn.

Sand traps are prevalent throughout the course.

“Our sand is very soft, making our traps among the best around,” Tomson enthused.

While Tomson refers to the reopening of Brackenridge Heights as “an uphill battle for a while,” he feels the facility is ready to turn the corner.

“We’ve turned this into a public course that we’re proud of and we want the public to enjoy it,” he said.