ARENA PARK GOLF AND PUTT PUTT OPENS

Arena Park Golf and Putt Putt opened Wednesday.

Mayor Albert M. Spradling III hit the first ball to officially open the driving range, located at 2901 Hawthorne Road in Cape Girardeau.

The new sports facility includes a golf driving range and an 18-hole miniature golf course.

Located inside the new, adjacent, 3,000-square-foot structure are a full-line pro shop, snack bar and golf-club fitting center.

Jack Pettet, one of owners of the facility, will manage the business.

Joining Pettet as owners are Walter and Iris Ford, Paul and Mary Gerlach, and Alice Temm.

"This new facility is an idea that grew into reality," said Pettet. "The people involved are all friends and all golfers. We started discussing the facility in January."

The driving range facility stretches 360 yards, with yardage markers designating yardage up to 275 yards.

The driving range and miniature course are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.