OELWEIN, Iowa — A nationally recognized golf instructor is returning to his hometown next week to offer a free clinic open to golfers ages 10 and up.
Tim Mahoney, a 1980 Oelwein graduate, charges $300 per hour for private lessons. On July 17, he will put on a one-hour, free-will donation clinic at Hickory Grove Golf Course in Oelwein as part of the city’s fourth annual alumni golf tournament, where Mahoney is being honored.
Sports Illustrated named Mahoney one of the top golf instructors in the United States. Over a four-decade career, he has become one of the most respected PGA teaching professionals in the country and has won 19 tours with golfers he has instructed.
Marti Rosenstiel, who was on the high school golf team with Mahoney, said his passion for the sport was evident from an early age.
“He always loved golf. All the time. Any term paper was about golf. He was a good player, he wasn’t the greatest player, but he knew he wanted to do something with golf,” Rosenstiel said. “It’s kind of like that thing that your parents say. Find something you love and figure out a way to get paid for it. He’s done very well with that thing.”
Chris Black, owner and operator of Hickory Grove Golf Course, said having Mahoney return to Oelwein is a significant moment for the community.
“It’s an honor to have him here on site and on property and to have a top 50 teacher in the world come in and give a clinic like that is a great honor,” Black said.
The event is open to golfers of all experience levels.
“It’s a great opportunity for anybody who loves golf. If you have a junior golfer, senior golfers — this is going to be a nice thing to see a top instructor in the United States for free,” Rosenstiel said.
The clinic will be held at Hickory Grove Golf Course, which the Iowa Golf Association voted the 2025 9-Hole Course of the Year. The course has served as the longtime home of the Oelwein Huskies.
“Hickory Grove is a hidden gem. It’s tucked back in here. It has some amazing green complexes. When people come for a visit, they’re like, wow, we just did not even know this is here,” Black said.
The clinic begins at 5 p.m. In addition to the free clinic, a silent auction will be held for three individuals to receive a 30-minute private lesson with Mahoney.
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