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August 2011

ARNE SOLBERG: VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR

Bobcat is proud to announce Arne Solberg as our 2011 Volunteer of the Year! Not only has Arne been involved in the Bobcat North Dakota State Open for the past 25 years, he’s a valuable member of many other organizations in his community.

Arne Solberg

Arne Solberg, 2011 Volunteer of the Year.

A native of Fargo, N.D., Arne’s interest in golf started in the 1920s when he served as caddy at the Fargo Country Club (FCC). He made 25 cents per round — and sometimes double that, if his player did well. “50 cents for a morning’s work was pretty good back then!” he said.

When he was just nine years old, he was given the responsibility of depositing some FCC funds. So he biked to the downtown bank, gave the deposit to the teller, and was shocked to find out that the deposit sum was $1,500 — more than the average annual salary at the time.

Arne worked for the Fargo Glass and Paint Co. for 54 years, then retired in 1990. The organization’s motto, We know we'll never get any more than we earn or deserve, and we expect to hustle for all we get, seems to help explain Arne’s strong work ethic and dedication to serving others.

In fact, Arne is involved in numerous community organizations, including the Village Family Service Center, the Fargo Air Museum, Bonanzaville, the Hjemkomst Center, the USGA, PGA Tour Partners, and the North Star Mustang Club. He’s been an active member of the FCC since 1974, serving on the Greens and Grounds Committee and other boards. And he was named the 1997 Honorary Chairperson at the Bobcat North Dakota State Open.

These days, Arne can be found having lunch and playing cards at the FCC. His contributions to golf, his genuine commitment to the community, and his love for fun are evident everywhere. An avid woodworker, Arne even donated two handmade putters to the new club bar, so FCC members could putt to determine who’s buying the next round!