American Friction Welding has purchased The National Golf Center in Vernon and plans to relocate from Brookfield and expand its business there.
American Friction Welding, 115 N. Janacek Road, purchased 18 acres of land at S74 W24255 National Ave. for an undisclosed price.
The company is planning to construct a 60,000-square-foot light manufacturing facility on the site, according to Waukesha County Park and Planning Commission records.
The facility would initially employ approximately 25 people with the possibility for expansion over time, John Fischer, president of American Friction Welding, told the county.
The National Golf Center, which included a driving range and a mini golf course, closed Nov. 15.
Golf pro Paul Mindel, who owned The National Golf Center for 15 years, said selling was a hard decision, but he realized he had become too consumed by the business.
“Leaving the Mukwonago, Vernon and the Big Bend area will be very difficult,” Mindel said.
Mindel is starting a new business, the Wisconsin Golf Academy, which will focus strictly on golf instruction.
He will have two locations. One in Keystone Physical Therapy, 17045 W Capitol Drive, Brookfield and the other at Swing Time, W197N10340 Appleton Ave., Germantown.
“I had been thinking about doing this for about 18 months,” Mindel said. “From a quality of life standpoint, it’s going to be great.”
