When I think of businesses that operate to have an impact on the community and put in place Christian values to be a light to others, I think of Stoughton Acres Golf Course. Stoughton Acres opened in 1964 by Van and Jeanne Smith. Their goal was to create a golf course that was affordable for everyone, yet a great course making it a top value course. The course was started by two young Christians and has maintained values that they try to pass on to their customers as well. Most, if not all golf courses that I know of allow alcohol on their courses, and if not, they sell it on the course. This is a great source of revenue for courses in an industry that has low profit margins. However, keeping to their values and beliefs they set in place a rule that didn’t allow alcohol on the course.

Additionally, there are rules in place that prohibit swearing on the course, although these are harder to enforce. The business is still family operated and owned by Jeanne Smith and has made impacts in so many lives that come through the door of the clubhouse. When people hear Stoughton Acres they often have three things that they will respond with first, “Oh… that’s the no alcohol course” second, “I heard her tell a guy to not swear anymore” or lastly, “That’s the course with the nice lady behind the desk!” Jeanne Smith has had a huge impact on the community in Butler, PA. This still old fashioned feeling course has not been afraid to be different and it has customers asking why they do what they do.

The game of golf can be seen as a rich person’s game, or a game that requires sophistication. Stoughton Acres has been keeping it simple and encouraging new players, young and old, to try the great game of golf. This great platform for human interaction has truly given Stoughton Acres the ability to be a light to the community and impact it one round of golf at a time.