Though the Twin Cities metro is loaded with fitness centers, not all of them are created equal, and Darkenwald Company (the masterminds behind Albertville’s inFIT) is taking fitness centers as we know them and blowing their roof off… and not just by adding golf. Arguably inFIT’s greatest attribute are the experts… the trainers who run the classes, and (for the purposes of this article) professionals who operate the golf studios. Meet Colton Buege, a local legend in the Northwest Metro – a “Golf Yoda” according to his former coach, Daniel Bursheim of Rogers High School.

Colton Buege started playing competitive golf in 8^th grade and was “the heart of the team” by 10^th grade, at Rogers High School. He was All-Conference and All-State in golf, graduated in 2010, and his coach still lauds his considerable contributions to “the greatest sports team in Rogers (brief but beautiful) history” (a State Champion team that didn’t lose a single conference meet in SIX YEARS). “Colton was always willing to work on the little things,” Coach Bursheim says, “exemplary in his efforts… everything a coach can ask for.”

Professionally, the golf studio at inFIT opened three years ago, and for the past year and a half Colton has been the studio’s massive open arms, welcoming local golfers in, providing plenty of free tips and instruction and orchestrating leagues for youth and locals. As generous with his platform as he is with his time (especially for kids), Colton doesn’t have an official title with Darkenwald, but is deeply involved in and committed to their many fitness and entertainment projects. I pressed Colton about the upcoming Mall of Entertainment, and the new 3-Studio inFIT they will be bringing to the metro soon and he just smiled. “They’re going to be big, man!” he laughed, unwilling to disclose too many details (no matter how much I pushed).

Colton is all about promoting golf on every imaginable stage. His father was the superintendent at Pebble Creek and Colton has been playing since he was three (with his brother and dad as much as possible). He’s played all over the country and world and lists Royal Dornoch in Scotland and Atlanta Athletic Club among his favorite rounds. As physically fit and talented an amateur golfer as you’re likely to find, Colton has every connection a player would want in this city – beyond his great high school coach, to other Minnesota golf legends and personal heroes, Don Berry and Steve Fessler. (Colton and Don still connect weekly!)

“I want to have the same impact on young golfers that these guys did on me, both athletically AND academically,” Colton says. (Love that!) “Dan, Don, Steve, my dad and brother (McCabe)… they’re why I love the game more now than ever. I’d like to say, if I can, that I love working at inFIT because of the opportunity it gives me to help kids who are learning the game, and wanting to go the same places I’ve gone. This studio and the upcoming inFIT facility… that’s what they’re there for… to help pave the way to success for as many people as possible (in many different ways).”

An hour conversation with Colton is rich in truth and revelations. He’s candid about how much the sport has taught him about patience and failure, about self-motivation and reveling even in the most basic of rewards. “The greatest golfers in the world are typically only a few strokes better than me, and yet I couldn’t make the PGA TOUR… that’s humbling.” (Lifting weights with Colton is equally humbling.) Oh, and I think he COULD make the TOUR if he wanted to. He’s had aspirations of being a TOUR Pro, but loves playing all the worlds different courses with his family and having more freedom in his schedule too much. “Who wouldn’t love to be on the TOUR,” he admits, shrugging. “Then again…”

He let the thought trail off, so I’ll finish it for him… “Who wouldn’t love to love life and golf every day as much as Colton does?”