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What was once 120 acres of farm ground now lies one of the most beautiful
18-hole golf courses in Iowa. Spring Valley Golf Course started in 1979 as
a 9-hole course with the help of golf course designer Bob Patruka. The
early years of Spring Valley were very difficult due to an economic tailspin
and high interest rates. This caused the
corporation to fail and the Gerald
and Jeanne Berte family to step into ownership.With very little play in the beginning it was hard to make improvements on the golf course. That is when the Berte family realized the only way that they would survive would be to do things 1st class at all times. The owner having a construction background would play a key roll in the future success of Spring Valley. A greenhouse was constructed and the beautiful flowers started to come to life due to the countless hours of Gerald’s wife Jeanne. The Berte family began planting many trees and creating landscapes full of shrubs and perennial flowers. Behind the clubhouse a pond was dug that has a beautiful rock waterfall, lily pads and Koi fish. With these course improvements the people started to come. New equipment could then be bought and the well-defined grass came to life. All of this work vaulted Spring Valley into course of the year in the late 80’s. The increased traffic and the need for more, the Berte’s decided to expand to 18 holes.
The golf course today has matured into a place known for its beautiful scenery. Around 10,000 annual flowers a year, maturing trees and neatly striped and watered fairways. There is even a bridge that resembles hole #12 at Augusta, Georgia. There are many ponds and creeks that run throughout the layout of the course. Renovating of the bunkers took place over many years. Spring Valley is one of very few courses in the state of Iowa with sand of this quality. This sand is very bright in color and from a golfers perspective extremely soft. Once you reach the putting surface you will find undulating and fast putting greens.
Over the years,
Gerald and Jeanne’s children worked along w Currently, the golf course is owned and operated by Curt and Christie Berte. Gerald and Jeanne are still working on the golf course, but now have more time to actually enjoy what they worked so hard to build. The grounds crew consists of three full-time employees and two part-time while the clubhouse has two full-time and three part-time employees. |