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 1^st 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.

          In  1989 the back nine was started.  In order to build a course that was affordable the Berte’s would have to do all the work themselves.  With the help of some friends by the fall of 1990 the course was finished and opened.  After many years of increased business the clubhouse was becoming too small.  In 1997 the clubhouse was expanded and fully remodeled to facilitate larger crowds.

          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 with them in maintaining this beautiful golf course.  In 2000, they decided it was time for them to ease out of the business.  They sold the golf course to their son and his wife, Curt and Christie Berte.

          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.