WATER VALLEY - The new owners of the Water Valley Golf Club say they want to make the golfing experience at the facility memorable for everyone every time out.
Jeremy Dueck and his uncle Pat Thomas purchased the course last fall and are looking forward to exciting full season in 2022.
“We are really focusing on the guest experience and we are going to do things over the top to make it very distinctive from other experiences,” said Thomas.
“We need a change when it comes to hospitality in the golf industry, on the golf course at every level. Everyone has to have a positive attitude and that has to be felt by our guests when they come to Water Valley.
“It’s not only a great golfing experience but we have to also add the wow factor. That makes a big difference in any business. I’ve got seven businesses in Las Vegas and all of my businesses run that way.”
Dueck added, “We want people to realize that when they come out they should experience something that is different from other golf courses in the area. It should be an elite experience.”
Thomas is from Las Vegas and Dueck is from Bearspaw. They operate under the company name The Players Shack.
Dueck and Thomas took over the club on Oct. 15, 2021. It is the first course owned by the men.
Water Valley Golf Club is an 18-hole, semi-private facility. “Semi-private means we have around 300 members and the public can play as well,” Dueck said. It is located at 29206 - Range Road 51.
“We were open for two days (in October 2021) and we did what we could for two days. We had two tournaments, one for all of our friends and then one pro tournament. After those two days we got started on our renovations,” he said.
Renovations started in October and are continuing, he said.
“We’ve gutted the whole clubhouse and the whole pro shop,” he said. “So that is all under renovations right now. We (were) looking at about 30 more days until it is completed.”
A new website has also been launched, at www.water valley golf.ca.
“We’ve put a new slogan on our website: Play the Jewel of the West. This is a hidden gem, a hidden jewel that many people have maybe not played,” he said. “We also have another slogan: New Ownership, New Experience."
Changes also being undertaken on a some holes and tee boxes, and a new maintenance shack will also be built, he said.
“We’ve installed the driving range back because it was taken away two years ago. We’ve extended the range a little bit and made the nets a little higher.”
Tentative plans are for golfers to be on the links on May 6.
There are plans to work with local students starting this season, he said.
“We are planning to work with many of the high school programs in the area,” he said.
A junior program will be run at the course starting this season, on Monday nights, he said.
“They will get instruction and learn how to golf,” he said.
James Darby has also joined club as director of golf. He called the Water Valley course a “wonderful place to play.”
“I’m super excited to be part of this,” said Darby. “It’s a beautiful golf course.”
