Around the green: new owners already busy with upgrades in the Water Valley

amonpetragliaJuly 3, 2022

The flashy 16th hole of the Water Valley Golf Club is located in the rolling hills, about 40 minutes by car from the northwestern city border of Calgary. Photo by supply

This was already a good golf hole.

The new owner of the Water Valley Golf Club thought it could be even better — and now it is.

In their immediate improvement in this countryside hangout, they livened up the 16th and added three sand traps and some mowed low collection areas around the green. This 170-yard eye-pleasing person who constantly needs a delicate tee shot across the pond definitely deserves signature status.

“When the members turn the corner for the first time, they will say,’Oh, those who do a good job,'” said Jeremy Dueck. “I’m glad I heard that.”

This was already a good golf course.

Dueck and his uncle Pat Thomas think it could be even better. Immediately after purchasing the property in the fall, they embarked on a long list of projects.

They refurbished the clubhouse restaurant and extended the time so that golfers and neighbors could always count on a delicious breakfast or cold beer on the patio.

They strengthened the big hitter’s yard by adding bunkers to strategic locations and building some new back tee boxes. They will host the 2022 Alberta Match Play Championship in mid-August. This is an opportunity to showcase this place to some of the top amateurs in the state.

They reopened the driving range and parked a car cranker in the middle for target practice. If you can hit the bumper against the old station wagon or open the door, you’re ready to aim for the 16th green.

This is even more kneeling than you can remember, as three bunkers surround the putting surface. In other words, birdies will feel even better than they did before the refurbishment. Especially, the pin on the front right is strange.

That’s the signature shot, but it’s not just an Instagram-worthy look, with a fascinating layout that sways through the trees in the rolling hills on a 40-minute cruise from the northwestern city border of Calgary.

Another highlight is the fourth hole, which offers a stunning panoramic view and features a dramatic downhill drive, an uphill approach, and a stream intersection somewhere in between.

Water Valley loyal customers have long bragged about how valuable this is. Public green fees are only $ 65 from Monday to Thursday and $ 75 on weekends. (If you are riding, the cost of the cart is not included.)

“People don’t understand what’s here. If they’ve never been here, they don’t understand why they’re now calling it the Gems of the West. , Because it’s a pretty special place. Of course, since then. “I had a friend drive out of Edmonton, but I never played it. On his way out here, he I was thinking. But when I came here, there was a pocket of this tree to which it was mapped, and when I hit number 4 and started to descend there, there was a swell and it was pretty spectacular.

“You’re like,’Oh, awesome.'”

That was Dustin Lisdon’s reaction. A former tour pro and now a water valley instructor, he teeed it up on this secluded track for the first time last fall.

“I was surprised,” Risdon recalled. “I told myself,’Why haven’t you played here?’ I haven’t heard much about it, but it’s pretty mint here.

“It’s an absolutely hidden gem.”

Indeed, long before arriving on the flashy 16th of the Water Valley, you’re probably thinking about a return trip.

“One of our big things is to make people feel special when they come here,” Dueck emphasized. “We have a line of clothing in our pro shop called’Gourmet Golfers’, and that gourmet golfer means an elite golf experience that you get with a gourmet meal. That’s what we want to know that guests feel like they’re in a special place and are treated specially. That is our main goal. ”

Chip shot: Lacombe’s Brady McKinlay won the Men’s Amateur Championship in Alberta in a dominant position, clearing the field with 11 under 202 for 5 strokes. Spin 8 under 63. He currently shares the mark with Ian Doig, Ray Freeman and Ian Legat, who played on the pro circuit … Tyler Kidd (Priddis Greens) swooped in from seven shots to win the overall title at Calgary Golf. Did. Association Tourmaline Oil City Junior. The 14-year-old Kid fired a total of 3 under 141 at Elbow Springs for two days. Dillon Bassell (Desert Blume) came in second in the PGA of the Alberta Golf Supply Houses series in Innisfail. Bassell completed two laps with a 3-under 141 … Glencoe’s longtime member and now a rookie pro, Brendan McDougall, had a valuable experience in the final group at the Prince Edward Island Open on Sunday’s PGA Tour Canada. Stacked, but eventually T-18 ended at 11-less than 277.

wgilbertson@postmedia.com

twitter: @WesGilbertson