Partner Spotlight: Dayton Valley Golf
Dayton Valley Golf opened in 1991 as an Arnold Palmer designed 18-hole championship golf course. It has been a PGA Tour Qualifier course since 1995, making it the longest standing site in the country.
The rolling, links-style layout features sculpted fairways and large, undulating greens offer a challenging test with plenty of water and strategically placed bunkers. The most difficult hole on the golf course is the par-4 ninth. It’s a lengthy dogleg left with water down along the entire left side of the fairway and short and right of the green.
Dayton Valley Golf Course also has a full featured practice facility that includes a driving range and large practice green. Event hosting with full bar, grill, and banquet rooms is available on request.
The Golf Course was sold to Tour Specs Golf Management by Duncan Golf Management, in December of 2020. PGA professional, and owner of Tour Specs, Jim Kepler also serves as course general manager.
“We had to put new carpets in, we had to paint the building,” Kepler explained in a September 6th interview. “The biggest problem with the golf course was the pump house was shot. The new pump house costs a lot of money. It pumps 3,000 gallons per minute. We have 250 acres that have 2,500 heads that most had to be gone through and cleaned out.” He said they were about one-third of the way through a 5-year process of improvement and repair, having done things like repair parking lots and updating lighting.
“We reinvented the place,” Kepler continued. “People out here don’t even know that it’s open to the public – people have been here for 20 years.”
As a resident of the golf course community, and the first golf pro on the course in 1991, Kepler relies on his extensive experience as a professional golfer, his course management, and his network of connections. He also gives back to the area in many ways, including hosting fundraisers and around 70 tournaments per year for Boosters, Pop Warner, and even HCC. “I help anyone in the community that asks me for help. I never say no.”
When asked about future plans, Kepler said they are looking into remodeling the driving range and to make it more useful for families. He also mentioned adding video driving range technology with features to gauge the player and the gear to perfect their game. Plans are in place for upgrades within the next two years. “It’s about technology now,” he said. “Guys on the tour are hitting the ball 100 yards farther than they did two years ago, because of technology.”
Everyone is encouraged to come check out the course, have a drink, and dine in the restaurant. While there is surely more to come, there is plenty of fun to be had there now!
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