Pleasant Valley Golf Club celebrates 60th anniversary
The Anniversary celebration at the Pleasant Valley Golf Club was fantastic, with so many well-wishers in attendance.
Several members of the Berry family were in attendance, visiting with well-wishers and helping behind the scenes, doing whatever was needed to keep up with the crowd, who were loving the bbq’ed hot dogs, drinks, homemade chips, and mini donuts. There were so many delicious treats to sample. The most creative item of all was the anniversary cupcakes, iced in green with a golf ball topper on each one.
The day held many memories for the long-time golfers in attendance.
Berry family spokesperson, Chad Berry, estimated around 250 people attended the celebration, going on to share; “It was a great day of visiting and meeting customers.”
There was also a “Name the Dinosaur” contest happening.
Attendees were asked to submit ideas for names for the large dinosaur mascot that guards the entrance to the course. There were a large number of entries, so it took a few days to review them all and then decide on a final name.
Ultimately, a name was chosen, and the previously nameless mascot should now be referred to as PV Rex!
Pleasant Valley Golf Club has a long and vibrant history that started in 1965 when Mel and Jean Hall purchased the Pleasant Valley Resort. The area being so naturally picturesque was (and is) the perfect backdrop for a golf course. Mel, an avid golfer, soon created a three-hole course with sand greens, but he had a dream, and quickly expanded the three-hole course with sand greens to a nine-hole course with sand greens.
In 1981, a significant change occurred when Pugh’s Construction was hired to move dirt for a large-scale project: the conversion of all the sand greens to grass and the course layout being altered. The change was lauded by golfers, who already thought it was a great course.
In 1985, Mel and Jean’s son, Wally and daughter-in-law Vi became the managers of the thriving course, and in 1988, more changes would be made.
It was in 1988 that construction of the back nine began, transforming this already great course into an exceptional one that offered not only a challenging golfing experience but also one that was truly unique. To facilitate this transformation, McKay Construction was hired.
The creation of the back 9 was no easy feat, but in 1991, it was ready and opened to the public.
It was an instant success!
The following year, the aging Clubhouse was renovated, making it able to accommodate the growing number of customers more easily.
Sadly, in 2008, founder Mel Hall passed away. In 2009, ownership of the Pleasant Valley Golf Course was passed to Wally and Vi, who continued to successfully run the course until it was purchased by the Berry Family in 2016.
Today, Travel Manitoba rates the Pleasant Valley Golf Course as one of the “10 must-golf courses in Manitoba.”
Congratulations to the Pleasant Valley Golf Club on 60 very successful years!
Note: Chad Berry also shared that there will be a 10th Anniversary bash next year in celebration of the Berry Family owning the Course for 10 years. Watch for updates.
PHOTO CAPTION: l. to r. Cheryl and Doug Berry, Bruce and Lenore Berry, Chad and Jacki Berry, Kevin Berry and his sons, Ethan Berry (front) and Tyden Berry, (with a photobomb by PV Rex). PHOTO BY SUZANNE PADDOCK
