Alberta Golfer Magazine article: Water Valley to host 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship
Written by Kevin Smith
2022 WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP
Alberta Golfer Magazine article:
Water Valley Golf Club was opened in 1987 as a nine-hole golf course by course designer and developer Brian Setter and his wife Cindy, who operated the course for 34 years. By the spring of 1995, the course had expanded to a full 18 holes. Known then as the Water Valley Golf & Country Club, a larger clubhouse was built in 1998.
In October of 2021, Pat Thomas and Jeremy Dueck purchased the property, rebranded the course as the Water Valley Golf Club and set out on a number of changes that included the goal of hosting more tournaments and provincial championships.
This is exactly what has happened. In 2022 the club hosted a McLennan Ross Alberta Junior Tour event, an Alberta Golf Senior Men’s Regional Qualifier and the 2022 Alberta Match Play Championship. From June 27-29, the club will host their first ‘major’, the 2023 Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship.
“There’s no question that it’s the jewel of the west,” Dueck said. “It’s an 18-hole championship facility and very well manicured. Our superintendent has been with us for 25 years and I think the course requires players to hit every shot in their bag.”
“It would be silly to sit here and think that somebody coming to our facility has never been to a golf course before, so we work really hard to meet and exceed people’s expectations,” Dueck admitted.
Dueck wants golfers to feel that sense of decompression when they leave the city and set foot on the gorgeous property located 25 minutes north of Cochrane on Highway 22.
“When golfers drive in, they are met with great service, directed to an actual person to help them; not just sent to the pro shop. When we talk about golf experiences, that’s what coming out here is all about.”
The clubhouse, pro shop and
snack shack all received full-scale renovations in 2022 while the golf course now features many new tee boxes and an improved driving range.
“It’s a great facility. We have a terrific group of people on our team working to create the best experience,” Dueck explained. “When Alberta Golf came to us and wondered if we wanted to host the Women’s Amateur, we immediately said that we would do so. These ladies will feel like they’re on the LPGA Tour by the time the event is done.”
The Women’s Amateur was held at Lakeside Golf Club east of Calgary in 2020, The Broadmoor Golf Course in Sherwood Park in 2021 and last year in the mountains at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. This year’s championship at Water Valley is located in the foothills of the Rockies and Jeremy Dueck hopes word gets around about the quality of the facility.
“We are honoured to host the Alberta Women’s Amateur Championship. Our members will get behind this. It will be a great week.”
