About Us
18 Holes | Scenic Iowa Golf | Family Built Since 1978
Our History
A Dream Takes Root
Spring Valley Golf Course began with a vision. Founder Gerald A. Berte, alongside golf course designer Bob Patruka, transformed 120 acres of rocky Iowa farmland into what would become one of the state's most beloved golf destinations. What started as an ambitious dream would eventually become a course known for its natural beauty, craftsmanship, and unforgettable experience.
Overcoming the Early Years
The course's beginnings weren't easy. Economic hardship and soaring interest rates caused the original ownership corporation to fail, leaving Gerald and his wife, Jeanne, to take full ownership. Refusing to let the dream disappear, the Berte family worked tirelessly to preserve and improve the course, laying the foundation for its future success.
Built by Family, Shaped by Passion
With backgrounds in farming and construction, Gerald, Jeanne, and their five children poured countless hours into transforming the property. Fairways replaced pastureland, ponds and waterways were expanded, handcrafted bridges and gazebos were built, and thousands of flowers grown by Jeanne became a signature feature. Every improvement reflected Gerald's belief that the course should never stop evolving.
Growing Beyond Nine Holes
As golfers from across the Midwest discovered Spring Valley, recognition followed. In 1989, the course was named Iowa's 9-Hole Course of the Year, inspiring the family to take on their biggest project yet—building a back nine. Completed in 1990 with the help of family and friends, the expansion was followed by a remodeled clubhouse in 1997 to welcome the growing number of visitors.
Passing the Torch
In 2000, Gerald and Jeanne passed ownership to their son, Curt, and his wife, Christie, while continuing to work alongside them. Following Gerald's passing in 2006, Curt honored his father's legacy by creating the beautiful memorial landscape overlooking the first tee, complete with waterfalls, stonework, gardens, and a patio where visitors can pause and reflect.
Continuing the Vision
Under Curt and Christie's leadership, Spring Valley has remained committed to continual improvement. Course renovations have included redesigned holes, expanded irrigation, additional bunkers, new tee boxes, and updated landscaping—all while preserving the welcoming atmosphere and quality that Gerald envisioned.
A Tradition That Continues to Bloom
One of Spring Valley's most recognizable traditions lives on through its flowers. What began with Jeanne nurturing seedlings in a greenhouse continues today, with Curt and his son Victor growing nearly 9,000 plants from seed each year, ensuring vibrant blooms continue to frame the course season after season.
Recognized Among Iowa's Best
Nearly five decades after breaking ground, Spring Valley's dedication to excellence was recognized on a statewide stage. In March 2026, the course was ranked #1 Public Golf Course in Iowa by GolfPass—a fitting tribute to Gerald Berte's vision and to the generations of family who continue to care for the course today.
Spring Valley Golf Course, truly a “diamond in the rough”, is the living embodiment of the vision and dreams of founder and creator, Gerald A. Berte. The history of the course itself is one for the books, from 120 acres of rocky farmland to an oasis of lush landscape and pristine vistas set amidst Iowa cornfields. The history of its founder is one that will never be forgotten.
In 1978, with the assistance of golf course designer Bob Patruka, ground was broken on the Berte farmland and the front nine of Spring Valley Golf Course was born. In the beginning, Gerald and his wife, Jeanne, were shareholders of a corporation consisting of local friends and neighbors. These early years of Spring Valley Golf Course proved to be extremely difficult. As a result of an economic tailspin and high interest rates the corporation failed. Gerald and Jeanne assumed full ownership of the golf course.
With skills learned through careers in farming and construction, Gerald, along with Jeanne and their five children, at first set out to simply save the course. Soon improvements were made in any and every way possible. In Gerald’s eyes, the course was a forever evolving and growing entity. Never satisfied, he was always looking for new ideas to improve upon the course. No detail was too small and no project too big. At the side of an old barn, a greenhouse was built to bear the thousands of flowers that Gerald’s wife, Jeanne, nurtured from seed each spring. Yearly beautiful colors of annuals were planted to grace the tee boxes and fairways of each hole, giving Spring Valley Golf Course one of many trademark features. Hillsides where cattle once grazed, were turned into beautifully striped fairways. Trees were planted to challenge the golfer. Pristine sand bunkers, elite greens and one-of-a-kind gazebos were constructed by Gerald. Waterways found through the farmland were expanded into picture perfect ponds and water hazards to challenge the most avid golfer. Gerald’s imagination did not stop here. Gracefully arching many of the waterways, he built bridges of iron, wood and stone. One is in honor of his admiration of Augusta’s bridge on hole #12.
The countless hours and ongoing changes proved to be the key to success. A constant stream of golfers from around the Midwest began to frequent Spring Valley Golf Course. In 1989, Spring Valley was awarded Iowa’s 9-hole course of the year. The increased traffic and the need for more, the Berte’s decided to expand to 18 holes. Considered perhaps their most challenging undertaking, Gerald & his family commenced work on the back 9-holes in 1989. To build a course that was affordable, the Berte’s would have to do all the work themselves with the help from their friends. Just one year later, the additional 9-holes were completed and opened in the fall of 1990. The increased business called for an expansion and fully remodeled clubhouse in 1997 to facilitate larger crowds.
Continued Passion
Throughout the years, Gerald and Jeanne continued to persevere and maintain the steady progression of the maturing golf course. In 2000, they decided it was time to ease out of the business, and they sold their masterpiece to their son, Curt and his wife, Christie. Gerald and Jeanne continued to work side by side at the course and as each spring approached, they enjoyed the beauty of the course unfolding in the care of Curt and Christie’s hands.
The year of 2006 came and went in the blink of an eye and brought with it a change that no one would foresee. The passing of Gerald A. Berte at the young age of 62 on August 26th. Gerald was one of greatness and his passion for life, family and ingenuity forever live on through the evolution of Spring Valley Golf Course. Gerald’s love for the sound of moving water was Curt’s inspiration to create a dramatic landscape that greets you at the #1 tee box, paying homage to a legendary father, friend, and mentor. An elevated blue tee box was constructed to overlook the many landscape walls and a waterfall that spills into a creek that snakes its way to a pond below. A patio was added so people could sit to enjoy the view and reflect on their round of golf. Many perennials were planted to enhance the beauty of the memorial. The project began on Memorial Day, 2007 and was completed with the help of family and friends in August just in time for the memorial tournament in Gerald’s memory. The One-Person best shot tournament was created in his honor as we all were aware of the many mulligans Gerald would take each round of golf. Twice he made a hole in one on hole #17 on his mulligan shot! Gerald is greatly missed by his family and friends. His legend will live forever through the maturing golf course he had the vision and inspiration to create.
While under the new ownership of Curt and Christie, the goals have stayed the same – keep making improvements. One of the first things was to continue with more automatic fairway waters to keep the fairways looking green no matter what Mother Nature had in mind. The renovation of the 17th hole has been one of the best improvements to the course. The view from the tee in the early morning hours is one to behold. Hundreds of large rocks line the pond shoreline and a very large bunker is all that is between the water and the green; which makes for a very interesting tee shot. Probably the most difficult change for the golfers was the change of the course hole layout. While #1 and #10 stayed the same, the rest of the holes flip flopped. The main reason was to change the 18th hole from a par 3 to a par 4. Though confusing at first, it sure made play move more freely on the course. Many more bunkers have been added, and some are not to the golfers’ liking; like the bunker on #3, which has an 8 ft wall between you and the green. Today there are 34 bunkers on the course with more to come in the future. Additional tee boxes were added to make some holes play shorter for the enjoyment of those unable to hit the long ball any longer.
Over the years, some of the areas where flowers once were planted in the spring have been converted to beautiful landscapes with blooming perennials and rocks. Additional flower beds were created to add to the beauty of the tee boxes. Curt has continued the tradition of planting annual flowers every year. With the help of their son, Victor, around 9,000 plants started from seed fill the greenhouse every year.
In March 2026, Spring Valley was ranked as the #1 public golf course in Iowa by Golf Pass. A true honor showing that all the hard work done on the golf course is recognized by the golfers.