The city of Delaware’s re-opening of Hidden Valley Golf Course will take place from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at 580 W. William St.
The city has put $50,000 in improvements to the golf course.
Off-season work included a new pole barn that houses the golf carts and lawn equipment; driving range access behind the clubhouse; dredging four feet of sediment out of the pond (as well as an unknown number of smelly golf balls); and renovations to the clubhouse, such as a first-floor restroom, new wall décor, tables and chairs and flat-screen televisions.
“These are the first major renovations to the course in decades, and we’re excited to show it off,” said Lee Yoakum, the city’s community affairs coordinator.
Hidden Valley is a nine-hole, par-28 “executive” course, so named because businessmen can play a faster round of golf on it than on an 18-hole and/or higher-par course.
“This is perfect for the beginning golfer, kids and couples,” Yoakum said. “It’s attractive, but there’s enough of a challenge to it.”
Last year, almost 10,000 rounds of golf were played at Hidden Valley, nestled between Grady Memorial Hospital, homes and Blue Limestone Park. The course is typically open weekdays April 1 to mid-November at 7 a.m. with last tee time at 6:30 p.m.
However, the course is sometimes open in the off-season if the weather is mild. For example, bundled-up golfers were inadvertently hitting balls into the pond on a windy day earlier this week.
Memberships can be purchased by residents and non-residents, with discounts available for early or late purchases. In addition, 10-round punch cards can be bought; and pull and riding carts, golf clubs and buckets of balls for the driving range can be rented. Rates did not increase for this season, Yoakum said.
The city purchased what was previously called Hujac Golf Course in 1974 and renamed it Hidden Valley a year later. Yoakum said he believed the course was built in the 1950s.
“We like to call it a hidden gem, and our goal is to make it not so hidden by increasing the visibility and the number of rounds played here,” Yoakum said.
For weekend times and more information, call 740-203-1470.
