Tuesday, June 3, 2014

The Beginning and Story of Blueberry Pines

Hard to believe, but Blueberry Pines was not always a golf outing destination. Truth be told, these 18 holes were once a Christmas tree farm - a 160 acre wonderland, complete with a spring-fed creek running through the center. 

Now, while a tree farm is certainly a worthy endeavor, we had bigger plans. After all, this area is a natural golf course - it’s peppered with pine trees and small bodies of water tucked into a hilly, rolling landscape. We wanted to create a challenging, beautiful, non-links course that any person can golf, no matter their skill level.

So, we tapped renowned golf course architect Joel Goldstrand, a professional with over 80 golf courses in his name, and began constructing a golf course in 1990. 

The process moved quickly, and Blueberry Pines Golf Course opened with 9 holes in the spring of 1992. This was soon followed with a full 18 holes ready for play, along with a bar / restaurant and event center, ready by autumn of that same year.

It hasn’t always been easy; in the spring of 1994, the course experienced a bad case of snow mold, killing nine greens and taking several months to repair. But, this was minor compared to what unfolded in 2013...

On May 14th of last year, what has come to be known as “The Green Valley Fire” started. It was approximately 13 miles long and 3 miles deep on the north side of the Golf Course. Crews managed to stop the fire before it damaged too much of the course, but it ravaged areas around holes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 2, 12, and 11. 

The repair process is ongoing; we’ve already cut down many, many damaged trees and will continue doing so throughout the summer, replanting where we need to as soon as possible. The landscape is definitely altered, with many more open spots and damaged trees, but Blueberry Pines will recover in no time. 

So, with that being said, what makes Blueberry Pines so special? 
  • We have large, raised tee boxes with several tee option, allowing all players of different abilities to play from areas matching their unique skill levels. 
  • Our sandy soils allow us to open earlier and close later. 
  • Because we’re flanked by pines, we have very, very few leaves...and as any avid golfer knows, leaves are extremely bothersome…
  • We have large, angulating greens (a Joel Goldstrand trademark.)
  • Unique landscape features throughout our 18 holes - check them out in our photo gallery. 

Stepping away from course features, we’re also extremely proud of a few other Blueberry Pines qualities. These include but are not limited to:
  • The beautiful outdoor views from the large windows of the clubhouse.
  • Our dedicated, friendly staff.
  • Some seriously tasty food.
  • A warm, inviting and family-friendly environment, with a nice deck outside for outdoor dining
  • The excellent Don Holman, performing live with soft, relaxing, fun music on Friday and Saturday evenings, and during Sunday brunch.

We welcome any type of event - business functions, weddings, funerals, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. - and will work with you to make sure your event is exactly what you want. 

Above all, we’re moving forward; we’re always looking for ways to improve our golf course, restaurant, and bar to accommodate everyone, whether local folks or those from far away. We seek to engage younger generations in the game of golf with social media, youth programs and special discounts. 

We’ve always been known as Blueberry Pines Golf Club, but the word “club” is misleading. We’re not a private organization; we’re open to the public, and our overarching goal is to make Blueberry Pines a centerpiece attraction for our area. That’s why we’ve changed our name to 
Blueberry Pines Golf, Dining, and Event Center. 

We hope you’ll stop by and see us soon!



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