Summer Magic at the New 'Rock-a-Villion' -

Valley View Golf Course Shines in the NIght

 

By Robert E. Martin

     Occasionally things happen in the Saginaw Valley that strike one with a fortuitous sense of good luck - not only because they play upon the natural beauty of the area, but because they expand upon a resource by offering something that never existed before, neatly tied up in a package that represents a unique value.
   

Such is the case with the unveiling of the Rock-A-Villion pavilion at Valley View Golf Course, located 1/2 Mile South of M-46 at 1435 S. Thomas Road just outside of Shields.
A carefully crafted and sparkling 'open-air' wooden pavilion that can accommodate up to 140 people, the new addition at Valley View allows the public to enjoy a round of golf in the late afternoon, imbibe in an excellent dinner in the evening, and catch some of our area's top professional musicians & entertainers in the evening.
 

As for value, every Friday evening throughout the summer you can enjoy 9-holes of golf with a cart, a great meal catered by Pat & Jerry's of Auburn, and catch such entertainers as Brush/Lopez, Jim Perkins, Krogman, Miller & Van, and Laurie Middlebrook all for just $25.00.  And if you're not a golfer, you can enjoy a meal and entertainment for only $12.00, or simply stop by to enjoy the music & scenic beauty, free from the confined congestion of a smoky bar.
  

According to Valley View owner Michael Mueller, work on the 'Rock-a-Villion' began in the fall of last year. "I thought we needed to offer something more to golfers & the general public," he explains. "Golf has changed a lot over the last 20 years. People don't want to just go out and shoot a couple rounds of golf each week. They also want drinks, dinner, and something more akin to the experience of a golf 'outing'."
   

Mueller and his family are no strangers to the world of golf in the Tri-Cities, but the new expansion does carry his organization into new levels of involvement.  "Offering music and food is something new for us," continues Mike.
 

In terms of history, Valley View opened its first nine holes in 1975 and the second nine in 1977.  "My father built Swan Valley Golf Course and helped at Rolling Green before they turned it into a subdivision", explains Mike. "He started as a caddy at the Saginaw County Club and always wanted to build his own course.  He bought the land for Valley View back in the late 1960s because he wanted to build a course his family owned instead of a group of people."
 

"Fortunately, John Krogman and Tom Dolson have worked for years with us here at Valley View, and both are excellent musicians with strong reputations in the area, so they've been crucial in terms of guiding us into this new territory and helping us line up entertainment."
 

The totally 'open air' facility is perfect for listening to music. The wooden back and side walls afford warm acoustics with sonic presence, while the open access allows the sound to escape, meaning that patrons can easily converse without shouting, nor sacrifice any tonal presence.
 

"We've constructed the pavilion with 'half-walls', notes Mike, "so we can slide inside walls of Plexiglas in for colder weather, or screens if we so desire, or need to keep rain out."
Currently Mike is working with Pat & Jerry's of Auburn to provide Friday feasts that vary from perch dinners to grilled chicken & steak with plenty of side dishes.  The pavilion will seat up to 140 people, and if demand increases seating can be accommodated on the grass in a French café' type of atmosphere.
 

"You can't really beat the view," smiles Mueller. "I've heard comments from a lot of musicians stating how nice it is to look out upon the greens of a beautiful golf course while a guy takes a shot on the green as they perform, instead of staring at walls inside of a bar."
 

Mueller views this latest welcome expansion as a significant evolution for his golf course. "A lot of private clubs are starving for memberships right now and so much has changed about golf," he notes. "People want more than golf and it can be difficult to meet those demands. A shop that does oil changes makes money, so people think why would a golf course that also makes money add an oil change into the mix, but it's a tough business right now so we need to add things that reasonably fit in with what we do."

 

Depending upon response to the facility, Mueller hopes to run his entertainment, golf, and dining special into the month of September. Additionally, staging and augmented lighting are being added, plus the parking lot has been completely blacktopped and expanded.
 

On Friday, July 29th Laurie Middlebrook will be performing and on August 5th you can catch Jim Perkins, with the KMV Band lined up for August 12th.  Entertainment runs from 8:00 - 10:00 PM.
People interested in making reservations for Friday's 'Golf/Meal' deal, or simply reserve for dinner & entertainment can phone the club at 989-781-1248 or visit www.valleyviewfarmgolf.com for more details.