The Reiter family has been involved in golf in South Dakota for over 50 years.  Gene started in the golf business on the grounds crew at Minnehaha Country Club, the premier golf course in the state, back in the early 1950's.  He took over as the grounds superintendent in 1956, and held that position until his retirement 35 years later in 1992.  Gene played an important role in the development of the South Dakota Golf Course Superintendent's Association in the 1980's, as a member of the founding board of directors, becoming its first President in 1991.  This organization has played a pivotal role in the development and improved playing conditions of all golf courses in the state and surrounding areas.  Gene and son, Jim, were also involved in the building of many golf courses in the area including Parker, Lennox, Tyndall, Platte, Parkston, Dell Rapids, Colman, the original nine holes at Hartford, the 2nd nine holes at the Brooking Country Club, and the Madison Country Club.

     Jim Reiter, Gene's oldest son, also began his golf course career on the grounds crew at MCC in the late 60's and early 70's, working during the summers through high school and college where he studied turf grass maintenance at Iowa State University.

     Bill Reiter, Gene's second son, also honed his course maintenance skills on the grounds crew at MCC in the early 70's.  He then branched out on his own, taking the reins as the Golf Course Superintendent at the Brandon Municipal Golf Course in 1978.  He still holds that position today almost 30 years later where he has turned the Brandon course into one of the finest in the state.

     The Reiters finally realized their dream in 1989 when they began construction of their own golf course in Brandon on the property where they had operated Splitrock Nursery, a landscaping and sod business since 1976.  Hidden Valley Golf Course, a nine hole par 3 golf course, opened in the spring of 1990.  The course was designed and built by Jim, Gene, and Dan.  The Reiters added the 2nd nine holes in 1999 making Hidden Valley the only 18 hole par 3 course in the area.

     Along with Jim's wife, Peggy, and mother, Irene, who have worked the clubhouse over the years, a third generation of Reiters has entered the golf business.  Jim's son Steve, a graduate of the University of Nebraska, and 4 year starter on the Nebraska golf team, has worked the pro shop at Willow Run Golf Course in Sioux Falls, and has been an assistant Pro and Head Pro at Spring Creek CC in Sioux Falls for 11 years.  He has worked on the grounds crew at Hidden Valley and in 2006 became the golf course superintendent and general manager at the Colman Golf Course, a course his grandpa, Gene, and father, Jim, built almost 40 years earlier.  He was involved in the reconstruction of 5 of the greens at Colman, along with his dad and uncle Dan.  Together they helped bring the Colman course back from the brink. 

     Jim's son, Brian, helped with the construction of Hidden Valley's 2nd nine and has worked at the course since it opened, both in the clubhouse and on the ground's crew.  Jim's daughter, Laurie, and Dan's sons, Matt and Justin, have also put in their time behind the counter in the clubhouse over the years.  Steve's wife, Jeanette, has recently taken over managing Hidden Valley's Club House.  She receives extra help from their kids Seth (9), Nate (6), and Megan (4)! The Reiter family looks forward to serving the public for many years to come.