By Jolene Farley
Construction at the appropriately-titled "Drivers" restaurant on the Beaver Creek Golf Course is expected to be complete by May 6.
Carpet in the restaurant will be laid this week, leaving only a few small tasks in the kitchen before the opening, according to general manager Rodney Scholten.
"Once that is done, we should have the restaurant side pretty well locked down," he said.
Scholten hopes Drivers is a place people will visit frequently.
"I think the experience is just going to be one that makes them want to come back," he said. "We are going to focus so much on customer service and satisfaction... it is going to be the priority for the staff."
Scholten hopes to begin staff development and training of 15 employees by the end of this week.
More than 35 applications have been received so far for waiter, waitress, cook and bartender positions.
A grand opening for Drivers is tentatively planned for June 7 and 8 with special menus, an informational open house on the banquet facility and door prizes, according to Scholten.
Drivers features a regular menu with everything from hamburgers and fries to ribeye steaks.
"The menus are going to include or exclude things as we go," he said. "We want the consumers to tell us what they like and dislike. They will do this by what they purchase."
After Drivers is operating, work will intensify on the banquet facility, Scholten said.
The banquet facility has 14 wedding receptions and several class reunions already booked.
"The weddings have been from early on," he said. "That has just kind of grown." Scholten said the quality and location of the facility help sell it.
Banquet hall rental is $400 with linens included, and for $300 Ben Davis Productions will provide a DJ service. Tony's Catering, Luverne, will cater any events.
"Basically, if you have a date in mind you can call us," Scholten said. "We can take care of banquet hall and dance needs."
Scholten stressed use of the facility will be an upscale experience. "We want everyone who comes in to experience quality time," said Scholten.
The first event planned in the banquet hall is the Beaver Creek Fire Department benefit on May 18.
Course builder John Reardon is expected to begin work this week on the golf course with a projected completion date in August.
Investors wanted to open the restaurant immediately so customers could watch the golf course being built.
"Sort of watch the course go up ...a unique experience if you think about it," Scholten said.
Ten lifetime golf course memberships have been sold, and investors will offer 10 more on a first-come, first-served basis until they are gone or until the end of May.
Yearly family memberships for the golf course are $450 per year; single memberships are $350.
Scholten is working on a graduated fee scale for this year, since play will not begin until August.
Five lots have been sold on the golf course, and two or three homes will be built sometime this year, according to Scholten.
"People have contacted us that they are interested, but they want to see the finished product," he said.
Investors in the project are Rodney Scholten, Mike Blank, Ben Davis, Leonard Scholten and Dan Van Otterloo.