By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

“There’s an old saying, ‘Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it,’ ”Bob Cain said. “Being a golfer, I always wanted to own and operate a course.”

Well, he finally got one, Deer Valley Golf Course at Chelsea. And now he works “pretty much 24/7.” But he enjoys it, he said.

“It’s a challenging course,” said Cain. “I will have to admit that I had almost as much fun building it as I do playing it.

“I built the course with a track loader, and it took about two years. I used a local company for about a week to help remove stumps with bigger equipment, but did most all clearing and all shaping. It is a nine-hole, links-style executive course.”

It has a pro shop and clubhouse that overlook a beautiful valley, and golf carts are available. Golf Pro is Richard Crawford.

Cain opened the driving range built by Shirley Construction, around 1995 and the golf course in 2006.

The property has been in his family for years, he said, but he was raised in Midfield and his family moved to Chelsea when he graduated from high school.

Cain said he used to work in the oil business, but has been interested in golf course design a long time. Although his dream of designing and working at his own golf course has become a reality, this is not the best thing that ever happened to him.

“The best thing that has ever happened to me is turning my life over to Jesus Christ,” he said.

“I belong to a group called PGA professionals for Christ. It is not affiliated with the PGA, just a group of local golf pros who get together and have a Bible study on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, because most of us have to work Sundays.

“We meet at 7 p.m. in room 107 at Ashbury Methodist Church. It is nondenominational and open to anyone who wishes to attend, not just golf pros.”

Cain’s Deer Valley golf course is open 7 a.m. to “dark-thirty.” He turns lights on for driving customers, when needed.

“We give lessons, too,” Cain said. “It’s a great place for beginners and families with kids.”

Contact: phone 678-2292; email deervalleylinks@gmail.com. Facebook Bob Cain or Deer Valley Golf Course; Deervalleylinks.com.

Shelba Nivens can be reached by email at Shelbasn@juno.com.