Meet the Pelican Lakes Golf Course Team


Kevin Cohrs | Head PGA Golf Professional
 


After over a decade serving as an Assistant PGA Golf Professional, Kevin has found a home at Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf as its Head PGA Golf Professional. Kevin started March 4 and replaced Matt Kantor who was recently elevated to the vacant role within The Water Valley Company as its Director of Golf, and brings with him 14 years of experience as a golf professional. "It is exciting to bring Kevin's operational knowledge, love for the game, and expertise to Pelican Lakes," said Kantor. "Kevin is strategic and will bring a wealth of ideas in his new role as PGA head professional." Kevin's love for the game of golf began at the age of four when his father first put a club in his hands and told him to "be the ball." For the past eight years he was the 1st Assistant at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland and prior to that as a six-year Assistant at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton. His managerial accomplishments over the last few years have been to hire and train all staff, coordinate men's and ladies' leagues, run multiple junior programs, and organize tournaments. He has a passion for leading a team, golf instruction, club fitting and merchandising. No stranger to Northern Colorado, Kevin graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in Technical Journalism and a concentration in Public Relations. He and wife Kristina live with their 20-pound Maine coon cat Princess Leah. Kristina has spent nine years at American Medical Response as an Administrative Assistant to the Regional Director. They enjoy traveling, hiking, concerts, cooking and spending time with their family and friends.

Justin Carlock | Assistant Golf Professional


Justin is no stranger to Northern Colorado.

A 2013 graduate of Windsor High School, Justin participated in the Class 4A state golf tournament as a senior and has made golf his life.

Nearly 10 years later he was hired as an assistant golf professional at his hometown’s newest golf course, RainDance National Resort & Golf.

“I am very fortunate for my life to come full circle back to where I started,” Justin said. “You never seem to realize how much home really means to you until you leave and make your way back. It’s such a blessing to help make an impact and a difference in the same community that gave me so much growing up.”

After high school, Justin played golf at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, CO and Trinidad (CO) State College. Justin shined at Trinidad State as he twice was named the Region IX Player of the Year.

Justin turned professional after college and moved to Arizona to compete in mini tours. While in Arizona, he qualified for the 2021 Arizona Open and worked at the We-Ko-Pa Golf Club in Fort McDowell and Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix.

Justin accepted the position at RainDance National after a brief stint at Eaton Country Club, and is currently enrolled in the PGA PGM program on his way to become a Class A professional. 

When he’s not working on his golf game, Justin is an accomplished bowler and spends time with his fiancé Karlee and her son Gunner.

Chris Williamson | Director of Instruction


Four months before RainDance National Resort & Golf opened to the public, The Water Valley Company introduced Chris Williamson as its Head PGA Golf Professional.

Nearly two years later, Chris has been promoted to the Director of Instruction for The Water Valley Company. He leads golf instruction across both golf courses - RainDance National and Pelican Lakes - and works alongside fellow teaching professionals in elevating the play of members and guests.

Chris took over operations at RainDance National after serving in the same capacity at the Eaton Country Club in Eaton, Colorado.

"I feel fortunate to have worked in a variety of contexts in the golf industry and am honored to join this family and bring those experiences to RainDance National and help introduce the world to this unbelievable property," said Williamson.

Prior to holding the role as the head pro at the Eaton Country Club, Chris was an assistant at two Fort Collins country clubs - Ptarmigan Country Club and Fort Collins Country Club - and also spent many years with Ping Golf. He arrives at RainDance National with a vast knowledge of teaching, merchandising, tournament/league operations, and management skills. "I am thrilled to have Chris be the first Head Golf Professional at RainDance National," said Matt Kantor, The Water Valley Company Director of Golf. "His skills, talents, and passion for the game as a PGA Professional will contribute immensely to the success of the new golf course."

Chris has been a PGA Member for over a decade and in 2020 became PGA Specialized in Teaching and Coaching, putting him in the top 5% of PGA Professionals in those fields. He has worked with hundreds of students the last few years from across Northern Colorado.

"Golf is supposed to be fun and enjoyable. I work hard to try and keep things simple and personalized for all types of players, helping everyone take their next step in this great game of golf."

Originally from Iowa, Chris and his wife Rachel have come to love Northern Colorado over the last decade. When free time allows, they can be found outdoors and usually are headed to explore the beauty of this region with their two children.

Jason Weizenegger | Golf Course Superintendent


Jason started at Pelican Lakes in the spring of 2007 as the Assistant Superintendent of the Falls. He now takes care of the the entire 27-hole property. Jason worked at Highland Meadows Golf Course as an Irrigation Tech during grow in and was promoted to 2nd assistant after two years. When Jason is not at work, he enjoys playing golf with family and friends, and spending time with his wife Erika and daughters Madison and Rory.

Jeff Orr | Director of Agronomy


Jeff Orr is no stranger to Pelican Lakes, or RainDance National. The Director of Agronomy of Pelican Lakes and RainDance National Golf Club has worked for the company since 2003 when he first joined the maintenance staff as a spray tech. Jeff was fresh out of Colorado State University having completed his Bachelor's Degree in Landscape & Horticulture Technologies with an emphasis in Turf when he was hired at Pelican Lakes. Jeff was born in Austin, Texas, and moved to Fort Collins in 1996 from Boca Raton, Florida to attend Fort Collins High School and CSU. While in college Jeff worked on the maintenance staff at Boomerang Links in Greeley. Jeff and his wife Cinda have two daughters, Allie and Collins, and when he's not working he enjoys playing golf, touring breweries and hanging out with the family.

Pepper | The Goose Chasin' Border Collie
Pepper the Goose Dog was born on a ranch in Utah and in her early years was trained as a cattle dog. She then went to work with Tim Eubank's Denver-based Zero Geese company, and he fully trained her at her current occupation as a goose dog. She started her career at Pelican Lakes in 2016 and since then has been running approximately 10 miles a day. Several times a day, every day, Pepper sits shotgun in a cart with a golf course employee as they traverse the paths on our 27 holes. She only exits the cart when geese do not vacate the turf, and that's when her hunting skills fully kick in. When she's not goose chasing, Pepper is usually found behind the pro shop counter curled up in a ball, or begging to be pet. The next time you're in the pro shop, welcome Pepper to the family. She's by far our friendliest employee, and wins the Employee of the Month award, every month.

Kurt Hinkle | Director of Golf

 

Kurt Hinkle moved to Windsor in 1998 after he received a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado in news editorial journalism. The native of Sterling, Colorado enjoyed a 10-year career as a reporter and editor of the Windsor Beacon newspaper and another five years serving as the general manager of the student-operated The Mirror newspaper at UNC before joining The Water Valley Company in 2014 as its Director of Marketing and Public Relations, and later as its Director of Communications. In December of 2023, Kurt accepted the role as Director Golf and oversees the day-to-day operations of the pro shops and agronomy teams at RainDance National and Pelican Lakes. He will also assist in the strategic planning of golf events and maintenance projects. Kurt and wife Jill raised their college-aged son Carter in Water Valley and spend their leisure time playing golf, attending live music, skiing, traveling, and spending most weekends with friends and family.

Matt Stephens | Assistant Director of Golf

 

Matt Stephens, the former Director of Memberships for the company who has golf management and leadership experience, was named the Assistant Director of Golf in December of 2023. Prior to joining The Water Valley Company, Stephens spent eight years as a general manager with Arcis Golf, a company that owns and operates over 70 courses throughout the United States. While with Arcis, Stephens oversaw operations at a variety of clubs including Park Hill Golf Course, White Bluff Resort, Onion Creek Club and LPGA International. He also served on the Aurora Golf Advisory Board that assists with the vision and operation of the city’s 90 holes of golf. “It’s a privilege to be part of such a wonderful company that has such a great vison,” said Stephens, who is also the founder and partner of Pyramid Putters, a successful golf equipment company. “We’re assembling a strong team and I’m confident that we will be able to help elevate the golf experience here at The Water Valley Company.”

Meet the Pelican Lakes Food & Beverage Team


Meet the Rest of the Pelican Lakes Sales & Marketing Team


Shannon Shafer | Director of Sales & Events
Shannon has been on the staff at Pelican Lakes since August 2010. The Colorado native manages all types of catering events, specializing in weddings. She has worked with weddings in various capacities for over a decade. Shannon loves the diversity of each couple, witnessing their big day come together, and showcasing their individuality as a couple. Shannon and husband Dave were married at Pelican Lakes in 2016. They welcomed their first child, a girl, in late 2018. They also have a pet hedgehog named Pepper. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching crime dramas and nature shows, baking, crafting and exploring Colorado.

Meet the Rest of the Pelican Lakes Administration Team


Kate O'Halloran | Membership Manager & Club Administrative Assistant


Kate O'Halloran was born and raised in Colorado and has been working in the service industry since she was 17. Kate attended the University of Northern Colorado and started at Pelican Lakes in 2013. She joined the management team in 2015. After several years working in the restaurant, Kate is the Club Administrative Assistant. Kate has one daughter and 3 dogs. She enjoys golfing, traveling, camping year-round and exploring the mountains.

Mike Brady | Director of Maintenance & Development
Mike Brady is a nearly four-decade veteran of the restaurant and bar business. The Director of Maintenance and Development of Pelican Lakes has served in this capacity off-and- on for 10 years. Mike is also the owner of a small pizza restaurant within the Water Valley community. Mike and his wife of over 30 years, Jo, currently live in Water Valley but have lived in 10 different states. Together they have three children and five granddaughters. Mike is a former vice president of the Windsor Chamber of Commerce, an active supporter of the Windsor RE-4 School District and RE-4 Foundation and when he's not working or donating his time, he can be found on the golf course or casting a line in a lake.

Mandy Oberholzer | Executive Director of Adventure and Recreation


Mandy Oberholzer is an outdoor enthusiast who has a passion for adventure and making sure everyone around her is having fun and creating the most memorable experiences. She is looking forward to bringing awesome adventures to the Windsor area
Mandy was born and raised in Durban, South Africa, which is where she found her love for wildlife and the great outdoors. Mandy loves playing and watching sports, such as soccer, cricket, rugby, softball, basketball, baseball, and football, to name a few.
Before starting her career in the outdoor and hospitality industry, Mandy went to Central Michigan University and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Administration with a concentration in Outdoor Recreation and a minor in Biology.
Mandy spent the last nine years working at the Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa, located on the Western Slope of Colorado and owned by the founder of the Discovery Channel. She built the adventure world from the ground up as the Director of Resort Services by creating programs for corporate retreats and leisure guests, such as outdoor laser tag, Baja driving, rock climbing, UTVing, hiking, team building, driven car rentals, and so much more.