Bear hired on as general manager in 2015 and began work on rebuilding River’s Edge Golf Course. Owen Schmolt was hired at that time as course superintendent and he worked together with Bear to make improvements to the course.

A pond was added to the par 3 No. 4 hole and a few of the greens were changed.

In 2018, Bear’s son Dustin Jorgensen and a group of investors purchased the course.

Bear has a background in agriculture. He owns a sod farm and partnered with Dustin in a lawn spraying business. Bear worked at the Walmart Distribution Center in North Platte for 14 years before taking over at River’s Edge.

He grew up and graduated from high school in Hershey where he still lives with his wife Deanna. Bear coached boy’s basketball at Hershey for 43 years as an assistant coach, the last several years with his son Dustin as head coach. He recently retired from coaching.

If you have any questions about River’s Edge or would like to set up an outing or tournament, call Bear at 532-7550.

Owen Schmoldt

Owen is River’s Edge course superintendent for seven years in September.

He started working at Elkhorn Acres in Stanton while going to college at Northeast Community College in Norfolk.

After college, Owen and his wife Carmen moved to Sulphur Springs, Texas where he worked at The Links at Land’s end. He was the assistant superintendent there for two years. From there, Owen went to Lake Fork Golf Club as superintendent for two years, then took a job at The Cliffs Resort as an assistant superintendent for two years.

He earned his Associate’s Degree in Horticulture and Golf Course Management at Northeast CC.

Owen said he loves working outside and being out in nature and enjoying the wildlife.. “Early morning on a golf course is hard to beat,” Owen said.

He said he likes the variety of work on the course. “I really enjoy the crews I’ve worked with.”

The flexibility of learning new techniques to do the jobs required to take care of the course appeal to him as well. He said there is always more than one way to get the job done.

Owen likes the fact that River’s Edge is a family-owned business. “I like working for and with people that genuinely appreciate and care for their employees. “Having my boys with me every day during the summer and teaching them about what I do” is something he appreciates as well.

Carmen and Owen have been married for 20 years with a total of 29 years together. They were high school sweethearts. They have two sons, Austin, 10, and Ryder, 7, who are aspiring golfers in their own right as well.

Owen was born and raised in West Point, Nebraska and grew up playing golf at Indian Trails Country Club in Beemer.

Be sure to take the time to thank Owen for all the work he and his crew dedicate to River’s Edge.

— JTV1