What are Iowa’s best golf courses? See the lists compiled by Golfweek.
Golf is one of the few sports that lacks a standardized playing field. Instead, players are challenged to navigate a wide variety of courses with unique challenges.
This means that unlike many other recreational sports, where you choose to play has a direct effect on how the game will play out. Some courses are better than others, and while personal preference certainly plays a part, sometimes knowing how other golfers rate a course can help.
Each year, Golfweek names the top public and private courses in each state. It relies on a team of more than 800 raters to play courses and rate them based on 10 categories including things like routing, variety of features and its “walk in the park” test rating how worthy a course is of four hours.
Here are the top five public and top five private golf courses in the state of Iowa.
Top public golf courses in Iowa
Public golf courses allow some kind of public access, whether it’s through daily access or a resort. They’re usually cheaper to access than private ones, and according to Bowling Green Golf Club, more beginner-friendly.
Here are the five best public golf courses in Iowa according to Golfweek.
1. Spirit Hollow, Burlington
Spirit Hollow Golf Course has been rated as the best golf course in the state by Golfweek for the past six years and once again took the #1 spot. The course challenges golfers to make riskier shots to get back on par if they fall behind. Being located in the Mississippi River valley, the course has plenty of water features, with natural streams crossing 11 of the holes.
Spirit Hollow is located at 5592 Clubhouse Dr. in Burlington. It is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and the standard rate for the full 18 holes is $89.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit spirithollowgolfcourse.com.
2. Blue Top Ridge, Riverside
Blue Top Ridge Golf Course was described as golf’s answer to “Field of Dreams” by Top 100 Golf Courses. The course sits on three distinct landforms, beginning on a prairie and descending into a river valley before climbing to a plateau above the Riverside Casino’s hotel. The course also hosts the longest hole in Iowa: Hole 16, a par 5 with 665 yards between tee box and flag.
Blue Top Ridge is located at 3184 Highway 22 in Riverside and is open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. The standard rate for the full 18 holes is $85.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit bluetopridge.com.
3. Bent Tree Golf Club, Council Bluffs
Bent Tree Golf Club course is designed around the naturally flowing topography of the region, giving it uniquely swirling winds. Many golfers’ favorite hole is the 15th, with a high tee box to a two-tiered green, according to the Bent Tree website. However, it warns golfers to “Beware of the massive trap that lies in the middle of a split fairway.”
Bent Tree Golf Club is located at 23579 Highway 6 in Council Bluffs and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The standard rate for the full 18 holes is $38.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit benttreegolfcb.com.
4. Tournament Club of Iowa, Polk City
Tournament Club of Iowa is the only course designed by the famous golfer and course designer Arnold Palmer and his team in Iowa. The course is melded with the natural environment, featuring large elevation changes, winding creeks and thick woods. There also a few simulators in the club house to practice your skills in a more controlled environment.
The Tournament Club of Iowa is located at 1000 Tradition Dr. in Polk City. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Monday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. every other day of the week. The standard rate for the full 18 holes is $50.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit tcofiowa.com.
5. Finkbine Golf Course, Iowa City
Finkbine Golf Course is home to Iowa Hawkeyes men’s and women’s golf teams. It is a full 18-hole course that also has a driving range and two putting greens to hone long or short games. Its signature hole is the 13th, a par 3 with a double green and a tee shot over the only water feature on the course, according to the course’s website.
Finkbine is located at 1380 Melrose Ave. in Iowa City. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday and from 6:45 a.m. to 8 p.m. every other day of the week. The standard rate for the full 18 holes is $42.
For more information or to book a tee time, visit Finkbine.com.
Top private golf courses in Iowa
Private golf courses tend to be more expensive but also offer more amenities and are often connected to larger country clubs. While the high price point can be exclusionary, if you’re wanting to try some more complicated golf courses alongside more dedicated golfers, a private course might be perfect.
Here are the top five in Iowa as ranked by Golfweek.
1. Davenport Country Club, Pleasant Valley
Davenport Country Club maintained its ranking as the best private golf course in the state. It was also ranked as the 68th best classic golf course in the country by Golfweek.
The course was renovated in 2014 to better reflect the original 1920s design. The course uses the natural terrain and elevation changes to give golfers wide vistas of the course, in particular on its 16th hole. The hole starts from an elevated tee box and requires golfers to avoid a creek along the fairway.
For more information about membership and amenities at Davenport Country Club, visit Davenportcc.com.
2. Harvester Golf Club, Rhodes
The Harvester is a dedicated golf club, that was a public course until 2018. After a major renovation, the course and clubhouse reopened in 2019 as a private club.
Despite being one of the more modern courses on this list, it was designed to evoke the 1920s era of golf course design. It’s one of the longer and more challenging courses in Iowa, with more than 7,000 yards to cover across all 18 holes.
According to Top 100 Golf Courses, it heavily features Lake Harvester, including the par five 18th hole which requires golfers to visit an island fairway before heading to the green.
3. Cedar Rapids Country Club, Cedar Rapids
Cedar Rapids Country Club offers a variety of amenities mainly catered to families including golf, tennis and aquatics
The club dates back to 1896 and the course was built in 1904. It was lengthened to 18 holes by Scottish architect Donald Ross in 1915.
For more information about membership and amenities, submit an inquiry at cedarrapidscc.com.
4. Wakonda Club, Des Moines
The Wakonda Club, like the Des Moines Golf and Country Club, offers racket sports and swimming alongside golf. The 18-hole course has hosted the Principal Charity Classic since 2013 and a major renovation of the course was completed earlier this year.
According to reviewers at Top 100 Golf Courses, the course is highly intellectual, presenting golfers with a variety of complex challenges that demand a slow, thoughtful approach. Originally designed in 1922, the course is said to still maintain a golden era flair.
For more information about Wakonda Club membership and amenities, visit Wakondaclub.com.
5. Des Moines Golf & Country Club north course, Des Moines
Des Moines Golf and Country Club offers racket sports and swimming alongside two full golf courses. The 2017 Solheim Cup, a biennial team golf competition between women representing Europe and the United States, was hosted on the grounds.
The north course is described as a quintessential country club golf course and relatively tame by reviewers at Top 100 Golf Courses. It’s also slightly longer than the south course, which features more challenging holes.
To learn more, visit dmgcc.org.
Ryan Magalhães is a reporter for the Register. Reach them at rmagalhaes@dmreg.com.
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