Golf talk...

[millhawk]

...I'm bored. Any courses in Iowa that is on your bucket list?

Here's mine: the new Rees Jones course in Larchwood, the Grand Falls casino & golf resort.
the one in Livermore, Spring Valley I think
River Valley in Adel
TCI of Iowa
Coldwater Creek in Lames. hard to play while holding your nose.
Brown Deer Coralville
ones in NW Iowa you eastern Iowa guys should try
The Ridge in Sioux Center
Whispering creek Sioux City
The Bluffs in Vermillion SD I know not Iowa but close. Great course(my favorite)
Brooks and Emerald Hills Okoboji/
Landsmeer in Orange City.

 

[Lone Clone]

...I'm bored. Any courses in Iowa that is on your bucket list?

Here's mine: the new Rees Jones course in Larchwood, the Grand Falls casino & golf resort.
the one in Livermore, Spring Valley I think
River Valley in Adel
TCI of Iowa
Coldwater Creek in Lames. hard to play while holding your nose.
Brown Deer Coralville
ones in NW Iowa you eastern Iowa guys should try
The Ridge in Sioux Center
Whispering creek Sioux City
The Bluffs in Vermillion SD I know not Iowa but close. Great course(my favorite)
Brooks and Emerald Hills Okoboji/
Landsmeer in Orange City.

I've played TCI, Coldwater Creek and Brown Deer several times. I wouldn't make a special effort to play them again, but wouldn't suggest anybody should avoid them. I definitely would have made that recommendation about Brown Deer before they added the second 9. As a 9-hole course it was a POS to end all POS.

If you haven't played Spirit Hollow in Burlington, you should. And Harvester, of course. Everybody should play Amana, but I don't like it at all. Not remarkable, and a lot of blind shots and hillside lies. Beautiful, of course. The course at the Riverside casino is definitely worth a trip.

Have you ever played Quarry Oaks on the west edge of Omaha? Pretty neat, but don't play it in the autumn unless you have a couple of dozen balls you want to get rid of. Too many leaves.

 

[KOKhawk]

Nice list. I think I've played all of them with the exception of Larchwood. Here's a few that I want to play and haven't:
Blue To Ridge in Riverside
Amana Colonies
Spirit Hollow in Burlington
Echo Valley - DSM

Small town courses I'd recommend:
LPN - Lake Panorama
Honey Creek - Boone
Carroll Country Club
Majestic Hills - Denison
Spencer CC

 

[millhawk]

Nice list. I think I've played all of them with the exception of Larchwood. Here's a few that I want to play and haven't:
Blue To Ridge in Riverside
Amana Colonies
Spirit Hollow in Burlington
Echo Valley - DSM

Small town courses I'd recommend:
LPN - Lake Panorama
Honey Creek - Boone
Carroll Country Club
Majestic Hills - Denison
Spencer CC

Yes, can't believe I forgot the Spencer CC. In case anyone is wondering you can play it without being a member if you are from out of town.

 

[HIWB]

Nice list. I think I've played all of them with the exception of Larchwood. Here's a few that I want to play and haven't:
Blue To Ridge in Riverside
Amana Colonies
Spirit Hollow in Burlington
Echo Valley - DSM

Small town courses I'd recommend:
LPN - Lake Panorama
Honey Creek - Boone
Carroll Country Club
Majestic Hills - Denison
Spencer CC

BTR can be a beast - be humble and play from the correct tees. It was in good shape when I was able to play last year.
Amana is beautiful, but lots of blind shots and narrow fairways. Consider keeping the driver in the bag on some of the par 4s. Bring extra balls

Add Williamsburg to your small town list. It is only 9 holes, but has several tee boxes if you want to switch it up on the back 9. It was in the top 25 9-hole courses in the US in Golf Digest a couple of years ago.

 

[KOKhawk]

BTR can be a beast - be humble and play from the correct tees. It was in good shape when I was able to play last year.
Amana is beautiful, but lots of blind shots and narrow fairways. Consider keeping the driver in the bag on some of the par 4s. Bring extra balls

Add Williamsburg to your small town list. It is only 9 holes, but has several tee boxes if you want to switch it up on the back 9. It was in the top 25 9-hole courses in the US in Golf Digest a couple of years ago.

We always play the tips. May not be a good choice at BTR?

Agreed on Williamsburg! can't believe I left that out. Great course.

 

[IowaHawkIT]

We always play the tips. May not be a good choice at BTR?

Agreed on Williamsburg! can't believe I left that out. Great course.

Unless you're a scratch player, I would suggest not playing from the tips. It's a long course.

 

[linkshero]

...I'm bored. Any courses in Iowa that is on your bucket list?

Here's mine: the new Rees Jones course in Larchwood, the Grand Falls casino & golf resort.
the one in Livermore, Spring Valley I think
River Valley in Adel
TCI of Iowa
Coldwater Creek in Lames. hard to play while holding your nose.
Brown Deer Coralville
ones in NW Iowa you eastern Iowa guys should try
The Ridge in Sioux Center
Whispering creek Sioux City
The Bluffs in Vermillion SD I know not Iowa but close. Great course(my favorite)
Brooks and Emerald Hills Okoboji/
Landsmeer in Orange City.

I like Coldwater. Great views of JT stadium....
Love Spirit Hollow
TCI is worth the play
I'm not a fan of Harvester, and they are year to year if they are going to be open.

Sadly, I have not yet played Livermore, Larchwood, or BTR. Plan on hitting two of three this year.

River Valley in Adel is nothing like the rest, not very good.

I will throw out that if you have not played new Otter in Ankeny, you should. It's a great course now.

 

[millhawk]

I like Coldwater. Great views of JT stadium....
Love Spirit Hollow
TCI is worth the play
I'm not a fan of Harvester, and they are year to year if they are going to be open.

Sadly, I have not yet played Livermore, Larchwood, or BTR. Plan on hitting two of three this year.

River Valley in Adel is nothing like the rest, not very good.

I will throw out that if you have not played new Otter in Ankeny, you should. It's a great course now.

Otter is another one I left off. First I have heard about Harvester being in trouble that would be a shame. That is a awesome course. Another one is the Honey Creek on Lake Rathbun.

 

[Pepperman]

My impression was that Harvester is the owner's "toy" and he wants to have it really difficult just for himself and his buddies - which doesn't tend to attract a lot of outside play if so (especially at their rates). Maybe that isn't correct, but but I didn't think it was a financial issue at all?

I do love that course though. I just cannot justify going there when I pay for a club here that I can play for "free".

 

[Maddux04]

Lone Clone... played Quarry Oaks and like it. A favorite of our group out there as well: Iron Horse. Have you had a chance to play it?

 

[Lone Clone]

We always play the tips. May not be a good choice at BTR?

Agreed on Williamsburg! can't believe I left that out. Great course.

We always play the tips. May not be a good choice at BTR?

Agreed on Williamsburg! can't believe I left that out. Great course.

Williamsburg is terrific, and I don't like 9-hole courses. There are frequently Groupons for play there. Up until three-four years ago, the public couldn't play, but they've opened it up.

As for playing the tips at BTR....if you are a scratch golfer AND hit the ball a long way, go ahead. I hope you aren't in the group in front of me, though Number 12 is listed at only 550 yards, but that's misleading because it's all straight up a steep hill. IIRC, from the tips it requires a 220 yard carry to clear a creek. It was a more impressive course in the original configuration, but it's still a very nice layout.

 

[Lone Clone]

Lone Clone... played Quarry Oaks and like it. A favorite of our group out there as well: Iron Horse. Have you had a chance to play it?

Nope. We just played Quarry Oaks because we'd heard about it and we were spending a weekend at Mahaney State Park -- which is one hell of a great place, by the way.

 

[Lone Clone]

My impression was that Harvester is the owner's "toy" and he wants to have it really difficult just for himself and his buddies - which doesn't tend to attract a lot of outside play if so (especially at their rates). Maybe that isn't correct, but but I didn't think it was a financial issue at all?

I do love that course though. I just cannot justify going there when I pay for a club here that I can play for "free".

Harvester has been in financial trouble off-and-on almost since it opened. It's my favorite course in Iowa. Every hole is interesting. It's a very difficult course but a very fair one. I can go out there with my 28 handicap and have a really good time. Haven't played it for years, though. Expensive and a long way from here.

It used to be the "home" course for ISU. Not sure if that's still the case.

 

[iCRUNCH]

I just got a membership at TPC Deere Run for the year. If anyone wants to play send me a PM and I'd be glad to play with you and I could probably get you a discount too.

 

[iCRUNCH]

@torbee is a punk and wouldn't get a membership too. #big_league

 

[joelbc1]

...I'm bored. Any courses in Iowa that is on your bucket list?

Here's mine: the new Rees Jones course in Larchwood, the Grand Falls casino & golf resort.
the one in Livermore, Spring Valley I think
River Valley in Adel
TCI of Iowa
Coldwater Creek in Lames. hard to play while holding your nose.
Brown Deer Coralville
ones in NW Iowa you eastern Iowa guys should try
The Ridge in Sioux Center
Whispering creek Sioux City
The Bluffs in Vermillion SD I know not Iowa but close. Great course(my favorite)
Brooks and Emerald Hills Okoboji/
Landsmeer in Orange City.

River Valley, Adel....seriously? Dream List or Nightmare?

 

[Lone Clone]

I'm headed out to my home course, Airport National, in about an hour for a 27-hole tournament. Got a new set of irons last night. Played with them in a couple's league best-shot and was horrible.....but the awfulness was confined to me driver, which isn't new. Go figure. The goal for today is to come close to my handicap, which would be 30 over par for 27 holes. (I'm not a very good golfer). For those who are interested in such things, the new clubs are Ping Karstens, which are basically the G30 except that the 3 and 4 are hybrids. Yellow dot, graphite shaft, pussy flex.

 

[jscott78]

Nice list. I think I've played all of them with the exception of Larchwood. Here's a few that I want to play and haven't:
Blue To Ridge in Riverside
Amana Colonies
Spirit Hollow in Burlington
Echo Valley - DSM

Small town courses I'd recommend:
LPN - Lake Panorama
Honey Creek - Boone
Carroll Country Club
Majestic Hills - Denison
Spencer CC

Play Honey Creek in the fall. The leaves are gorgeous at that time on the back 9. I'd put Veenker on the list. Not because it is great anymore but there is enough left of the classic old design to appreciate what the course once was. I also tend to putt well there because I grew up playing the course.

 

[torbee]

@torbee is a punk and wouldn't get a membership too. #big_league

I was going to, but then looked at my kids sports schedule and my travel schedule and realized I'd be lucky to get out six times this summer.

Stupid family.

 

[Greenway4Prez]

Williamsburg is terrific, and I don't like 9-hole courses. There are frequently Groupons for play there. Up until three-four years ago, the public couldn't play, but they've opened it up.

As for playing the tips at BTR....if you are a scratch golfer AND hit the ball a long way, go ahead. I hope you aren't in the group in front of me, though Number 12 is listed at only 550 yards, but that's misleading because it's all straight up a steep hill. IIRC, from the tips it requires a 220 yard carry to clear a creek. It was a more impressive course in the original configuration, but it's still a very nice layout.

We had a gentleman out last fall from the Web.com tour, and mostly his recommendations didn't surprise us; add a bunker on 3, another tee on 4, another tee on 9...but then he suggested adding a tee on 12, stretching it to 580 or so. After I shat myself, I GPS'd it, and it would take a 295 yard carry to get 15 yards SHORT of the first fairway bunker. That is absolutely insane. When we had the Iowa Open in 2009, that hole played into a fairly stiff breeze on the first day, and that hole played to a 6.1 average.

I know these younger tour guys hit it a long ways, but a nice Iowa breeze can eat those yards up in a hurry.

 

[Lone Clone]

Play Honey Creek in the fall. The leaves are gorgeous at that time on the back 9. I'd put Veenker on the list. Not because it is great anymore but there is enough left of the classic old design to appreciate what the course once was. I also tend to putt well there because I grew up playing the course.

If you saw Veenker in the '60s or thereabouts, it breaks your heart to see it now. That was once the premier course in Iowa.

 

[Lone Clone]

In light of the number of requests I've had for information about my tournament appearance today, the good news is that I shot better than my handicap. The bad news is that my handicap is reall, really high. I was 26 over for 27 holes. Left before the field was all finished, but am confident I was DFL in my division, because there were only three other players in it and they're all pretty good. I had a dozen or so pars, but no birdies and several serious blow-up holes, including the first one, a short par 4. Was on in regulation and promptly 5-putted. And putting is usually a strong point for me. Hell of a way to start the day, let me tell you. Good time, though. Weather was decent.

 

[millhawk]

In light of the number of requests I've had for information about my tournament appearance today, the good news is that I shot better than my handicap. The bad news is that my handicap is reall, really high. I was 26 over for 27 holes. Left before the field was all finished, but am confident I was DFL in my division, because there were only three other players in it and they're all pretty good. I had a dozen or so pars, but no birdies and several serious blow-up holes, including the first one, a short par 4. Was on in regulation and promptly 5-putted. And putting is usually a strong point for me. Hell of a way to start the day, let me tell you. Good time, though. Weather was decent.

5-putted? Holy smokes LC too much coffee?

 

[JWolf74]

In light of the number of requests I've had for information about my tournament appearance today, the good news is that I shot better than my handicap. The bad news is that my handicap is reall, really high. I was 26 over for 27 holes. Left before the field was all finished, but am confident I was DFL in my division, because there were only three other players in it and they're all pretty good. I had a dozen or so pars, but no birdies and several serious blow-up holes, including the first one, a short par 4. Was on in regulation and promptly 5-putted. And putting is usually a strong point for me. Hell of a way to start the day, let me tell you. Good time, though. Weather was decent.

I'm terrible, but was having a pretty decent day at Waveland yesterday day through 14 (18 over, not bad for me at that course). I then proceeded to finish 8-8-8-7. And the 7 was only after I sank the 15 footer after taking 6 to get on.

Did not 5 putt, though. Just a lot of yips.

 

[Lone Clone]

5-putted? Holy smokes LC too much coffee?

I'm usually a pretty good putter. Oh, hell....actually, I'm usually a better than average putter. Earlier this week, I played the back nine at the same course and had only 10 putts. But the greens at this course can be very, very challenging...and if you get above the hole on almost any of them, you are in deep doo-doo. I was about 25 feet above the hole, missed the birdie putt by about two inches and it rolled and rolled and rolled to about 12-15 feet below the hole. Conscious of the relatively steep grade, I made sure I wouldn't be short on my par putt....and went three feet above the hole. Lipped out my bogey putt and was two feet below and to the side. Left the double-bogey putt hanging on the lip.

This was not a record for me. A number of years ago I seven-putted the third hole -- assuming you count chips back on the green after putting off the green as putts -- in a tournament. The saving grace that day was that one of the assistant pros eight-putted the same green in the same tournament. It's fair to say the pin location was not good that day.

Oh, and I once putted out of bounds. But that was late in the season, and anybody familiar with #6 at Airport National can understand how that could happen.

 

[millhawk]

I'm usually a pretty good putter. Oh, hell....actually, I'm usually a better than average putter. Earlier this week, I played the back nine at the same course and had only 10 putts. But the greens at this course can be very, very challenging...and if you get above the hole on almost any of them, you are in deep doo-doo. I was about 25 feet above the hole, missed the birdie putt by about two inches and it rolled and rolled and rolled to about 12-15 feet below the hole. Conscious of the relatively steep grade, I made sure I wouldn't be short on my par putt....and went three feet above the hole. Lipped out my bogey putt and was two feet below and to the side. Left the double-bogey putt hanging on the lip.

This was not a record for me. A number of years ago I seven-putted the third hole -- assuming you count chips back on the green after putting off the green as putts -- in a tournament. The saving grace that day was that one of the assistant pros eight-putted the same green in the same tournament. It's fair to say the pin location was not good that day.

Oh, and I once putted out of bounds. But that was late in the season, and anybody familiar with #6 at Airport National can understand how that could happen.

Once in Missouri I hit a church. Thought I had a 9 but after I hit, realized it was a 6. Strong right to left wind, pulled hooked it, the wind got it and one bounce on the parking lot then one on the sidewalk then smack right on the front door. We all had a good laugh on that one.

 

[Kelsers]

If you saw Veenker in the '60s or thereabouts, it breaks your heart to see it now. That was once the premier course in Iowa.[/QUOT
I golfed Veenker last year and thought it was in great shape.

 

[Lone Clone]

I wasn't referring to the condition, but the configuration. Originally, the clubhouse, first and 18th holes were beside the WOI building on the south side of the railroad tracks. You played #1, then went under the tracks via a huge corrugated metal tube. When you came out the other end, it was as if you'd entered Shangri-La. No sign of people anywhere -- no houses, no roads. Just 16 holes of golf course, trees and water. When you finished #17, you went back through the tube and played 18, ending up at the clubhouse. That's the way it was when I was a student in the '60s (and when Arnie won the NCAA title there a few years earlier). I'll do a quick google and see if I can find a diagram of the old layout.

 

[jscott78]

I wasn't referring to the condition, but the configuration. Originally, the clubhouse, first and 18th holes were beside the WOI building on the south side of the railroad tracks. You played #1, then went under the tracks via a huge corrugated metal tube. When you came out the other end, it was as if you'd entered Shangri-La. No sign of people anywhere -- no houses, no roads. Just 16 holes of golf course, trees and water. When you finished #17, you went back through the tube and played 18, ending up at the clubhouse. That's the way it was when I was a student in the '60s (and when Arnie won the NCAA title there a few years earlier). I'll do a quick google and see if I can find a diagram of the old layout.

Scroll down link, this might be it. There are also some cool old pics floating around somewhere of the hole, par 3 I think, you played coming out of the tunnel. When I worked Veenker we still used that tunnel.

http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/feature-interview-with-chris-clouser-april-2006/

 

[Lone Clone]

Scroll down link, this might be it. There are also some cool old pics floating around somewhere of the hole, par 3 I think, you played coming out of the tunnel. When I worked Veenker we still used that tunnel.

http://golfclubatlas.com/feature-interview/feature-interview-with-chris-clouser-april-2006/

Yes! That's it. Thanks, Scotty.

There was an infamous par three right near the mouth of the tunnel, but I'm pretty sure it was #17. That hole is still there. It's #11 now, I think. Short hole, very highly elevated, with the creek right in front of the tee. And the green is bunkered at the rear. If your tee shot was short, it could roll all the way down the hill into the creek. If it was long, you could be hitting a sand shot.....knowing that if you hit it too far, it could roll all the way down the hill into the creek.

The hole you played right after traversing the tunnel was #2 in those days, a relatively short par 4 but most people had to lay up because the creek ran across the fairway about two-thirds of the way to the green.

The last time I was there would have been in '66, so there very well could have been changes between then and the time you were there.

 

[Bridawg21]

Harvester is by far my favorite course in Iowa, followed by Spirit Hollow in Burlington. I would definitely recommend Honey Creek in Boone and you can usually find a Groupon for that course. I've only played it once but was pleasantly surprised by the overall layout and shape the course was in.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

Holy cow, I never knew Veenker was designed by Perry Maxwell.

Here in Okiehomie he's just about the biggest name there is golf course design. Heck he's a big name, period. Worked with Alister MacKenzie on several famous courses. Undoubtedly his most celebrated solo design is Southern Hills in Tulsa. Well, that and Veenker.

I just learned this too ... you know that oddly placed fairway bunker in the middle of the 10th hole at Augusta? Sometimes referred to as the MacKenzie bunker as it was a part of his original design as a greenside bunker. Then in 1937, the bunker stayed but the green was moved back some 50 yards by ... ... Perry Maxwell.

Perhaps the 10th green should be called the "Perry Maxwell green?" Seems kinda fair.

Perry Maxwell ... good on you, ISU.

 

[SoonerBeAHawk]

Here's another little Perry Maxwell gem I just learned.

Well, besides designing Veenker, Maxwell is listed as having co-designed another little college course ... Ohio State's famed Scarlet Course. Long recognized as one of - if not thee - best college courses. However, the OSU sites credit only Alister MacKenzie for the Scarlet's design (?)

Turns out, MacKenzie submitted the original design but after his death the completion of the course was overseen by Mawell. Oh, and btw, the course underwent a major renovation in 2005 under the supervision of Jack Nicklaus.

MacKenzie, Maxwell, Nicklaus ... I don't know of a more impressive trio since unless it would be Miller, Barrett and Jones.

Screw you, OSU!

 

[comet_y2k]

I have played a ton of really good golf courses, California, Arizona, Carolinas, and Spirit Hollow IMO is as good as there is. A lot of courses say that it makes you use every club in the bag, well Spirit Hollow legitimately does. Great balance of short/long par 5's and par 3's, it is pretty diffucult, but at the same time you can get away with a bad shot here and there.

 

[jscott78]

Holy cow, I never knew Veenker was designed by Perry Maxwell.

Here in Okiehomie he's just about the biggest name there is golf course design. Heck he's a big name, period. Worked with Alister MacKenzie on several famous courses. Undoubtedly his most celebrated solo design is Southern Hills in Tulsa. Well, that and Veenker.

I just learned this too ... you know that oddly placed fairway bunker in the middle of the 10th hole at Augusta? Sometimes referred to as the MacKenzie bunker as it was a part of his original design as a greenside bunker. Then in 1937, the bunker stayed but the green was moved back some 50 yards by ... ... Perry Maxwell.

Perhaps the 10th green should be called the "Perry Maxwell green?" Seems kinda fair.

Perry Maxwell ... good on you, ISU.

I think Veenker was built as a WPA project coming out of the depression. Could be wrong on that.