Top Iowa Public Golf Courses

🏌️‍♂️ Top Iowa Public Golf Courses (Based on Wikipedia, Course Profiles & Golf Rankings)

Iowa may fly under the radar for most golfers, but the Hawkeye State is home to some impressive public-access courses that combine Midwestern hospitality with championship-quality design. From rolling farmlands to river valleys, the natural topography sets the stage for courses that are both scenic and strategic.

1. Blue Top Ridge – Rees Jones
   📍 Riverside
   🏞️ Built as part of Riverside Casino & Golf Resort
   🎯 Long, open layout with water, elevation, and risk-reward holes
   🏌️‍♂️ One of the best resort-style courses in the Midwest
   🗒️ Course site

2. Spirit Hollow – Rick Jacobson
   📍 Burlington
   🌳 Dense trees, dramatic elevation, and fast greens
   🎯 High-caliber course with private-club feel and conditions
   🏆 Ranked Iowa’s top public course for several years
   🗒️ Course site

3. Tournament Club of Iowa – Arnold Palmer Design
   📍 Polk City
   🏞️ Set along the Des Moines River Valley
   ⛳ Elevation, bunkering, and water make for a challenging round
   🏌️‍♂️ The only Arnold Palmer signature course in Iowa
   🗒️ Course site

4. Amana Colonies Golf Club – Jim Spear
   📍 Amana
   🌲 Carved through hardwood forest with significant elevation changes
   🎯 Tight fairways and pure greens; great shot-makers’ course
   🌄 Beautiful, remote setting in historic Amana Colonies
   🗒️ Course site

5. The Harvester Club (Public until 2017) – Keith Foster
   📍 Rhodes
   📝 Formerly ranked Iowa’s #1 public course before going private
   🌅 Links-style prairie golf with an elite pedigree
   🏌️‍♂️ Still discussed as a historic highlight of Iowa public golf

6. Waverly Municipal Golf Course – Gordon Cunningham
   📍 Waverly
   🌳 Classic municipal track with mature trees and fast greens
   💰 Affordable and well-conditioned; great for casual play
   🏌️‍♂️ One of the best value courses in Iowa
   🗒️ Course site

7. Finkbine Golf Course – University of Iowa
   📍 Iowa City
   🏞️ Rolling terrain, tree-lined holes, and host of many tournaments
   🎓 Home course of the Iowa Hawkeyes
   🌟 Recently renovated clubhouse and facilities
   🗒️ Course site

8. Veenker Memorial Golf Course – Perry Maxwell
   📍 Ames
   🌲 Wooded and hilly terrain on the campus of Iowa State
   🏌️‍♂️ Historic course with classic design and character
   🎓 A true gem for college-town golf
   🗒️ Course site

9. Otter Creek Golf Course – Paul Miller
   📍 Ankeny
   ⛳ Links-style course with wide fairways and slick greens
   🏆 Award-winning public facility in the Des Moines metro
   🌬️ Wind plays a big role in challenge level
   🗒️ Course site

10. Lake Panorama National – Richard Watson
    📍 Panora
    🏖️ Built around scenic Lake Panorama
    🌄 Great variety of holes, including dramatic downhill par 3s
    🏌️‍♂️ Resort feel with small-town charm
    🗒️ Course site

⛳ Why Golf in Iowa?

• 🌽 Scenic farmland meets rolling hills and valleys

• 🏌️‍♂️ Affordable access to high-caliber layouts

• ⛳ Welcoming golf communities with small-town pride

• 🗺️ Great mix of resort courses, college tracks, and countryside gems