With wide-open spaces, rolling hills, and a long list of golf courses, the Hawkeye State is an ideal place for golf. Iowa golf courses, found all around the state, suit all kinds of golfers, from those looking to spend some time outdoors with friends to the serious golf enthusiasts. Iowa golf courses provide all of the amenities of the big golf destinations, often times at a better value with low fees and readily-available tee times.

When deciding when to go to Iowa, golfers will want to plan their trips sometime between the spring thaw and the first snow of the fall, right when golfing is at its best.

Many of the Iowa golf courses are found in state's largest cities. The capital city of Des Moines is one of the first places west of the Mississippi where a golf course was built. Built in 1901, Waveland Golf Course still is one of the favorite places for golfing in Iowa. Its red brick clubhouse hosts an array of special events and extends hospitality to golfers, and the 18-hole course hosts more than 40,000 rounds of golf every year.

Iowa Map

Another historic golf course in Iowa, Woodland Hills Golf Course has been welcoming golfers of all abilities since it opened in Des Moines in 1928. And the nearby Copper Creek Golf Course, found just minutes from downtown, features 18 holes and rolling hills. This favorite spot for golf in Iowa also features a new clubhouse at its entrance.

Combining golfing in Iowa with a full-service conference center, Toad Valley Golf Course has transformed a one-time family farm just outside Des Moines. Iowa visitors can sign up for lessons, spend time at the driving range, plan a special event, relax in the clubhouse, and face the challenging course. Its recently added Field of Greens Mini Links is one of the most fun and different places to play miniature golf in Iowa.

One of the finest Iowa golf courses is a fixture of the Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, located between Iowa City and Cedar Rapids. This 18-hole championship course has quite a pedigree; it was designed by Rees Jones, who's also planned PGA courses and U.S. Open venues. As golfers are honing their skills, they can admire the views of two rivers and the rolling terrain. A full-service clubhouse, lessons, and golf villas are available at this golf course in Iowa. The resort includes a casino with hot gaming action, a full-service hotel, and dining options, all steps from this excellent course.

When visiting the Waterloo and Cedar Falls area, golfers can hit the links to do some golfing in Iowa. The city of Waterloo's Leisure Services department oversees several municipal courses that suit players of all abilities, complete with low fees for greens and carts. Every year, the city's courses host professional tournaments and the Iowa Section PGA Junior Championship.

Another one of Iowa golf courses open to the public, the Veenker Memorial Golf Course is owned and operated by Iowa State University in Ames. Perry Maxwell originally designed this golf course in Iowa; it has since become known as one of the most challenging sites for golf in Iowa. With an overall par of 72 for men and 73 for women, this course features three sets of tees.