Month: March 2020

Update on IGA Championships (March 30, 2020)

March 30, 2020

Dear IGA Members and Iowa golfers,

We hope this email finds you and your families safe and healthy. Like all of you, we are looking forward to things getting back to normal. Hopefully, that is sooner rather than later but the truth is, no one can really say for sure.

Many of you participate in IGA Championships and might be wondering whether we plan to cancel or postpone any events. On Friday, our Board of Directors met and discussed this, in consultation with recommendations from our Rules & Competitions Committees.

It was determined not to postpone any of our championships at this time. We do have a plan in place, should we need it, to postpone events until June 1st. We will make a decision whether to go forward with that plan – or any variations thereof – around mid-April. Our first championship is the Iowa Mid-Amateur slated for May 8-9 at Sunnyside CC in Waterloo. (link to entire schedule) Should that happen, we will notify our membership via email, website notices and social media posts. We have established potential new dates with our host clubs for all events in May (Mid-Amateur, Women’s Mid-Am Series, Four-Ball, Senior Match Play), meaning none would be canceled.

As time passes if it looks like we won’t be able to hold any championships until later than June 1, we would have to make decisions on what events to cancel and which ones to postpone. At that point, there would not be enough space on the calendar to hold everything in that tight of a window. Obviously, the further that “go-date’ gets pushed back, the more events will be subject to cancellation. We hope it doesn’t come to that but we will have plans in place nevertheless.

If an event is postponed and a current entrant cannot play on the new dates, we will refund that entry fee in full. If an event is canceled, all entrants will be refunded their entry fees in full.

If you have any questions please reach us at [email protected] or call our office at 515.207.1062. We are (mostly) working from our homes at this time, but there is one person in to cover the office during our normal hours.

Finally, we encourage all of you to follow the best practices recommended by the WHO and CDC in all your daily activities, whether that includes playing golf or not. Courses have implemented strict restrictions on social distancing and you should strictly adhere to those. Stay at least 6 feet away from your playing partners at all times, including the tee boxes and greens. Try to walk rather than ride, but if that isn’t possible, do not share a cart (unless it is with someone from your own household). Remember, it’s just as much about how other people might feel as it is about your own comfort level.

Please be assured that when IGA Championships do take place, we will adhere to the letter and spirit of all guidelines outlined by the experts. We will be committed to ensuring the safety of our players and volunteers at all times.

Take care, everyone.

-IGA Staff and Board of Directors

IGA Member Clubs address current COVID-19 situation

Below is a list of how IGA Member Courses and others are handling the current events with Coronavirus (COVID-19). Opening / closing of facilities is subject to change. Please call the course before heading out. A directory of IGA Member Clubs can be found by clicking here.

Click here for a list of best practices that other facilities are doing around the country (courtesy of the Iowa PGA)

Airport National Public Golf Course (Cedar Rapids) – At this time the golf course and driving range will remain open. The mini golf course will be closed, it will be too hard to maintain the six feet of separation on the mini golf course. Food & Beverage concession will be open, although not the full menu. Seating area closed in the clubhouse.

Amana Colonies Golf Club – Open for play. Practicing the following: Social Distancing. No more than two foursomes in Clubhouse at one time. Do not congregate with more than your foursome. All Food and Beverage will be on a ‘To Go’ basis. Beverage Cart will be available based on business levels. Golf Cart steering wheels will be sanitized before and after each round. No Putting Green Flagsticks Practice Balls will be in pyramids on the Driving Range. No Ballwashers, Bunker Rakes, or Water Coolers on the course. Players are to leave Flagsticks in at all times. Recommended ‘Gimmes’ inside 6 feet. Credit and Debit Card only. No Cash transactions.

Ankeny Golf & Country Club – Club House is closed. Course is open to walkers and private carts. No food or beverage to go. Asking our members to follow safe social distancing. No more then 5 to a group one to a cart . We are using foam noodle in holes and no touching of flagstick.

Bear Creek Golf Course (Forest City) – Open to walking on the front nine and carts on paths only on the back nine. Course is following the protocols for COVID-19.

Beaver Creek Golf Course (Grimes) – The golf course will be open starting Monday, March 23rd. Food options will be limited with no dining in the clubhouse. Encouraging credit card transactions only.

Beaver Hills County Club (Cedar Falls) – Open as of April 1.

Blue Top Ridge At Riverside – Opening April 1, with restrictions and guidelines.

Briarwood Golf Club (Ankeny) – Golf course open and will be using best practices.

Brown Deer Golf Club (Coralville) – Are still open for play. Additional cleaning and sanitizing being done to reduce chances of transmission. Steering wheels, seats etc being sanitized as well. All rakes removed from course and starting to use raised cups to eliminate need for flags to be touched and no reaching into hole for balls.

Buena Vista University Golf Course at Lake Creek (Storm Lake) – Golf Course is set to open April 1, weather pending. Clubhouse hours and facilities are limited and asking all golfers to respect the guidelines given to us from the IGA.

Bunker Hill Golf Course (Dubuque) – Facility shut down through April 13 and will evaluate then.

Bunker Links Golf Course (Galesburg) – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Cedar Ridge Golf Club (Charles City) – Opening Saturday, March 28th with the following recommended practices (click here).

Crow Valley Golf Club (Davenport) – Golf Course is suppose to open on Wednesday (3/25). F&B open for pick up only. Pulling rakes, flipping cups, no ball washers, etc. Carts and push carts will be available at this point. Range will be open. Golf Shop open on limited basis. Golf Shop member services very limited

Davenport Country Club – Golf shop is closed. Doing 15 minutes interval tee times. 1 per cart.

Des Moines Golf & Country Club – All food service will be discontinued at this time until at least March 31. To go beverages for the golf course will be available from the Casual Bar. For now, all club events and outside events are cancelled through Monday, March 30.
The golf courses are open for normal hours. If taking a golf cart, we ask that all of you take your own cart; think social distancing. We will have the bag room staffed, but for the safety of the staff, we ask that once you pick up your clubs, we ask you keep them with you for the short term. Ball washers, bunker rakes and sand bottles will be removed for the time being. When playing we recommend that you do not touch the flagsticks. Golf Pro Shop is closed, phones answered from 10-4 Friday thru Sunday. The locker rooms will be open however we ask that you do not gather in groups in these areas. The reception desk will be staffed for your calls from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Dubuque Country Club – Course is open and is abiding by best practices and Governor Proclamation, clubhouse closed but serving to go orders.

Edmundson Golf Course (Oskaloosa) – Course is open and will be using best practices.

Elmcrest Country Club (Cedar Rapids) – Facility open and is using best practices.

Emeis Golf Course (Davenport) – Open but following best practices – Iowa residents only.

Emerald Hills Golf Club (Arnolds Park) – Currently open.

Flint Hills Municipal Golf Course (Burlington) – Opening Wednesday, March 25 with the following guidelines in place (click here).

Finkbine Golf Course (Iowa City) – Closed due to weather and not having an internal clubhouse workspace due to finishing up construction of new clubhouse. Temps are also factoring into not opening. However athletics at the University of Iowa has closed off facilities for at least two weeks.

Gates Park, Irv Warren, and South Hills (Waterloo) – Still open for business. Not holding any sanctioned events and will be removing our tables and chairs from the pro shops. No sit down food service or beverages per the Governors mandate.  Have implemented extra sanitization of fixtures such as door handles etc. and will encourage patrons to utilize the “best practices” you have listed.

Gardner Golf Course (Cedar Rapids) – Limited service – golfers check-in, go play. Can stop for packaged food and restroom at turn. No gatherings in clubhouse. No ballwashers/sand trap rakes/ water coolers on course. Cleaning down touch points regularly.
NOTE: Ellis-Jones closed (haven’t opened for season yet) / Twin Pines open (possibly walking 0nly – call for updates)

Glynns Creek Golf Course (Long Grove) – Beginning April 6, course and driving range will be open to Iowa residents only. Clubhouse is open for takeout food and beverage, no eating or drinking in Clubhouse. May not gather around the Clubhouse either, must go or go onto the golf course.

Grinnell College Golf Course – Closed as of 3/13.

Harvest Point Golf Course (Oskaloosa) – Course is open and recommending best practices to golfers as they visit.

Harry Mussatto Golf Course At Western Illinois University – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Hickory Grove Golf Course (Oelwein) – Open with 1 cart per person.

Hunters Ridge Golf Course (Marion) – Course is open for play as of March 13th. Made it a priority to meet all of the new restrictions made earlier by our Governor. All customers do is check in, get any F&B items needed, play golf, and head home.

Indian Bluff Golf Course (Milan) – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Indian Creek Country Club (Marion) – Will open next Monday, March 23rd. Lower bar is open to get beer/ pop, candy and chips, then you must take it outside. No flag sticks, cups are in upside down, which leaves the cup up an inch or so, if your putt hits the cup, your shot is holed. No water jugs filled by staff, one person per cart. Restrooms are open, but lockers rooms are limited to max of 10 people.

Indian Creek Country Club (Nevada) – Opening Monday, March 23rd. Will be open for our members all day, every day and for non-members 10a-4p daily. Do not have carts available to rent at this time. Asking people to call ahead for tee times. Are only allowing 1-2 people in clubhouse at one time and ask that all patrons follow the guidelines given to them by the staff working.

Indianola Country Club – Course is open and food is available to order to go.

Lake Bracken Country Club (Galesburg) – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Lake Panorama National Resort (Golf Course) – Open for golf, recommending best practices for our golfers.

Lakeside Municipal Golf Course (Ft. Dodge) – Opening 3/30 with many procedures in place.

Majestic Hills Golf Course (Denison) – Course is open, but is following your recommendations as far as “best practices”. Will also have food and beer for carry out only during normal restaurant hours which are 11-1:30 and 5:00-8:00. This is subject to change in the future.

Muscatine Municipal Golf Course – Staying open, and will remain open barring any unforeseen circumstances with current world events. All food is cash and carry, most menu items are still available. Will also include in standard practices to disinfect and sanitize steering wheels, seats, support bars, sand bottles, and rental equipment after each use. One person per cart

Oakwood Country Club (Coal Valley, IL) – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Okoboji View Golf Course – Will open April 1st. Clubhouse is closed for in-house dining, but golfers may pickup packaged food (chips, candy, pop, beer) at counter to go. Will also have a full kitchen staff and golfers can order from our menu, but need to take it to go. Carts will be sanitized between use and social distancing will be encouraged as in one person per cart.

Palmer Hills Golf Course (Bettendorf) – Open except F&B carry-out only, carts allowed.

Pheasant Ridge Golf Course (Cedar Falls) – Open except for F & B carry-out only, carts allowed.

Prairie Links Golf Course (Waverly) – Will not be closing the clubhouse, but would like to minimize the amount of traffic inside the clubhouse as much as possible. Current operation hours will be as follows: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.  Those hours will update as we get warmer temperatures and more daylight.  We will continue to keep you updated as time goes on. Carts will be sanitized after each use with disinfecting wipes or a bleach based product.  On the course we also want to minimize golfers touching the same surfaces. We recommend leaving the pin in at all times, and playing with gimmies (3ft, 6ft, 10ft). While walking is the safest way of playing, one rider per cart will be recommended for the foreseeable future.  Rakes, ball washers, and garbages will be removed from the course.

Rice Lake Golf & Country Club – Open as of March 27. Are currently now allowing carts and recommend one cart per person (unless family). Will be following these measures (click here to read).

Spirit Hollow Golf Course (Burlington) – Course open, f/b carry out only.

Tara Hills Country Club (Van Horne) – Open to members and public. Driving range is currently open and are washing balls as they are being picked up along with washing/sanitizing range bags. Clubhouse is open by window service only. Food and Beverages are being served to go from this area with a limited menu. Club carts are available to rent, and are being sanitized thoroughly after each use. Port O Johns are placed on course along with one outside of clubhouse. Hand sanitizer is present. Golf course is following all guidelines stated by the IGA.

The Legacy Golf Club (Norwalk) – Due to the poor weather and forecast are currently closed through Sunday, March 22nd. Certainly hope to be open next week with better weather and if the Governor allows us to do so and recommending best practices to golfers as they visit the facility.

The Preserve on Rathbun Lake (Moravia) – Closed from Sunday, March 22 through Wednesday, May 13. Will reopen Thursday, May 14. Walking will be allowed at no charge, please be respectful of our course and of others. No facilities will be available. Please do not remove flags, bring sanitizer for while you play, bring a snack.

Thunder Hills Country Club (Peosta) – Facility is open and is using best practices.

Tournament Club of Iowa (Polk City) – Planning to open Monday, March 23rd. No more than two foursomes in Clubhouse at one time. All F&B will be on a ‘To Go’ basis. Bev Cart will be available based on business levels. Golf Cart steering wheels will be sanitized before and after each round. No Putting Green Flagsticks. Practice Balls will be in pyramids on Driving Range. No Ballwashers, Bunker Rakes, or Water Coolers on course. Players are to leave Flagsticks in at all times.

The Meadows Golf Club (Asbury) – Currently are closed to all non-residents of Dubuque County as they were experiencing a tremendous amount of play from both Wisconsin and Illinois and felt it best to do their part to “flatten the curve” by only allowing local play. Facility is using the following procedures for those who are playing (click here).

The Preserve on Rathbun Lake (Moravia) – Facility currently closed today.

Timberline Golf Course (Peosta) – Will be opening Wednesday March 25. 10 AM to 5 PM daily. Will be observing Best Practices for golfers including single cart usage if desired will be used. Flagsticks remain in the hole, do not touch. With cups having inserts in them to keep ball from dropping to bottom of hole. Tee times will be spread out to 15 minute intervals to encourage social distancing. A total of 4 players in clubhouse at a time.

Tournament Club of Iowa (Polk City) – Open for play with long list of guidelines/requirements.

Valley Oaks Golf Course (Clinton) – Open for play. Are following all the regulations set by the state. Only 5 people allowed inside at a time to check in and get food and prepackaged beverages to go and exit promptly. No congregating on clubhouse premises.

Veenker Memorial Golf Course (Ames) – Open for play. Restrictions are weather based only. If the forecasted temp is 50 degrees or higher, will be open. Currently limiting F&B to prepackaged “grab & go” only, limiting numbers of people in clubhouse at one time, sanitizing all surfaces regularly.

Veterans Memorial Golf Club (Clear Lake) – Currently open for carts. Clubhouse is open to facilitate the use of the golf course. Will be following these guidelines (click here).

TPC at Deere Run (Silvis, IL) – The Governor of Illinois has imposed a “Shelter in Place” order for the entire state through April 30th. Also, he has declared that all Golf Courses in Illinois are considered “Non-Essential” businesses and they are all closed through April 30th.

Wakonda Club (Des Moines) – Open but to walking only, clubhouse doing only carry out for F & B.

Waverly Municipal Golf Course – Facility is open but pro shop closed, only checking in players via online or call in cc

Westwood Golf Course (Newton) – Open for play, limited hours, 12 minute tee times.

IGA All-Time Wins Ranking

From Left: John Jacobs, Mike McCoy, Jon Brown, Gene Elliott, Joe Brown

You can now view a ranking of all the player’s who have won at least two IGA sanctioned point events.

IGA Hall of Fame Committee chair Jon Brown and IGA staff worked throughout the winter to put together this comprehensive ranking.  Mike McCoy leads with 35 total victories.  Gene Elliott is second with 26 and Jon Brown third with 24.  View the complete ranking here.

The IGA Player of the Year award started in 1960.  Based on research, it was clear that five events stood out as the most important prior to 1960 – the Iowa Amateur, Iowa Masters, Northwest Amateur, Iowa Open and Herman Sani Tournament – therefore, for the purposes of the ranking, those events are counted from their inception.  Since 1960, a win was only counted as a point event win if it took place in a year in which the event was recognized as a point event.  For instance, the Tournament of Champions in Atlantic was a recognized point event from 1960 to 1983 then again from 1985 to 1989, therefore the 1984 event and from 1990 onward are not counted.

For events that included both professionals and amateurs, only the overall champion was awarded with a win for the purposes of the rankings.  “Low Amateur” designation was not a win, expect that special circumstances were needed for the Waterloo Open because the Pro Division and the Amateur Division have truly been two separate tournaments throughout the years.  The pros played exclusively on Irv Warren Golf Course and the amateurs playing a mix of South Hills GC, Gardner GC, and Irv Warren GC.  Additionally, for many years, the pros played only 36 holes while the amateurs were playing 54.  Therefore, only the winners of the Amateur Division were considered to have won a Point Event because that is what the IGA recognized.

We are still working to include every player who has won just one IGA point event. We hope to have that done by the end of March.

IGA Statement on COVID-19

MARCH 13, 2020

IGA Statement to Member Clubs & Courses
The COVID-19, Coronavirus is at the top of everyone’s minds, including those of us at the Iowa Golf Association.
In the spirit of being cautious, the IGA will be shifting the remaining in-person rules of golf seminars (scheduled for March 14, 21, 28 & April 4) to a web/video option for the attendees.
We will also be postponing the planned Hall of Fame Induction (scheduled for April 16th) at Wakonda Club.  A new date has not yet been determined.
At this time, the IGA is planning on continuing with its competitions as scheduled. Our first event is to be held Monday, May 4th (U.S. Open qualifying). However, we will be continually monitoring the situation as it develops in the coming days and weeks.
The health and well-being of the public is always paramount. The goal, of course, in any moment of public health concern is to be guided by expert information, grounded in scientific and medical data, and sourced from public health and government authorities.  Here is a website where you can find much information relating to the pandemic.
We encourage our member clubs to take the proper precautions as they welcome their members and customers.  Some things to keep in mind include:
  • Encourage staff and golfers to wash their hands. If you can’t wash them on the course, please use a hand sanitizer.
  • Limit touching of the face, including your mouth, nose, lips or eyes, as much as possible.
  • Sanitize objects that a lot of people touch, or that you touch often (including your phone!). (Note: The Rules of Golf allow players to keep the flagstick in the hole)
  • Practice social distancing. Stay 6 feet apart.
  • Tell those that are sick or at risk to stay home.
  • No handshakes & hugs– Golfers should suspend the practice of shaking hands and hugging. This includes on the 1st tee and on the 18th green where a friendly handshake or hug have been long-standing acts of proper sportsmanship. As an alternative, we recommend a friendly nod, a tip of your cap, or a simple wave as a form of greeting or sportsmanship.
  • Remember that those who are at the highest risk are:
    1. Older adults
    2. Those with heart disease, diabetes, and lung disease
It is good to think that we can employ these “best practices” yet still play the game we know and love, so we hope this does not affect the business of golf too much around the state.
If you have any questions for us at this time, please don’t hesitate to reach out.  You can call us at 515-207-1062 or email us at [email protected].

Some IGA member courses open for play, will be soon

The following IGA Member Courses have communicated they either are or will be open:

  • Waveland, AH Blank, Bright-Grandview, Jester Park & Terrace Hills are now all open for the season.
  • Copper Creek Golf Course – Will open Friday at 10am, with carts. Spring Rates are available. Please book online at www.golfcoppercreek.com
  • Flint Hills Golf Course – Will open Saturday (3/7) on a day to day basis weather permitting.
  • Fort Dodge Country Club – Opening Wednesday, March 11. Updates and course availability available on the website www.fortdodgecc.com or call the Pro Shop at (515) 955-8551.  Hours – Daily 10 am – 6 pm . Last carts out for 18 holes at 4 pm ; 9 Holes at 6 pm. Green Fees: 18 Hole $25 & 9 Hole $15. Cart Fees: 18 Holes $15 per player, 9 Hole $9 per player.
  • Glynns Creek Golf Course – Opening at 10 a.m. on Friday March 6.
  • Grinnell College Golf Course – Will be open 9 am 6 pm starting Saturday, March 7. Tee times are available at golf.grinnell.edu or by calling 641-236-3590
  • Holstein Country Club – Now open with no restrictions on carts
  • Lake Panorama National Resort – Open Sat and Sun. (3/7-8) with 90 degree rule. Special $30 plus tax for green fee and cart
  • LeMars Willow Creek – Will be open Saturday and Sunday (3/7-8) for golf and carts are good to go.
  • Muscatine Municipal Golf Course – Opening March 4 w/ Regular Rates.  Carts are on a day to day basis.
  • Otter Creek Golf Course – Opening for the season Saturday, March 7. Reservations for tee times are now being accepted online at www.ottercreekankeny.com or by calling 515-965-6464. The driving range will also open March 7.
  • Prairie Links Golf Course – Will be open starting Sunday March 6th at 10:00 am. Please call 319-242-7675 Ext. 2 to make your tee time. Possibility of opening on Saturday, but that this point no decision has been made.
  • River Valley Golf Course – Goal is to open up the course by Friday, March 13th. As they continue waking up the course from winter they will be discounting morning pricing. Further updates will be available on their website (http://www.rivervalleygolf.com/) and Facebook.
  • Sheaffer Golf Course – Will open Friday, March 6, starting with 9:30-4 hours until the weather is more stable.
  • St. Andrews Golf Club – Will open March 6, for walkers and March 7, for carts
  • The Legacy Golf Club – Will be open through at least Sunday, March 8th. Hoping to remain open longer and will be monitoring the forecast to determine what days they will be open next week. Shoulder Season Rates are in effect. Carts are restricted to the paths only and the driving range is not open.
  • The Preserve on Rathbun Lake is OPEN with Carts – no restrictions!!! We will have OFF Season Rates in effect through 3/15
    · Monday – Thursday: $35++ (includes cart fee)
    · Friday – Sunday: $40++ (includes cart fee)
    · Call 641 724 1400 for tee times
    Starting 3/16 we will move into our Shoulder Season rates. Those can be found at www.honeycreekresort.com/golf
  • Veenker Memorial Golf Course – Course and driving range will be open this Saturday and Sunday. Tee times available through veenkergolf.com or by phone 515-294-6727 (starting Thurs). Going forward, will be open, temps/weather pending. Shoulder season rates. Carts available, path only.
  • Waverly Municipal Golf Course is opening for the season Wednesday, March 11th. Weekday rate of $28, weekend rate of $39.
  • Woodland Hills Golf Course – Will open Friday, March 6,  at 10am, with carts. BACK 9 and EXECUTIVE 9 holes only…..the Front 9 will remain closed for a bit longer. Spring rates are available. Please book online at www.golfwoodlandhills.com

Click here for more information on all of our member courses.

Be sure to check back for updates to this list!

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