Author: iowagolf

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!

2020 USGA PJB Interns are familiar faces

The 2020 USGA P.J. Boatwright Interns will be familiar faces.

2019 interns Karli Kerrigan (above left) and Reilly Smidt (above right) have agreed to each do another 6-month term as a Boatwright intern in 2020. Both proved to be valuable assets to the IGA team last year and we look forward to keeping them on hand throughout most of 2020.

Karli is finishing up her senior year at Grandview University in Des Moines and will graduate in May. She will finish her 2019 internship at the IGA on February 15, 2020 and then will begin her 2020 stint on May 15, 2020, working for six months to fulfill her internship, which will end on November 15, 2020.

In addition to her work with the IGA, Karli has continued to excel on the golf course for Grandview. This fall, she won three of the five events she played, and finished runner-up in another. Her break from the IGA from February 15 to May 15 will coincide nicely with her final semester of collegiate golf.

Reilly will complete his sophomore year at Iowa State University this spring, where he majors in Finance. His internship schedule will be a bit more haphazard than Karli’s, due to school commitments, including the opportunity to study abroad in Italy.

Reilly also finishes his 2019 internship on February 15, 2020. However, he will immediately begin his 2020 internship. He will work ½ time from February 15 thru May 15, then will take time off to study abroad in Rome for a month. He will return and work a full-time schedule from June 15 to September 15 before going back to a ½ time schedule from September 15 to December 15, rounding out his six-month internship.

Unfortunately, we do know that 2020 will be the final year for internships for both Karli and Reilly, as the USGA limits an individual to 12 total months (each did six months in 2019 and 2020).

In 1991, the USGA established the P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship Program. This program is designed to give experience to individuals who are interested in pursuing a career in golf administration, while assisting state and regional golf associations in the promotion of amateur golf, on a short-term, entry-level basis. At the IGA, Clint Brown, Katelynn Hogenson, Nate McCoy and Chad Pitts are all former Boatwright interns.

IGA Men’s Point Systems will see significant changes in 2020

The point system the IGA uses to determine the Men’s, Senior Men’s and Super-Senior Men’s Player of the Year will have significant changes beginning with the 2020 season.

The IGA Rules and Competitions Committee presented recommendations that were approved by the IGA Board of Directors in late 2019.  Those changes include:

  • Count All Events – in 2020, all events where points are earned will count toward the year-end total.  In the past, the IGA would count points earned at all IGA conducted championships and USGA qualifiers, but would only count the best four point totals from Additional Sanctioned Point Events.

  • Points Earned Only within the Division you Play – the ability to earn points if you “play up” a division has been removed.  This means that a person over age 50 who chooses to play in the Open Division of a tournament and not the Senior Division, will now only earn points toward the Open Player of the Year race.  Those points will not transfer equally to the Senior Player of the Year race. This same philosophy will apply to Super-Seniors who choose to play in the Open or Senior Divisions.

  • Removal of some events – non-USGA national events will no longer count and three Iowa events will be removed from the point system.  This also means the removal of all collegiate events from consideration. The three Iowa events that will no longer be awarded points are the Tri-State Masters, the Joe August Four-Ball and the North Iowa Amateur.

  • Field size used to determine tiers is removed – Two tiers of Additional Sanctioned Point events will remain, but they will not be based on the total number of entries in a given year.  The Northwest Amateur and the Iowa Masters, due to their history and quality of the field, will be classified as tier 1 events while all other Additional Sanctioned Point Events around the state will be tier 2.

  • Removal of Tie-breakers – ties will not be broken if two or more players finish with the same amount of points. In this instance, Co-Players of the Year will be awarded.

  • Removal of Committee Discretion – the IGA Rules and Competitions Committee will no longer have the ability to award points for achievements outside the scope of the points system.

You can view the complete point scales and systems by clicking here.

The impetus for these changes came from discussions over the past few years with dozens of IGA players.  The Rules & Competitions Committee commissioned a small group of volunteers and staff to have specific discussions with players throughout 2019 to gather feedback.

“We heard loud and clear from most of our players that they wanted the system to be much more simple and bring the focus back on our events here in Iowa,” said Tom Christensen, Chair of the IGA Rules and Competitions Committee.

Christensen added, “We spent a lot of time throughout 2019 studying various ways to go about this and feel we have come up with a good system.  It should remove much of the complexity that had crept into the point systems over the past decade-plus.”

Bringing the focus back on to the Iowa events while still putting a high value on performances at USGA championships was important to the committee and IGA staff.

“We hope that making the schedule more stream-lined and counting all the events one earns points in will lead to players deciding to play a few more events in 2020, whether that’s IGA, USGA or Additional Sanctioned Events,” said IGA executive director Chad Pitts. “Having said that, someone who performs well at a USGA national championship will still have a leg up on the rest of the players in Iowa, and we feel it should be that way.”

The revamped system will have benefits to the IGA staff from an administrative standpoint as well.

“This complexity of the systems led to too many mistakes and corrections, as well as not being able to get points updated in a timely matter because they took so long to figure out,” Pitts said.  “This will allow us to automate the points much more and have our standings updated very quickly after each event. We are excited about that.”

The first IGA point event of the year will be The Classic at Elmwood Country Club in late April.  Entries into IGA-conducted events will open on Wednesday, March 4th.

First ever Women’s Golf Summit set for March 1, Iowa Golf Summit follows the next day

The Iowa Golf Council (Iowa Golf Association, Iowa GCSA and Iowa PGA) will host two golf summits in early March.  The Women’s Golf Summit will be held on Sunday afternoon, March 1 while the Iowa Golf Summit will be held the next day, Monday, March 2.  Both summits will be hosted by Otter Creek Golf Course and Conference Center in Ankeny and are presented by Miller and Sons Golf Cars (Britt).

This will be the fourth Iowa Golf Summit the group has co-conducted, taking place every other year.  It will be the first time for the Women’s Golf Summit.  The general theme for both events will be “Bringing People to the Game” both as players but also as potential career opportunities.

The Women’s Golf Summit (Sun, March 1) will consist of three different panel discussions, as well as networking, socializing and even the chance to get a lesson from a PGA professional.   There will be a focus on bringing more women to the game, both as players and also shedding light on entry into golf as a career.  In addition, we will discuss ways to utilize golf to help advance your business careers outside of golf.

You can view more information, including a complete schedule, and sign up for the Women’s Golf Summit here.

Henry DeLozier of Global Golf Advisors will be the keynote speaker at the Iowa Golf Summit (Mon, March 2) where he will give a talk on “Millennials and Golf”.

Honored by BoardRoom magazine with its 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, Henry has been recognized each year as one the “Most Influential People in Golf” since 1999 by Crittenden publications for his worldwide recognition as a thought-leader. He is the current Board Chairman for Audubon International.  He serves as an expert source for Bloomberg News, Business Week, CNBC-Squawk Box, the Financial Times of London, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.

He is a graduate of Oklahoma State University (BA – English) where he was an All-America golfer.

Also on hand to speak at the Iowa Golf Summit will be Rhett Evans, CEO of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Hunki Yun, Director of Outreach, Education and Partnerships of the USGA, and Scott Kmiec, Senior Director, Career Services of the PGA of America.  All will give talks with focus on bringing more people to golf.

You can view more information, a complete schedule, and sign up for the Iowa Golf Summit here.

In addition to terrific education, these summits provide terrific networking opportunities for speakers and attendees.

Who should attend?

Anyone interested in golf is welcomed to attend.  If you are a decision-maker at your club, employee at a course, or involved in the golf industry in some way, or if you are just an avid golfer, you should seriously consider attending the Women’s Golf Summit, the Iowa Golf Summit, or both.  The Women’s Golf Summit is NOT restricted to female attendees, although females who play and work in golf are encouraged to attend. Board and committee members, Golf Professionals, Superintendents, Managers & department heads as well as Golf Sales Reps, Golf Coaches and anyone with ties to the golf industry will realize great value from either of these summits.

Cost?

The fee to attend is the Women’s Golf Summit is $40 per person.  The fee to attend the Iowa Golf Summit is $60 per person.  You can sign up for both for $80 (save $20).  Both summits include food & beverage throughout the day.

Place?

The Iowa Golf Summit will be held at the Otter Creek Golf Course and Conference Center in Ankeny, Iowa.  Otter Creek is located at 4100 NE Otter Creek Dr, Ankeny, IA 50023.

Click here to register for either Summit

Bader, Benda and Gibb to join Iowa Golf Hall of Fame

The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame will add three members in 2020, bringing the total number in the Hall of Fame to 86. Those three include Beth Bader, John Benda and Judd Gibb. These three individuals will be enshrined on at Wakonda Club in Des Moines on a date TBD.

Beth Bader

Beth Bader, originally from Eldridge, began playing golf at the age of 12 and never looked back.

Bader, who was quite successful in Iowa, won the 1991 Iowa Junior Open, 1991 Des Moines Open and 1992 Waterloo Junior Open. She continued to build her resume with a win at the 1995 Quad City Women’s Amateur and a runner-up finish at the Iowa Women’s Amateur.

As a member and captain of the Iowa State University (ISU) women’s golf team, Bader was a medalist at the 1993 Northern Illinois Huskie Invitational and was the team’s most valuable player in 1993-94. Bader also was a runner-up at the Big Eight Championship and is the only player from ISU to earn All-Big Eight honors for two years. In 1996, Bader was named ISU’s Female Athlete of the Year. Bader earned her bachelor’s degree from ISU in 1997 in Sport Management.

Bader never missed a tournament in her stellar ISU career (42-straight meets), ranking among the top-100 players nationally throughout the majority of her time in Ames. Her 24 career top-10 finishes is still an ISU record.

“This is quite an honor,” Bader said after hearing of her induction. “I remember starting out in Eldridge. My sister and I would hit balls into a field, pick them up and do it again. That brings back a lot of memories for me. Playing in Iowa toughened me up. I became one of the best players in tough conditions. I was never a great ball striker, but I could play in those tough conditions. I had a great imagination that helped my short game. I owe a lot to growing up and playing in Iowa.”

Following college, Bader continued her outstanding career on the Futures Tour for four years before earning her card onto the LPGA Tour (2000-20012), as one of the few native Iowans to compete in the pinnacle of women’s golf. She played on the LPGA Tour for more than a decade, totaling over $1 million in career earnings and competing in 26 major championships. Her best finish in a LPGA event was a tie for fourth at the 2007 LPGA Corning Classic.

“Beth was an incredible athlete for ISU but, an even better teammate and individual to coach,” Bader’s college coach Julie Manning said. “She had an infectious personality and was a true leader. She loved to compete and was an athlete that loved competing for the win when the competition was tight and the pressure was on. She was a ‘gamer’ and loved to win tournaments and championships. She always represented ISU with class and was a true sportswoman, sustaining relationships to date, from her days on the ISU fairways.”


John Benda

John Benda’s impact on the game of golf far outreaches the borders of Iowa.

Growing up in Clear Lake and then Humboldt, Benda had a fondness of the game of golf early on. He would captain both his high school team in Humboldt in 1965 and then the 1967-1969 Iowa State men’s golf team. From 1969-1986 Benda worked with the ISU Cyclone Country Junior Golf Camp and from 1971-1986 was a professional instructor. Over those 17 years he is credited with teaching the game to approximately 2,400 junior players.

While teaching the game to so many, Benda also played on various professional tours around the world, finishing high several times. Benda toured until 2011 making stops along the Asian Golf Circuit/Asian Golf Tour, the European Tour, the Australian/New Zealand Tour and the European Senior Tour. Benda twice qualified for the The Open Championship (1979, 1980) and claimed victories at the 1973 Iowa Open and 1985 Waterloo Open.

“This is a huge honor,” Benda said on receiving news of his induction into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame. “I have always considered myself as an Iowan. I was born, raised and learned the game in Iowa. Golf was special in the generation and time I grew up in. To be part of this (Iowa Golf Hall of Fame) is overwhelming and to be recognized is emotional for me.”

Benda’s greatest achievement and impact in golf was his role in growing professional golf in Asia.

“John Benda, when he arrived in 1972, started to spread the word to U.S. pros to come play the Asian Circuit,” a 2009 Golf World article stated. “From this start he would serve many administrative duties for the Asian Golf Circuit, culminating with being Executive Director from 1992-1998.”

For 16 years Benda’s resume in Asia included the following:
1974 – Assistant to the Asia Golf Circuit Coordinating Director.
1975 – Elected President of the Asia Golf Circuit Tournament Players Division and gained a seat on the Executive Committee of the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation, the governing body of the Asia Golf Circuit.
1988 – Appointed the Asia Golf Circuit Coordinating Director.
1992 – Appointed the Executive Director, a position he held until retirement in 1998.

“As a young golfer with aspirations of playing on the PGA Tour, my travels took me to Southeast Asia in 1988 for participation on the Asian Golf Circuit,” 2004 Open Championship winner Todd Hamilton said. “During my five years of participating on The Asian Golf Circuit, John was its Coordinating Director. If you needed visa help – you talked to John, a good restaurant – you talked to John and any help with your putting – you definitely talked to John. He was our calming influence when things didn’t work out as quickly as we all would’ve liked. For all of this, I owe John Benda a small debt of gratitude. His work off the course allowed me to focus on the course.”

Jerry Smith, a 2017 Iowa Golf Hall of Fame inductee and PGA Champions Tour Member, commented that he honestly does not know anyone coming out of the State of Iowa who has had a bigger influence on the game of golf worldwide than Benda.

“The early years of the Asian Golf Tour was very unique and touched hundreds of players each season,” Smith said. “It was the process going through the Asian Tour that players then would move onto the Japan Tour, the Australian Tour, the South African Tour, the South American Tour and the PGA Tour. I would imagine that people from the State of Iowa do not fully understand the impact John Benda has had worldwide with professional golfers. John Benda is a by-product of the rich Iowa golf heritage that went out and onto a bigger stage to impact the game of golf as we know it today.”

“A huge part of my life is having that involvement with players that have gone on to great things, even though it was a small part,” Benda humbly said.


Judd Gibb

Judd Gibb, originally from Fort Dodge, has been household name in the state for many years. Not only is Gibb described as a a highly esteemed teacher of the game, he also is an tremendous player – excelling within the Iowa Section PGA and nationally.

“I am overwhelmed when I look at those names in the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame,” Gibb said. “I know so many of them and am honored that my name will be added to that list. I have been so lucky to have helped and worked with people who helped me along the way. It’s fun to look back at with all the junior players I have been able to help. Golf is a great game.”

Gibb, a five-time Iowa PGA Player of the Year and two-time IPGA Teacher of the Year, has competed in a total of 12 National Club Professional Championships in addition to three National Assistants Championships. He was also a four-year letter winner (1992 team captain) at Iowa State University, participating in the team’s first two NCAA Regional Championships. This year will mark the third time Gibb will tee it up with the ‘big boys’ at the John Deere Classic on the PGA Tour, previously playing in 1999 and 2010. Gibb, who won the 2004 Herman Sani Tournament and is a two-time Iowa Section PGA Champion (2009, 2019), is currently the Director of Instruction and Tournament Coordinator at Lakeside Golf Course, Fort Dodge, and a Ping Golf Tech Representative.

“Judd has had a remarkable teaching career and I have seen first-hand his considerable skills,” Iowa Golf Hall of Fame member Ken Schall, PGA said. “He led a junior winter camp in Ankeny called Operation State Champ for nearly 10 years and exposed hundreds of aspiring junior players to the game.”

Schall also marveled at Gibb’s playing ability.

“Judd has a tour quality tempo to his swing that makes me marvel over how far he can move the ball with seemingly no effort,” Schall said. “I am sure that those of you who have played with Judd would agree that he is an absolute pleasure to play golf with. Judd has touched a lot of golfers and has been a great ambassador for the game in Iowa.”


The Iowa Golf Hall of Fame is administered by the Iowa Golf Association on behalf of all golf organizations in and around the state, such as the Iowa Section PGA and the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association.

The nomination and induction process consists of two committees, the Nominating Committee and the Voting Committee.  The Nominating Committee determines the eligibility of nominees submitted by the general public as well as identifies individuals to nominate.  They finalize the ballot. The Voting Committee has the task of researching and studying those on the ballot and casting votes for induction. The Voting Committee consists entirely of individuals who are current members of the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame.  

The three individuals mentioned above will be enshrined at Wakonda Club in Des Moines at a date TBD.

2019 IGA Annual Awards Banquet Recap and Photos

The 2019 IGA Annual Awards Banquet took place Friday, December 13th at Echo Valley Country Club in Norwalk.  It was a wonderful night with many deserving honorees in various categories.

See the 2019 IGA Annual Awards Banquet Photo Gallery

 

The following individuals and courses were honored –

PGA Pro of the Year – Aaron Krueger, Wakonda Club

Club Manager of the Year – John Dinnebier, Briarwood Golf Club

9-Hole Superintendent – Kory Brown, Ballard Golf and Country Club

18-Hole Superintendent – Ryan Lux, Echo Valley Country Club

9-Hole Course of the Year – Holstein Country Club

18-Hole Course of the Year – Cedar Rapids Country Club

Phil Josleyn Inspriational Player of the Year – Jim Campbell, Albia

Click here to read more about these Annual Award winners

Player of the Year – Tripp Kinney, Des Moines

Senior Player of the Year – Gene Elliott, West Des Moines

Super Senior Player of the Year – Jim Campbell, Albia

Read more about the Men’s Players of the Year (Kinney, Elliott, Campbell)

Women’s Player of the Year – Amelia Mehmet-Grohn, Ames

Senior Women’s Player of the Year – Kelly Grimes, Indianola

Read more about the Women’s Players of the Year (Mehmet-Grohn, Grimes)

Junior Girls’ Player of the Year – Paige Hoffman, West Des Moines

Junior Boys’ Player of the Year – Matthew Garside, Bettendorf

Read more about the Junior Players of the Year (Garside, Hoffman)

Ames’ Snyder finishes high at Rolex Tournament of Champions

Ames’ Britta Snyder (front row, seventh from left next to Jack Nicklaus) recently competed at the AJGA’s Rolex Tournament of Champions, (Nov. 26-28) finishing T12th. Synder posted rounds of 78-73-72-70 – 293 (+5). The event was contested at PGA National Resort & Spa – Champion & Fazio Courses, Palm Beach Gardens, FL. This marks the third time Snyder has qualified for the event, but the first time she has played due to scheduling conflicts and an injury last year.

The 42nd edition of the Rolex Tournament of Champions featured 144 of the best junior golfers in the world from 27 states and 18 countries. The tournament assembles the Rolex Junior All-Americans with the past year’s champions to create The Greatest Week in Junior Golf. There were 63 current or former Rolex Junior All-Americans in the field, with a total of 92 AJGA champions competing.

Past winners of the Rolex Tournament of Champions include Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Charles Howell, David Gossett, Webb Simpson, Sam Burns, Heather Farr, Kellee Booth, Inbee Park, Morgan Pressel and Alison Lee.

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