Category: News

Golf has $817 million impact in Iowa

March 15, 20170 commentsNews

Economic Impact Study – Summary report

Economic Impact Study – Full report

The Iowa Golf Council, which is a partnership of the Iowa Golf Association, Iowa Section PGA & Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association, recently commissioned a study on the economic impact of golf in the state of Iowa.

The study, which began in late 2016 using 2015 data, was completed in early 2017 and found that golf in Iowa has an economic impact of $817.5 million.  The game employs 11,435 individuals amounting to $280.2 million in compensation and accounted for $72 million in state and local taxes.  You can view the entire Economic Impact Report here.

This study shows how big of an industry golf is in Iowa.  It drives significant economic impact throughout the state.  The study includes not only direct operational expenditures and capital investments made by golf facilities in Iowa, but also golf-related manufacturing and retail spending, golf tourism, and new golf related construction.  Every Iowan should be proud of the fact that golf generated nearly $30 million in charitable dollars in 2015.

As part of this study, the Iowa Golf Council will be announcing the details of “IOWA GOLF DAY” at the state capitol in Des Moines very soon.  We will post information here at iowagolf.org as it becomes available.

2017 IGA Rules of Golf Seminars Announced

February 24, 20170 commentsNews, Rules

VIEW FLYER ON IGA RULES SEMINARS

The Iowa Golf Association will once again host a series of seminars focusing on the Rules of Golf.  We have three scheduled for 2017, one of which is dedicated specifically to educating high school golf coaches.

The three dates feature one in the western part of the state, one central and one east.

For the central site, we have partnered with the Iowa Girls’ High School Athletic Union and the Iowa High School Athletic Association (boys).  We will provide a few hours of rules education during a full day of training for high school golf coaches.  The clinic will be held at the Iowa Hall of Pride at the Iowa Events Center in downtown Des Moines on Saturday, April 8th.
Click here to view a flyer with sign up instructions on the HS Coaches Clinic

Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City will host for the eastern part of the state on Saturday, March 25th.  Council Bluffs Country Club will be the host for the western part.  Both of these seminars will begin at 9 a.m. and finish around noon.  We will focus on some of the most commonly applied rules of golf, as well as answer questions from those in attendance.

WHO CAN ATTEND?:

The IGHSAU & IHSAA are the administrators of the clinic on April 8th, therefore only high school coaches are eligible to attend (see flyer).

Anyone is eligible to attend on March 25 (Pleasant Valley, Iowa City) or April 1 (Council Bluffs CC).  High School coaches and players are strongly encouraged to attend.  These seminars are FREE to attend, no cost.

TO SIGN UP:

To sign up to attend the High School Clinic on April 8th (Iowa Hall of Pride), please email [email protected].

To sign up to attend either March 25 @ Pleasant Valley (Iowa City) or April 1 @ Council Bluffs CC, please email [email protected].

If you have questions, please give us a call (515-207-1062) or email [email protected].

Norwalk couple comes up aces in California

February 15, 20170 commentsNews

Talk about a two-day stretch of golf.

Norwalk’s Jerry Hardy and Bonnie Bell, both members at Echo Valley Country Club, each made a hole-in-one, just one day apart.

If that wasn’t amazing enough, Bonnie informed the IGA of something ever more amazing.

“Jerry had spent nine days in the hospital,” Bonnie said. “As soon as he found out he was getting out he had me make a tee time at Palm Desert’s (CA) Oasis Country Club.’

As this (true) story would have it, upon release, Jerry played golf with Bonnie and others for golf and witnessed Bonnie get her first hole-in-one

Jerry felt well enough to golf the next day to play again – and he got a hole-in-one.

“It was very exciting for us,” Bonnie said. “Different holes though and it was Jerry’s fourth (hole-in-one).”

Several IGA member courses ready for play

February 14, 20170 commentsNews

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

AH Blank Golf Course – Open for the season
Airport National Public Golf Course – Open Friday (2/17) 10 a.m.-dusk, Sat/Sun 9 a.m.-dusk
American Legion Golf Course (Marshalltown) – Will open Saturday/Sunday, maybe Friday
Bent Tree Golf Club – Will open Thursday (2/16), cart path only & no range
Bos Landen Golf Club – Will open Thursday (2/16)
Brown Deer Golf Course – Opening Friday (2/17) and will remain open as weather permits
Burlington Golf Club – Opening Friday (2/17) at 11 a.m. & Sat/Sun at 9 a.m.
Cedar Creek Golf Course – Opening Friday (2/17), weather pending
Council Bluffs Country Club – Open as weather permits
Dodge Riverside Golf Club – Will be open this weekend
Fox Ridge Golf Club – Will open on Friday (2/17)
Harvest Point Golf Course – Will open Friday-Sunday (2/17-19), longer depending on weather
Jefferson Community Golf Course – Opening Friday (2/17)
Lake Panorama National Resort – Opening Friday (2/17)
Leon Golf and Country Club – Currently open
Oakland Acres Golf Course – Currently open
Palmer Hills Golf Course – Driving range is open, course will open Thursday (2/16) at 11 a.m.
Pleasant Valley Golf Course – Will open on Friday (2/17)
Prairie Links Golf & Events Center – Will open Sunday (3/5) at 10 a.m.
Rustic Ridge Golf Course – Open for play, weather and course conditions permitting
Tara Hills Golf & CC – Open to members only as weather allows
Terrace Hills Golf Course – Will be open Friday through Monday (2/17-20)
Saddleback Ridge Golf Course – Will open Saturday, March 4th at 9 a.m.
Sheaffer Memorial Golf Club – Will open Friday-Sunday (2/17-19) at 8 a.m., no tee times needed
St. Andrews Golf Course – Currently open
The Legacy Golf Club – Opening Thursday (2/16) and will remain open as weather permits
The Preserve on Rathbun Lake – Will open Thursday (2/16)
Tournament Club of Iowa – Friday (2/17) at 9 a.m.
Veenker Memorial Golf Course – Opening 9 holes on Thursday (2/16) and all 18 holes on Friday
Warrior Run Golf Course – Currently open, can change day to day
Westwood Golf Course – Opening Friday (2/17), all 18 holes
Whispering Creek Golf Club – Opening Thursday (2/17)
Woodland Hills – Opening Thursday (2/16) at 10 a.m., as weather permits

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

Be sure to check back for updates to this list!

Elliott, McCoy capture 61st International Four-Ball

February 14, 20170 commentsNews

With a final day 1-under 70 the Iowa duo of Mike McCoy and Gene Elliott were able to shake free of a 36-hole tie and win the 61st playing of the International Four-Ball.

McCoy and Elliott proceeded their final round at The Fox Club in Palm City, FL, with tallies of 70-64 as they finished 9 under (204) and a slim one shot in front of runner-up Chad Wilfong and Allen Hobbs.

Iowa’s Dennis Bull and Terry Cook also competed, finishing 9th (210).

Click here to read more.

Click here to read a recap from Global Golf Post

Ann Griffel, Herman Sani Scholarship applications available

January 24, 20170 commentsNews

The Iowa Golf Association Foundation (IGAF) was established to preserve the game and develop more programs to promote the future of golf in Iowa, which is why we offer two scholarships, The Ann Griffel Scholarship and The Herman Sani Scholarship, granted to graduating high school seniors.

The Ann Griffel Scholarship was named after long-time IWGA President, Ann Griffel. During her 23-year term, Griffel started many women’s’ championships that are still played today. She was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 2006 to honor her contributions to the game. The IGAF awards $2,000 Ann Griffel Scholarships to Iowa High School senior girls who intend to further their education at an Iowa institution of higher learning, whether a college, university, or trade school.

Herman Sani was the first director of the Iowa Golf Association and served the organization for over 30 years. He was inducted into the Iowa Golf Hall of Fame in 1989, and the scholarship was established in 1959 after Sani’s death to honor his love for the game and the young kids who played it. Each recipient receives $8,000 ($2,000 per year) over a consecutive four-year period as long as the student is making reasonable academic progress. Scholarships are awarded and recipients are selected based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, and leadership qualities, not on golf accomplishments or ability.

The deadline to apply for these scholarships is Friday, March 17, 2017.

Click here to apply and learn more about both IGAF Scholarships.

Boatwright Internship Opportunity with the IGA

January 23, 20170 commentsNews, Uncategorized

The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) is excited to offer two P.J. Boatwright Internships – a 9-month and a 3-month – in 2017. Working under the direction of the IGA Executive Director and senior staff, the interns will learn about all aspects of amateur golf administration.

The IGA is the governing body for golf in the state of Iowa and exists as a non-profit organization that works to preserve, protect and promote the best interests and spirit of the game.  As “caretakers” of the game the IGA works to preserve the rich history of golf in our state and to provide numerous services that benefit all that play the game in Iowa.

In 1991, the USGA established the P.J. Boatwright, Jr. (pictured above) 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.

The deadline to apply is February 20, 2017.

Click here to view the job description along with instructions for applying.

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