The Iowa Golf Council hosted the 2026 Iowa Golf Summit on Monday, May 11, at Wakonda Club, bringing together golf industry leaders from across the state for a day focused on education, collaboration, and maintaining the momentum golf has experienced in recent years.

Hosted in partnership with the Iowa Golf Association, Iowa PGA, Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association, and the Iowa Tall Corn Chapter of the CMAA, the biennial summit provided opportunities for networking, professional development, and an afternoon of golf at Wakonda Club.

The event theme, “Maintaining Golf’s Momentum,” focused on sustaining the growth and engagement the game has seen throughout Iowa and nationwide. Presentations throughout the day covered golf course planning and reinvestment strategies, industry growth initiatives, and the economic impact of golf across the state.

Featured speaker Erik Larsen presented “Five Steps to an Effective Master Plan,” highlighting innovative approaches to golf course improvement, land use, and player engagement. Representatives from the United States Golf Association, including Jake Miller and Tom Gould, discussed national initiatives aimed at growing and supporting the game through governance, sustainability, and course reinvestment.

Additional presentations featured Allison George of Toad Valley Golf Course, who shared insights on innovative programming, customer engagement, and modern marketing strategies that help golf facilities grow participation and revenue.

The summit also included a special presentation from representatives of the Iowa Golf Council unveiling findings from the new 2026 Iowa Golf Economic Impact Study. The updated report, following previous studies conducted in 2006 and 2016, highlighted golf’s significant economic contributions and statewide impact throughout Iowa communities.

The Iowa Golf Council recognizes and will promote the golf industry as a significant business sector and driver of economic activity in the state of Iowa.  It will facilitate the implementation of programs and public policies designed to help grow the game of golf in Iowa.

The game of golf drives significant economic activity across the State of Iowa. This impact includes not only direct operational expenditures and capital investments made by Iowa’s 376 golf facilities, but also golf-related manufacturing and retail spending, golf tourism and new golf-related residential construction.

In 2025, Iowa’s $800+ million golf economy expenditures supported total statewide economic impact of $1.041 billion of direct, indirect, and induced economic output; 9,741 direct, indirect, and induced jobs; $400.4 million in compensation; and $116.8 million in state and local tax revenue. This is an increase from 2006, the last time an economic impact study was performed.

Click here for the entire Economic Impact Study.

2025 Economic Impacts of Iowa Golf Industry – Summary
2025 Economic Impacts of Iowa Golf Industry