2026 IOWA GOLF SUMMIT

Maintaining Golf's Momentum

Learn, Network, then Golf in the afternoon at Wakonda!

The Iowa Golf Council will once again host our biennial Iowa Golf Summit, this time with a few updates to the scheduled events (we are playing golf, too!).

The Iowa Golf Association, Iowa PGA, the Iowa Golf Course Superintendents Association, and the Iowa Tall Corn Chapter of the CMAA will bring industry leaders together to network and educate on working together. The event will take place on Monday, May 11th and will be hosted at Wakonda Club in Des Moines. The general theme of the event will be centered around keeping up the momentum we have built over the past few years.

Speakers will include folks from the USGA, GCSAA, and a special presentation on the 2026 Iowa Golf Economic Impact Study that is currently in progress.

Education credits are available for PGA Professionals, Club Managers, and Superintendents. Don’t miss out – the deadline to sign up is Monday, May 4th.

Cost to attend – $50 for morning only education, $125 for the full day (includes golf)

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

About the Golf Event...

“PRO-FACILITY” FORMAT: A pro plus members and/or the staff at the same facility would constitute a team (pro, GM, Superintendent, Board member, etc). We will team up “singles” and “doubles” from one facility with those from another if you don’t have a full group of four.

SCORING: Pro plays own ball, 3 Ams play Scramble – count the low ball

FEE: $125 for the day (includes morning seminar plus lunch, golf, prizes)

scroll for more info

GET EDUCATION POINTS! PGA Professionals, Golf Course Superintendents and Club Managers will received education points from the PGA of America, GCSAA, and CMAA respectively.

FEATURED SPEAKERS

Erik Larsen

Golf Course Architect

Five Steps to an effective Master Plan

Many courses are as healthy as ever, meaning they may be exploring ways to invest back into their most valuable asset – the golf course. Erik has developed a streamlined, effective Master Planning process focused on practical planning, pricing, and implementation of improvements to aid superintendents do their job better, while layering on compelling design features where appropriate.

He is focused on a new development strategy of discovering extra land within golf courses and developing walkable neighborhoods that can help subsidize improvement costs. Further, he looks for space within the golf course to add ‘small golf’ in the form of short hole loops, enlarged practice areas and/or putting courses…all which bring excitement and vibrancy to the renovation process.

Jake Miller & Tom Gould

USGA Regional Director & Regional Agronomist

Jake and Tom will combine to deliver an engaging session that highlights the work the USGA continues to do to Unify, Showcase, Govern, & Advance the game of golf across the country. This will include efforts to bring more people into the golf ecosystem via a handicap index but also efforts the USGA Green Section has made to help courses and clubs make proper decisions when reinvesting into their biggest asset – the golf course.

Allison George

Wizard of Fun, Toad Valley GC

Allison George is the Wizard of Fun at her family’s golf course in Pleasant Hill, Iowa. Having grown up on the golf course, there aren’t many jobs that Allison hasn’t performed. From picking up garbage and mowing fairways to working the snack bar until her current role as General Manager. She has helped to grow her family’s business by introducing programs to the public and staying up to date with modern content marketing. Allison has served on the NGCOA (National Golf Course Owners Association) Board since 2007.

Over the last twenty years, she has spoken all over the United States and Canada at various golf conferences sharing ideas and how-to plans to help golf courses grow their number of rounds, players, and revenue. Allison won 8th Most Innovative Person in Golf in 2010 and was the recipient of the Don Rossi Award in 2021 which is a national award given to people who have made a significant contribution in the golf industry. In 2023, Allison was one of the first ten women to receive the Hilda Allen Award which recognizes influential women in the golf industry.

She regularly consults industry leaders and is currently doing a multi-region AI tour for Golf Operators sponsored through the NGCOA.

Economic Impact Study

Reps from Iowa Golf Council

Representatives from the Iowa Golf Council will be on hand to deliver a presentation on the brand new Economic Impact Study recently commissioned. Previous studies have been published in 2006 and 2016. It will show how big of an industry golf truly is in the state of Iowa.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:00 – 9:00 a.m. – Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00 – 9:45 a.m. – Erik Larsen, Golf Course Architect

9:45 – 10:00 a.m – Presenting Sponsors Showcase

10:00 – 10:30 – Jake Miller, USGA Regional Affairs & Tom Gould, USGA Agronomist

10:30 – 10:45 – break

10:45 – 11:15 – Allison George, A.I. – How to Create SOPs, Handbooks, and Chatbot to speed up your training program

11:15 – 11:30 – Presenting Sponsors Showcase

11:30 – 12:00 – Iowa Golf Council, Economic Impact Study 2026 First Look

12:00 – 1:00 – Box lunch and Range warm-up time

1:00 p.m. – GOLF EVENT BEGINS

Following Golf – Reception with light appetizers, drinks and prizes awarded

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER