Wowzers! 14 courses in 4 days in NW Iowa

9/26-9/29/2013
It's official, we are now GOLFAHOLICS!  

It was definitely a race and so much fun we are going to do it again next season.   Thanks to Jim's organization we had it down to a science and accomplished more than we set out to do.   Originally we thought 12 was going to be pushing it.    We headed West at sun-up, as we were going down the highway we happened to run across a golf course along the way and with the car on auto-pilot it just drove us right in.    First stop was Coon Rapids in Carroll County.   Still early so dew on the course made it very wet and Jim managed to bury a ball so deep he had to dig it out to hit it.   The silos as we came into town were really neat and different.   After golf we ate at Debs Corner Cafe and had great tenderloins before heading out.

Next stop - Crawford County, Manning-Manilla Golf Course

Nothing really stood out here but the people were extremely nice and accommodating in our venture.   Probably the nicest people we met this trip.   Someone at the course recommended JB's  to us so we tried it. We were not impressed, service was very slow and I probably would not go back.

ONWARD....

Marcus Golf Club, Cherokee County

Golf Course Greeter

Three down, 11 to go.








After golf we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and went to the casino.   At least we are hitting some winners on the courses, because we weren't at 
the casino.


Meadow Country Club, Moville, Woodbury County

This course was voted course of the year in 2012 and we could see why.   It was a wonderful course and very well kept.   People were friendly and lots of flowers everywhere with an old golf cart made into a planter.   Really enjoyed this course and will go back some day.

Day 2, Course 2
Plymouth County, Brookside Golf Club in Kingsley

Another course, not in our plans that we just happened to drive by.   We ate in the clubhouse after golf and it was a great lunch.  Another great find along our way.

Cute idea, I may have to copy some day.   The hooks are golf club irons.

T-box numbers were in the cartpath.

Bird/rabbit fight

I think the bird won.

Course 3 was in Alton, Sioux County.   Sioux Golf & Country Club

This course was the oldest of the trip, built in 1888.   It had a lot of elevated T boxes and was very nice.

4th and final course today.   Yes, FOURTH!
Sheldon Golf Course in O'brien County

We did only plan on 3 but we made such good time and most courses did not require a T time, and there was absolutely no waiting at any course.  This was another great course and people were very nice.   Shirley forgot her PGA Card laying on the counter and when we called them they told her they would mail it to her home.  Such good people in Iowa.

Lots of flowers and landscaped areas made this a really nice course to visit.






Last night was probably the worse overnight accommodations if you ask Shirley.    I did not know when I made the reservations that she does not like motels.   We made it through the night and I have to say that the Four Seasons Motel in Rock Rapids was probably the cleanest motel I have ever stayed at.   I doubt that Shirley got a lot of sleep.

Off to George Iowa, home of The Otter Valley Golf Course in Lyon County.  Worst day of golf.   Cold, rainy, windy and miserable but we golfed.   We wore sweatshirts, coats, gloves, hats and earmuffs.  I didn't even know we took that much clothing to wear.  

Day 3, course 2 - Sibley Golf Course in Osceola County

Rain quit we we golfed in coats and winter golf gloves most of the day. 

Course 3 - Silver Lake Country Club - Lake Park, Dickenson County

I didn't even know this lake was in Iowa.   Very pretty lake but course was below standards for me.   The countryside travel was very pretty though with all the windmill farms and farmers harvesting.

One more course for the day....
Spencer Municipal Golf Course in Clay County

It was getting late but we golfed as many as we could get in at this 18 hole course.   It was very nice and pretty flat and yet again, unplanned.   

 Overnight was at the Wild Rose Casino outside Emmetsburg.   This is a very small casino and no winners again.   

 Beautiful day for golf today though.   Went to Five Island in Emmestburg in Palo Alto County and by noon we had shed our coats.

Only TWO left...

Next stop was at Estherville in Emmet County.   Now this is a course I could have skipped and not been disappointed.   Don't get me wrong, any day of golfing is better than not.   This course really needs some TLC, wood pile and metal piles out in the open and not manicured very well at all.    I have to say this is probably the only course that I can honestly say I would not go back to.   The clubhouse serves lunch but we passed since it looked pretty dirty. 

Best hole on the course #8

Saved the best for last!
Rolfe Golf Course in Rolfe Iowa which is in Pocahontas County.

This course has history.  It was an old car race track back in the day and the land was donated for the golf course in the late 1800's.   

When we arrived we were met with a sign they were closed. However, cart keys hung on the shelf with a note to put money in the envelope if you wanted to golf.   ONLY IN SMALL TOWN IOWA!!

My Field of Dreams moment.

Many walnut trees and Jim managed to hit one or two.

This is the end of our long journey and what a wonderful trip.   Our PGA Card was a blessing and with all the courses that were in our book we only spent 150.00 in golf, and that was for both of us.  Most courses we had to pay for cart rental only and green fees were free, cart rentals were anywhere from $6.00-$9.00.   This book is available at PGA.com and I would recommend it to anyone that likes to golf at a variety of courses.

Happy golfing, until we meet again!

Golf is a game that is played on a five-inch course — the distance between your ears. ~Bobby Jones