Choose Your Course, Cedar Rapids
Growing up in Cedar Rapids as an avid golfer, I had the opportunity to play all of the golf courses in the area. I remember my parents dropping me off at Twin Pines when I was 12-13 years old before they went to work. I would stay at the course all day with my friends.
As I got older, I began playing Ellis Park more, and I was in high school when the course was redesigned in the early 2000's.
The great thing I've realized about Golf in Cedar Rapids is that no matter your level of skill, there is a variety of golf courses that all offer something different.
You want challenged with narrow fairways, hazards, and wind? Check out Hunter's Ridge in Marion.
You want wide fairways, minimal water, and a flat golf course to walk? Twin Pines is perfect.
Tee Off Cedar Rapids
Looking for an executive golf course with 27 holes and quick, player friendly golf? Airport National just south of Cedar Rapids has what you are looking for. They even have a miniature golf course, driving range, and lunch deals! Airport National Golf Course a few miles east of the Eastern Iowa Airport provides fast, family friendly golf. If I was going to take a beginner anywhere in the city to play golf, it would be to Airport National. About half the holes are par 3's, and half the holes are par 4's.
Jones Park Golf Course in SW Cedar Rapids is challenging and fair. It is the course in Cedar Rapids which requires the most thought before hitting your shot. The thing I like most about the golf course is that you can usually play 18 holes in well under 4 hours.
Jones Park Golf Course
On a side note - Jones Park is the most complete park in Cedar Rapids. A pool, baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, frisbee golf course, soccer golf, golf course, and plenty of spots to barbeque, it has fun for the entire family.
Gardner Golf Course in Marion offers a longer golf course with subtle doglegs and many elevated greens. This would be one of those courses that 50 years ago you could hit the ball anywhere when the trees were small. Now that the trees have matured, it makes for a challenge off the tee.
Ellis Park has always been seen as the flagship golf course owned by the city. A course that used to be very demanding visually before being redesigned, now has the toughest greens in town. Large slopes create small landing areas in different sections of each green. You'll have some elevation change, especially on the back nine. A variety of wide fairways, and narrow holes on the back 9 create a unique challenge.
Two players play onto the 15th green at Ellis Park while a maintenence crew member waters #12 green.
Twin Pines Golf Course on the NE side is one of the most played courses in Iowa. It's easy to see why, the course is flat, fairly short, and very playable for golfers of any handicap. With so much play, expect longer rounds. The nicest thing about Twin Pines are it is easily accessible via 380 and 42nd St, and the course is very flat so walking the golf course is very doable.
Challenge Your Golf Game
Hunters Ridge in Marion is for the more accomplished golfer. Bent grass fairways and greens. The front 9 weaves between houses which have built up through this golf community over the past 20 years. The back 9 is challenging even for low handicaps. Hazards on almost every hole, forced carries, some lengthy par 3's and large greens make this the most challenging test of public golf in Cedar Rapids.
No matter your skill level you'll be sure to find what you are looking for when playing public golf in Cedar Rapids.
You'll notice that we run periodic deals on the Gazette Store with local golf courses. That directly aligns with our mission to help Eastern Iowan's enjoy their life away from work.