This.
I've grown up playing golf in Ames and I have NEVER seen the course in that bad of shape.
Unplayable. One of the tee boxes is so bad you pick the best weed to hit off of.
Golfing around Ames
- Thread starter HardcoreClone
- Start date
This.
I've grown up playing golf in Ames and I have NEVER seen the course in that bad of shape.
Unplayable. One of the tee boxes is so bad you pick the best weed to hit off of.
I've always heard that, too - with the understanding that the wooded walking path / bike trail makes a perfect route through there. But if you look at the plan shown in this Ames Trib article the route deviates from that path midway, and it seems like major course renovations would be needed for this to work.
http://www.amestrib.com/news/201808...r-grand-avenue-extension-other-infrastructure
Unplayable might be a bit dramatic. I’m as strict as the next guy about playing courses with above average conditions but I still think Veenker is playable. Are the conditions great? Of course not but I think the majority of the course is fine outside of a few dead spots in the fairways. Just played in the Ames City Open there two weekends ago and I don’t remember that tee box. What hole was that bad one on?
Looking at the plan on that map, I can say pretty confidently that there’s a wide enough piece of land in between holes 9 and 10 that are big enough for a road. My biggest question would be if they had to build the road elevated because it would intersect with the cart path going from the clubhouse to hole 1 and from hole to hole 10.
Ok, you're right - I can see that now. But wow, is that ever going to be tight. Easy to spray it into the future road off #10 tee. And I was wondering about road crossings, too. Not to mention a nice, scenic view of the new road and traffic just steps away from the clubhouse!
Sounds like Honey Creek will be my main priority then this fall. TCI is my favorite course around the DSM area. I love how most of the holes are separate from the rest of the course. I think they do a good job of visually challenging the golfer, both from the tee and greens. I also don't mind that style of play, having to use a lot of different clubs and placing your ball around the course.
If I wanted to, could I get onto Ames CC or Ballard CC? Either of those worth playing?
If I wanted to, could I get onto Ames CC or Ballard CC? Either of those worth playing?
TCI is great for whenever I want to crush my confidence.
I usually play decent there. One of these times I'd like to play from King tees and see what happens....
$60 for a weekend rate at TCI is not that steep.
If my options are $60 for TCI or $45+ for some below average course in Des Moines, I'd take TCI all day.
To each their though, of course.
King isn't absurdly long, but still long enough where I would have to hit 3 wood out of the fairway more often than I would like. Give me the Palmer tees or the Deacon/Palmer split.
If you get the chance on a weekday, TCI has the best twilight deal in central Iowa. $38 for 18 and a cart after 4 (Monday-Thursday). Usually very fast pace of play as well so you can get around before sundown as long as your group isn't playing slow
The course doesn't require a ton of distance on most holes, just need to keep it safe off the tee and put it on the correct side of fairway. But I feel like moving to the Kings would then stretch you much more, as well as still requiring that accuracy. That's when you need to be hitting a lot more driver and hope you're hitting them well.
Totally agree. Unbelievable deal. Unfortunately losing daylight now, so better hope pace of play is fast.
Oh absolutely, we usually take advantage of that weekly (haven't been able to this summer).
Can't believe the course isn't busier during those twilight hours.
All the length is saved for the closing holes - by the time I reach #17 and #18, I'm usually mentally drained to muster the necessary physical distance required for those holes (primarily #17).
Haha yeah those are 2 tough holes, especially considering there is typically wind out there. I'd say my favorite hole on TCI is 6, followed by 7, 11. Favorite par 3 is #5.
Played tips at TCI last weekend and I feel like most of the distance comes from the par 3’s. Every par 3 is pretty long. 186, 185, 234, 195 and 231.
I don’t know if you’ve made your decision on which course to play yet but I just played Veenker today and it’s improving nicely. If you chose it, I don’t think you’d be that disappointed. It might not be up to Honey Creek or TCI level, but it’s in solid shape. It is definitely playabale.
I don’t know if you’ve made your decision on which course to play yet but I just played Veenker today and it’s improving nicely. If you chose it, I don’t think you’d be that disappointed. It might not be up to Honey Creek or TCI level, but it’s in solid shape. It is definitely playabale.
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Good to hear. Hopefully with cooler temps and some tolerable rains all the courses will recover well for Sep/Oct golf.
Fall golf is the best golf...except the leaves.
