Amana Colonies Golf Course

The course is beautiful but the bugs are VICIOUS! Even with DEETS bug spray all over us AND THE CART, they were relentless! We couldnt talk or they would fly in our mouths. I have never seen bugs so aggressive on any course EVER…

Arguably the best course in the Iowa City area. I have been here a couple of times, and have enjoyed it for the most part. Here are my thoughts:
Clubhouse: Nice. Nothing to write home about, but decent enough. It looks like they have started to cater to banquets/​weddings/​etc. Smart move as the view out the back of the clubhouse is awesome. Pro shop is on the smaller side and it shares space with the snack bar. Lots or apparel, but not much in the way of equipment to check out.
Driving Range: Yes, located a short drive in the golf cart away from the course. While I would have liked it closer to the course and pro shop, there just isn’t room to do so.
Practice Green: In a word, huge. This green could easily accommodate 10+ players at one time on it. Huge undulation in the middle of it. Really is one of the nicer practice greens I have putted on. Roll was true to the course as well, which is a huge plus for me.
Course: As stated before, if you do not have your best game going, you will get killed out here. I really wish courses would make golfers carry a handicap card and then make them go off of appropriate tee boxes. I hate watching a bunch of hacks play from the blacks because they think they have to. The colors are not gender specific people! Get over it. That said, I’m a 9 handicap, played from the blues and wished I had played from the whites. Some things I could control, while others I couldn’t (like losing 4 balls that were hit in the middle of the fairway because the leaf cover was so bad. The overall course condition on the day we played, I would grade as average to poor, but you definitely can see the potential in the course if you were to play it say in June. Fairways were wet and soggy, but in decent shape. Greens were in good shape, but the leaf cover was crippling on a couple of holes. Water stations frequently and bathrooms once each 9. My biggest complaint is with the GPS though. For a course this nice, they do a disservice to themselves with the GPS they offer. Only gives you front, middle and back of green distances. How about distances to hazards, bunkers, water, etc? The way this course is set up, those distances are a must!
Staff: Pro Shop was nice, snack bar girl was nice, Starter was nice. Would have been nice to see a ranger out on the course (had one group holding up play), and really think they need a bag boy on 18 to offer to clean clubs upon our return.
Food: Basic food and snacks. Prices decent.
Overall: While I have not played all the courses in the Iowa City area, I know a good golf course when I see it. I think this can be beat, but not many courses are going to be better than this in this area. And to be able to play it for $ 46 is frankly, a steal. I would really like to see this course in the middle of the summer to see how great it probably is. Based on what I’ve seen though, I’ll take it.

I’ve played golf a lot of places and I am ecstatic to say that this is my new favorite course — ironically in the small hills outside of Amana, IA. Miles from ordinary, this course will literally take your breath away. It’s located on the top of a hill, in the middle of a forest — definitely not what you’d expect!
Rated 72.9 w/​a slope of 142 @ 6800+ yards from the tips, it’s a great players course and requires that you come to play.
The course had tight fairways that were literally cut straight out of the forest. The holes each had character and really made you think about how you were going to play each shot. A lot more strategy went into playing than anywhere I’ve played in a long time. You really choose to lay up or go for it with true risk/​reward on a majority of the holes.
The rough was impeccably kept and generally lead into the underbrush that consumed many a ball, but lead to the discovery of many more!
The greens were simply put — magnificent. Soft enough to hold approach shots, but firm enough to make putting a challenge. The read true and roll is amazing. Props to the groundskeeper who really knows what he or she is doing.
On three of the holes we saw deer grazing or walking by and as the course is in the middle of the forest, the serenity was amazing. This is the sort of place that will be full and you’ll see 6 people all day as everything is very well spread out.
The serenity was only topped by the picturesque holes and views from many of them. The 17^th and 18^th have views of the clubhouse over a lake and made for one of the most memorable walks I’ve taken in along while!
Riding is a must as the hills on the course (I know, weird it’s in Iowa) would quickly take their toll. The carts are gas powered and come with GPS that gives front, middle and back distances. When you purchase food and beverage inside, you can grab a cooler and it’s nice to have on the way! Water is available on the course roughly every 3 – 4 holes.
If you love golf, play this course, if you like golf, play this course, if you’re interested in golf, play this course!
Simply put, this is my new favorite course and I guarantee that if you appreciate a good walk spoiled, you’ll love this place like I do!

Very scenic challenging course in Amana Colonies. The course always seems to be in great condition and it’s not too expensive. You do need to bring your «A» game since the course is built on the hills which there is more than I ever thought there would be in Iowa. Riding is a must and the GPS carts are nice.