How far into the state are we talking? des moines? IC/CR? All the way to the QC?
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Good follow up. I think the furthest into the state we would really be thinking is Thursday morning"ish" driving in to Des Moines. We could probably be talked into Iowa City and then work our way back west.
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Gents,
Wife was just offered a job at University of Iowa (we currently live in Charlotte). I was curious of the golf scene around Iowa City/Cedar Rapids - quality and quantity of public courses and ease/wisdom in joining a club?
And, any other tips or things to consider in making a big move (we have two kids under 4).
Thanks!
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Will have the rightful Iowa Chris (@ChrisP1) and Billy (@Worst12onEarth) weigh in as well, but from a club perspective you’re pretty limited. CRCC (if you decide to / can join we will relentlessly ask you to play 
), Elmcrest in Cedar Rapids and Iowa City doesn’t have a private.
Publics are extremely good value imo. Saddleback Ridge, Stone Creek (semi private 9 hole, 20min drive), Pleasant Valley, Finkbine (UI course), Blue Top Ridge. Same drive at Stone Creek will get you to Amana Colonies as well.
If you don’t mind me asking, what department is your wife considering working for?
Less familiar with the Cedar Rapids publics.
As for moving, it will feel tempting but the commute to IC from CR is #NotGreatBob. Rapidly expanding corridors around Iowa City though so a lot of options. All depends on what you’re looking for in terms of community / lifestyle. I lived “downtown” for most of my 11 years there and miss it a lot.
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All depends on your vibes, but @Sweet_Cupn_Cake, @bagumbo, @GentlemanJim will not steer you wrong around DSM. I’ll continue to stan getting a round in at Elmwood CC in Marshalltown though.
As for Iowa City, I’m not sure I would say anything is truly worth the extra 1hr30 down 80. Plenty of options in / around DSM.
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Fine? Bad? Somewhere in the middle and usually busy.
100% agree. V bad not worth it with North Liberty Tiffin and Coralville all one thing nowadays.
The Elks club 9 holer with this gem of a hole and brand new very structurally sound clubhouse.
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I always forget about this place.
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That whole peninsula area is completely off my radar, but I have heard that ramen place is really good.
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Willing to help out with tips as much as I can. My wife works at the College of Dentistry and i live in the IC area in tiffin.
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Appreciate it. I think we are talking about going to Iowa city the first day then work our way back home. So really 1-2 courses in Des Moines that you guys would recommend would be perfect.
Ideally we get somewhere Thursday early afternoon. Then work our way back west to Kansas on Monday.
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In DSM, Waveland is always a great option. A couple others i really enjoy are Beaver Creek, which is a set of 3 nines, East/West/South - if you can get South as one of your 9s, it’s got some really fun holes. Just East/West is kinda ho-hum. Another one that i think has some fun holes, but is a very short 9 ( par 34, 2570 yds) is Sugar Creek in Waukee, on the very west edge of the metro. Otter Creek in Ankeny is also one of my favorites. It’s a “links style” course that weaves through a housing development, but has some really fun holes as well.
Also - for a full Des Moines river valley experience, Honey Creek in Boone (40 mins NW of Des Moines) is a must.
And i should mention - i’m a 24HC and most of the holes i really love are typically considered “stupid” by purists.
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Great. Thank you.
Frankly, that’s probably more options than anything non-private here!
She’d be in the Dept. of Education. I’d be on the job hunt. Sounds like Cedar Rapids is further away than I understand. Looks like some good housing options in the Coraville/N. Liberty area. We’d be looking for family-centered neighborhood with good schools.
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It’s not too far, but looks like mad max fury road every morning and afternoon as everyone goes that way. Should all be three lane by 2029 I think, but will be dealing with construction till then.
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CR is close but there’s a ton of traffic going back and forth for a commute.
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The small towns around IC are worth a look too if you’re into that kind of thing. Solon, tiffin, even as far out as Williamsburg have good school systems and seems to always be expanding.
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My wife works at the hospital and drives an hour to work from here in Moline, There are lots of options in any direction and (don’t tell too many people) downright affordable.
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Where does she park? I can’t imagine driving an hour then having to wait for some kid driving the CAMBUS to take me to work.
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when she was a traveling she got reimbursed for parking, now that she’s staff she has to ride the bus and fucking HATES it
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this. 100x. People just lose their minds on this stretch of highway.
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