Breath Taking Golf Courses
The Iowa Great Lakes sports at least a dozen picturesque golf courses, drawing players from around the region to enjoy the game. The natural beauty found on these courses combined with natural and created challenges makes golfing a regular activity for all ages and skill levels.
Each golf course showcases breathtaking scenery, countless wildlife and a community of friends, whether it’s league night or date night. Others sport junior golf camps, as well as PGA Professionals for improving your game. No matter where you golf, each hole provides a variety of challenges that are guaranteed to generally make you smile.
Here’s a look at a few local golf courses found in our area that any golfer is sure to enjoy.
Brooks Golf Club
27 Holes
1201 Brooks Park Drive • Okoboji
712-332-5011
info@brooksgolfclub.com
www.brooksgolfclub.com
An unparalleled Okoboji golfing experience can be found at Brooks Golf Club nestled in the heart of Okoboji and on the east side of West Lake Okoboji. This unique course showcases 27 beautiful holes that attract golfers of all ages and abilities.
“We are the only 27-hole golf course in the Iowa Great Lakes area, as well as the only course with bent grass fairways,” said Brett Hetland, General Manager of Brooks Golf Club.
Originally built as an 18-hole course by Val Brooks in 1932, the golf club has attracted famous golfers like Sam Snead, Walter Hagen and Babe Didrikson Zaharias. Brooks has also hosted the Iowa Open. More recently, Brooks has been the perennial host of the Dakota Tour Okoboji Open Pro-Am and numerous other corporate and non-profit fundraising events.
In 1999, Brooks expanded to 27 holes, allowing for readily available tee times and great pace of play. “The course’s masterful design provides superb playing conditions for our golfers,” Hetland shared. “We tuck up against nature preserves and feature age-old trees that provide beautiful challenges.”
Brooks is also the only course in the area with a full club natural grass practice facility that includes a driving range playable from the north or south, as well as a practice green, chipping green and sand bunker. “These are all open to the public with a golf ball vending dispenser,” he added.
For golfers who love the game while networking, league opportunities are: Senior League is Tuesday mornings at 10:30 a.m., Ladies are Wednesday evenings at 5:30 p.m. and Men’s League is Thursdays at 6 p.m.
“My favorite thing about league night is getting to play a fun round of golf while meeting and networking with other players,” Hetland shared.
All leagues are open to the public. Seniors and Ladies have a drop-in format and can come when able, while the Men’s season is broken into three 6-week sessions. “Men can play in all three or join whatever session your schedule allows,” he said.
Other special opportunities for golfers are their “Salute to Professionals” weeks, where local professionals have the chance to enjoy golfing at a discount. “We want to recognize these individuals and groups who do so much for our community,” Hetland added.
Brooks hosts two PGA professionals and Hetland said these brothers are a blessing to the golf club. “Todd and David Norman are in their sixth season with us and such a blessing.”
The Norman brothers have been in the golfing industry dating back to their youth, when they first caddied at Barrington Hills Country Club, a suburb of Chicago. “Growing up, our older brother Jay was a PGA member, and Todd and I followed along,” David said.
Todd went on to play collegiate golf as a scholarship golfer with Hall of Fame PGA Tour player Colin Montgomerie on a Top 20 Team. Todd has been a PGA Member for over 30 years, while David has been one for 23 years and has also owned a golf course for over 10 years.
“Our advice to our golfers is to enjoy the game,” David added. “Here at Brooks, we also have three very distinct 9s with different characteristics that will test your golf game in all facets.”
The brothers particularly enjoy working with their junior campers, hosting four opportunities for kids aged 5-17. Two junior camps take place in June and another two in July, with campers being divided up into ages and abilities to ensure a fun learning experience for everyone involved.
Golf instruction includes full swing analysis, putting, pitching and chipping. The participants also compete daily in long drive contests, as well as short game competitions, with the winners receiving award certificates and prizes.
“Instruction starts with course management and etiquette along with full swing, pitching, chipping and putting. Each day concludes with a fun competition on what was learned that day,” Hetland explained. “The last day we hit the course for a team scramble and finish with pizza afterwards. Each participant leaves with a sleeve of balls and a camp T-shirt.”
Because of where Brooks Golf Club is situated, the property is also home to a host of wildlife species and abundant habitat conservation areas. In partnership with the Dickinson County Nature Center (DCNC), Birding on the Green takes place on the first Monday, May-September. The outing heads out at 7 a.m. and is led by an expert birder, Don Vrchota, and a DCNC staff member.
“There is no need to preregister for this event. Gather in the parking lot at Brooks Golf by 7 a.m.,” Hetland said.
Brooks has also achieved and maintained certification by Audubon Internationals since 2003.
This local golf course is a special place for golfers of all ages and abilities and a favorite of those who love nature. Their goal is to provide a quality experience with exceptional service and a comfortable atmosphere. Enjoy a round of golf at Brooks Golf today!
Emerald Hills Golf Course
18 Holes
808 Highway 71 • Arnolds Park
712-332-7100
randyrohlfsen@gmail.com
golfemeraldhills.com
Golfers not only love the atmosphere of Emerald Hills Golf Course but its breathtaking golf experience. With its hilly terrain, diverse selection of tree-lined doglegs and fast undulating greens, this course located in Arnolds Park has the distinction of having the highest course and slope rating in the area.
Emerald Hill’s owner and PGA Professional Randy Rohlfsen loves how the course is the perfect blend for all skill levels, whether you are a professional, amateur or novice golfer. “We are one of the longer courses in the area,” he shared. “We have enough variability that to complete all 18-holes you will need to use every club in your bag, while still challenging every skill level.”
This premier 18-hole golf course in Arnolds Park provides the ideal mixture of fun and relaxation and is excitingly undergoing a variety of positive changes. “We may have dirt work being done in several areas, but Emerald Hills is still beautiful and playable,” he said. “It won’t be long before the whole course is green again.”
Over the next months, Randy is working closely with Tim Kinnetz and Spirit of Okoboji. The groups are swapping several pieces of land and Kinnetz is developing four new holes for the course. Several previous holes will become a part of a new housing development for the area.
“Even with the current changes, we still have 18 really good holes. When the new holes are done, we will land swap. The new holes will go out into new territory and several ponds will be added, which will provide new golf challenges and play a role in water restoration. The course will be beautiful!”
Randy has been a golf professional for 51 years, first picking up the sport at age 10. He initially enjoyed all sports but truly fell in love with mastering the game of golf and later teaching this passion to others. He’s coached a lot of state champions and amateurs.
“One of my favorite success stories is Kyle Brandt, who came up through our ranks and is now the head PGA Professional at Hazeltine Golf Club in Chaska, MN, which is where a future Ryder Cup and PGA Championship will be held. To be 40 years old and have that job at his age, we are really excited for him,” Randy exclaimed.
Randy has been hosting a Junior Golf Camp at Emerald Hills for the past 33 years, with this year’s dates being June 24-26, and a Varsity Prep Camp taking place June 16-19.
He also excitedly announced this spring that Spirit Lake native Nick Christensen will become his partner through a three-year transition. “In 2025, he works for me, while 2026, we work together and in 2027, I work for him,” Randy shared. “Nick is already qualified in so many ways, also being a Spirit Lake Golf Coach, but it will be really good for him to see golf from the other side of the Pro shop.”
For anyone interested in private golf lessons or upcoming tournaments, contact Randy or Nick at Emerald Hills Golf Course. This picturesque golf course in Arnolds Park is open to the public and loves to host league nights or an afternoon of golfing with friends.
‘I’m just so grateful to have been at Emerald Hills for so long and even more grateful to have someone as skilled as Nick to be able to learn and take this position over a three-year period. It is ideal for our members, for me and for Nick.”
Okoboji View Golf Course
19 Holes
1665 Hwy 86 • Spirit Lake
712-337-3372
theview@okobojiview.com
www.okobojiview.net
Okoboji View Golf Course is a picturesque 19-hole course on the west side of West Lake Okoboji. Initially built and opened for play in 1962, the Schnell brothers of Milford purchased the property in 2005 and have continuously worked tirelessly to transform the golf course into a memorable golfing experience for golfers of all ages and abilities.
“We love that the course is playable for all abilities—kids and older individuals—but also has challenges in the middle that make it more difficult for those more experienced,” said Curt Schnell, PGA Professional and co-owner. “We also love how nature-friendly our course is, especially being surrounded by land of the DNR’s and Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation. We see a lot of wildlife around!”
Okoboji View is lined with trees and has big rolling greens. The 5,700-yard golf course has 19 holes and moves fast, has 26 bunkers and has water on seven of the holes, creating extra challenges.
“One of the big differences between our golf course and others in the area is there are no homes on the course,” Bennie Schnell added.
Over the past several years, Okoboji View has also partnered with the DNR and incorporated a watershed that adds to the golf course’s beauty, as well as enhancing the water quality flowing into West Lake Okoboji. “We filter the water coming from the fields and improve it’s quality before it reaches the lake,” she explained.
Curt is the Head PGA Professional at the course and has been a member of the PGA since 1988. As a young child, his father introduced him to the game on Woodlyn Hills near Milford, and he’s loved the game ever since. Curt has been named one of the top 100 teaching pros in the country and has passionately mentored countless golfers for over 45 years.
He owns the course record at Okoboji View with a 61 and still plays competitively in the Iowa PGA Section events. Curt has been a 4-time Player of the Year in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as 4-Time Teacher of the Year in Iowa and Nebraska. In 2015, he was inducted into the Iowa Golf Association Hall of Fame.
“I really enjoy working with youngsters who have a passion for golf and excited for those who have gone on to pursue golf in college or the PGA tour,” Curt shared.
He offers a 40-minute private lesson for $50 for juniors and $80 for adults and always focuses on the fundamentals.
“The professionals spend 50% of their time working on their short game,” Curt said.
He added that it’s vital a golfer knows how to hold the club properly, as well as having the correct body posture in addressing the ball and aligning to the target.
“These three things are the most important things about golf and can impact your game positively or negatively,” he added.
Steve Schnell, Curt's brother, is the Golf Course Superintendent and does an amazing job with maintaining the course.
Bennie oversees the golf shop and Pub19 Restaurant Bar and Grill with help from their excellent staff.
So, whether need to schedule your corporate golf outing or would love a family meal at Pub 19—Okoboji View Golf Course/Pub 19 is perfect for you. Curt and Bennie will treat you well!
Tee Times: 712-337-3372
Pub19 To-Go Orders: 712-332-8142
www.okobojiview.com
Silver Lake Country Club
9 Holes
165 Country Club Dr. • Lake Park
712-832-3213
golflakepark@gmail.com
www.slccgolf.com
With Silver Lake in the background, the golf course on the west side of Lake Park is perfect for those looking for a quick round of golf. Silver Lake Country Club is only a short drive from Spirit Lake and located on the west side of Dickinson County.
This 9-hole public golf course was built in 1967. The beautiful greens are filled with mature trees lining the countless fairways. “There are lake views on most holes,” said Clubhouse Manager Brianne Costa. “Silver Lake is a nice little course that’s community-oriented and many say they have their best rounds of golf here.”
Board Member Bart DeBoer said he appreciates how the golf course is ideal for all skill levels. “It’s a nice, small challenging course and because it’s a few miles from the Lakes area, it’s easier to get a tee time,” he shared. “The greens have different sloops and elevations; there are times you must hook your swing because of challenging curves.”
It’s only $20 a person to golf for a day at Silver Lake Country Club, so for those who still want to golf 18-holes, Brianne suggests going around twice. It’s easy to reserve a tee time space, visit slccgolf.com and sign up for a time that works best. Anyone’s welcome to become a shareholder of the public course and membership fees for the season are $250, which makes it easier to register for the best times.
League nights are offered throughout the week, with couple’s night being held Mondays from 5-9 p.m. and men’s league available both Tuesday and Wednesday evenings from 4-9 p.m.
Brianne has also been implementing an expanded food menu at the clubhouse. the kitchen is open Monday – Thursday from 7 am to 8 pm and Friday - Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 pm, while the bar and facility closes at 10 pm every night. “I’ve really been focusing on providing quality food service and expanding our menu this year,” she said. “From Monday specials to Thursday’s Taco Night, there’s something for everyone. I’m also looking forward to adding dessert options, and we are available for catering for events, weddings, reunions and company parties. I’m also planning a special holiday meal July 3 before the fireworks display on Silver Lake,”
Bart added that Silver Lake’s Board of Directors is finalizing the plans for a new clubhouse, looking to begin fundraising in the next month. “Dirt work will begin yet this fall and our goal is to have it complete next year,” he shared.
For those who’d like to help with fundraising efforts, contact Brianne at Silver Lake Country Club or one of the course’s board members. They also host a number or tournaments throughout the season, which can be found at slccgolf.com/events/. For those who’d just like a relaxing meal overlooking Silver Lake, visit any day. Updated specials are featured on the Silver Lake Country Club’s Facebook page.