While golf isn’t for everybody, mini golf is a great outdoor and indoor activity for families and individuals of all ages and skill levels. Thankfully, Iowa has plenty of mini golf courses across the state to keep you entertained this summer and fall. Featuring amazing water features, tricky sand traps and breaks in the green, these courses offer some of the best obstacles in the game.
1. Lost Island
Waterloo
Designed to harmonize with the tropical flavor of Waterloo's Lost Island Waterpark, Monaleo Adventure Golf features two challenging 18-hole courses lined with native vegetation, volcanoes, rapids, dinosaur fossils and a skull pit. For a full day of adventures, pair your mini golf endeavors with a race around the go-kart track and some thrilling water slides.
2. Pirate's Pointe
Storm Lake
For another water-themed course, head over to Pirate’s Point, located within Storm Lake’s King’s Pointe Waterpark Resort. This course offers an intimidating shipwreck with towering masts and billowing sails that would make Blackbeard quake in his boots. Do you dare to accept the challenge and walk the plank?
3. Derby Grange
Dubuque
Enjoy an afternoon of fun at Derby Grange Golf and Recreation in Dubuque. Featuring a driving range, par 3 golf course, batting cages and an exciting mini golf course, the whole family can find something to enjoy. With green fees as low as $5.50, the mini golf course offers beautiful landscaping that makes it one of the best in the state.
4. A.H. Blank Golf Course
Des Moines
Bring your family and friends out to A.H. Blank’s mini golf course for some great summer fun. The Des Moines course features beautiful landscaping along with a 15-foot waterfall and ponds with towering water fountains. These water hazards as well as real sand traps and rough make this course challenging for all ages.
5. Pla-Mor Mini Golf
Clear Lake
Enjoy a game of classic mini golf featuring obstacles, full loops and plenty of angles alongside lights to allow evening rounds. Open seasonally with no set hours, it’s never a bad idea to call before you play, but Clear Lake's Pla-Mor will stay open for you as long as you need.
6. West Grand
West Des Moines
With thundering waterfalls, white water mountain streams and landscaped greens and ponds, West Grand Golf’s mini golf course challenges players to finish the course with a dry ball. While hole-in-one’s are rare, a few extra strokes here and there just means you can spend more time exploring the scenic course. Visitors to the West Des Moines course can also take advantage of the attraction’s full-length driving range.
7. Toad Valley
Pleasant Hill
Toad Valley’s Field of Green Mini Links provides the most real-world application of putting techniques than any other mini golf course in Iowa. A challenging course in Pleasant Hill that follows the contour of the land and features long-distance putts, real sand traps and water hazards, this spot offers a challenging round for all players. But the beautiful greenery and babbling waterfalls and streams make this a worthy visit.
8. Putt-A-Round
Fort Madison
This family-owned, seasonal business has lots to offer. Visitors to this Fort Madison attraction can play through the 18-hole mini golf course as well as test their hand-eye coordination in the batting cages before rewarding themselves with tasty food and homemade ice cream.
9. Pirate's Cove
Arnolds Park
Find the true pirate adventure at Pirate's Cove in Arnolds Park. Putt your way through the world of 18th century pirates beneath cascading waterfalls, across a natural stream and past pirate ship ruins. Nestled in a naturally beautiful landscape, this 18-hole course will delight the entire family. Challenge your friends and family to an unforgettable round.
10. River City
Mason City
Located inside the Southbridge Mall in Mason City, this 18-hole course offers themed holes based on a local farmer, North Iowa Bulls Hockey, dogs and cats, BBQ, laser tag and more. Therefore, visitors can expect obstacles like mini tractors, hockey nets and spray painted barrels. This course is open year-round for constant family fun.
11. Jester Park
Granger
This 18-hole, professionally designed course in Granger challenges players of all ages with multiple water features, practice greens and beautifully manicured flower beds. Enjoy after sunlight hours and group packages and reservations for exciting events like birthdays.
12. Fort Frenzy
Fort Dodge
Visit Fort Dodge’s Fort Frenzy for all sorts of family fun. Be sure to check out their outdoor mini golf course and challenge yourself to avoid hazards like their Koi pond. After testing your putting skills, navigate your way through an escape room, embrace your inner gamer at the arcade, slam into your friends on the bumper boats or challenge them to a game of laser tag.
13. Tee-Rex Mini Golf
Ottumwa
Located inside the Ottumwa's Quincy Place Mall, this dinosaur-themed course is great entertainment for the whole family. Tee-Rex Mini Golf visitors can enjoy an 18-hole course that winds through the jungle with opportunities to see a variety of dinosaurs wandering along the paths along with challenging obstacles such as ramps and sharp twists and turns.
14. Waterfall National Mini Golf
Cedar Rapids
Hit up Cedar Rapids’ Waterfall National Mini Golf course for a classic game of putt-putt featuring red bricks, blue water and a modest waterfall. After testing your putting skills, visitors can grab a sweet treat and visit the golf pro shop or the driving range.
15. Palmer's Family Fun
Waterloo
This popular family attraction offers an abundance of fun for all ages. Home to two 18-hole mini golf courses, players can challenge themselves to a variety of obstacles such as water hazards, simulated sand traps, sloping greens and fairways, ramps, rocks and much more. After navigating through the two courses, visitors to this Waterloo attraction can also enjoy batting cages, go-karts, archery tag, laser tag, a jumping pillow, driving range and tasty snacks.
