Iowa Turfgrass Institute

Message From the Iowa Turfgrass Institute

Golf Courses: Used for More Than Golfing

Jeff | Executive Director | Iowa Turfgrass Institute I am going into my 6th year as the cross country coach for Greene County High School. It’s a long story how I got into running and then coaching. I soon realized that many of the meets on our schedule were run on golf courses. In fact, eight of the ten regular season meets on our schedule this year will be run at golf courses. Most likely the state qualifying meet for our class and region will be at a golf course. The state cross country meet for both boys and girls has been held at Lakeside Golf Course in Fort Dodge since 1993.

So why do golf courses allow hundreds of athletes to run on their finely groomed courses? I’m not sure I know the answer to this. This question might be better answered by one of our golf course superintendents. I can only speculate.

• Many courses have agreements with school districts, allowing the school’s golf team to play the course, thus introducing the sport, and the course, to the next generation of players - a benefit to the course I would imagine. Scheduling a cross country meet could be added to this agreement. • The long fairways and open spaces of the golf course would accommodate the length needed (3.1 miles) for a varsity cross country meet. • The course would also have the amenities needed to host a meet: parking, restrooms, etc. • In Iowa, cross country is run in the Fall as the golf season starts to wind down. I’m sure the cross country meets interfere with some golfer’s regular games but typically the courses are not as busy. • And finally, cross country meets introduce the golf course to those who may not typically visit the course otherwise. It’s an opportunity to showcase the beauty of the course.

September 13th was designated “Thank a Super Day”. A day designated to recognize the hard work and dedication of our many golf course superintendents. Many hours are spent preparing the golf courses for the many rounds played on them and sometimes activities, such as cross country meets, that add to the wear and tear of the course.

Whatever the reason for allowing hundreds of high school and middle school runners to stampede the many golf courses of Iowa, as a coach, and on behalf of the running community, we appreciate the golf course superintendents and their willingness to share their courses with the running community!

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