Bettendorf is home to the best golf course and the best golf instructor in the state. The Iowa Golf Association (IGA) has chosen Palmer Hills Golf Course as its 2024 18-Hole Golf Course of the Year.
The IGA praised Palmer Hills’ 100-year-old oak trees, rolling hills, and meticulously maintained fairways, as well as The Forge – an 18-hole putting course that is the first-of-its-kind in the Quad Cities region.
“We owe a lot of thanks to a lot of people starting with the mayor, city administrator, assistant city administrator, and city council for their support of the golf course and providing us with the resources needed to make Palmer Hills such a special place,” Jon Waddell, PGA head golf professional at Palmer, said in a news release.
“Thank you to all the staff members who make up the Palmer Hills family. They are a hard-working bunch who take great pride in the work they do,” he added. “Their efforts are what makes the difference, and it gets noticed every day by the people who visit Palmer Hills.”
Brian Hickey, golf maintenance manager, said, “This award is a direct reflection of the dedication, hard work, and passion of our entire staff. Their commitment to excellence day in and day out is truly inspiring, and I am grateful for every one of them.”
He added: “We are reminded that it is not just a recognition of where we are today, but a reminder of our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to welcoming even more golfers to Palmer Hills in the years to come.”
Bob Walsh, a regular golfer at Palmer Hills, nominated the city-owned golf course for the IGA Award and joined Mr. Waddell, Mr. Hickey, and Bettendorf’s Culture & Recreation Director Kim Kidwell at the city council’s meeting Tuesday, Nov. 19, at which Mayor Bob Gallagher recognized Palmer Hills Golf Course for its achievement.
In addition, one of Palmer Hills’ golf instructors has been named the 2024 Iowa PGA of America’s Teacher of the Year. Butch Haverland just finished his 10th season as a PGA Junior League Coach with four of those seasons at Palmer Hills. He leads 20+ different golf clinics for ladies and men as well as coaches golfers of all ages for six to eight hours a day. Before joining Palmer Hills, Mr. Haverland was the men’s golf coach at Black Hawk College, Moline.
“Butch came to us with a ton of experience and a tremendous reputation,” Mr. Waddell said. “Since his arrival at Palmer Hills, he has taken our instruction programming to another level. He also brought us our first PGA Junior League team, the Palmer Panthers. He comes to the golf course every day with a great attitude. He is very deserving of being named the Iowa PGA Teacher of the Year.”
“I’ve worked all around the country, and I’ve never had more fun at a golf course than Palmer Hills,” said Mr. Haverland
Palmer Hills also was selected by QCBJ readers as the Best Golf Course in the QCBJ’s Best of the Region contest in 2022 and 2023.
