The Palmer Hills Golf Course in Bettendorf is open for the season as of this morning, March 10.
By 11 a.m. Monday, the course at 2999 Middle Road was already filled with early season golfers, according to staff members at Palmer Hills.
Monday also marked the opening of the city-owned course’s 50th season. While it was established in 1974, the first rounds of golf did not take place until 1975.
“The 2024 Season was one for the ages at Palmer Hills. We broke another record with 41,726 rounds of golf played,” said Jon Waddell, PGA head golf professional at Palmer Hills. “Now, our focus is on 2025 and celebrating 50 years of golf with our incredible customers.”
To celebrate, Palmer Hills’ 50th season, several special events are taking place. They include:
- Friday, May 9 – Glow Ball Tournament at The Forge Putting Experience. This is a family-friendly event that will take place at night with two-person teams. It will feature glow-in-the-dark elements such as golf balls as well as live music, food and more. Registration is now open at www.palmerhillsgolf.com/events.
- Friday, July 18 – 50th Season Tournament. This competitive all-day event will include three-person teams playing in six-somes, prizes, a special gift, lunch, and an awards ceremony.
- Friday, Aug. 22 – Adult-Child Tournament at The Forge Putting Experience. This is an evening event to celebrate Palmer Hills’ partnership with First Tee – Quad Cities. There will be two-person teams that consist of one adult and one child, live music, food, and fun challenges with great prizes.
- Friday, Oct. 17 – Superintendent’s Revenge Tournament. Get ready for a wild round with challenges on every hole. This event will be a four-person scramble played in an eight- some and includes lunch, an awards ceremony, and more.
“The 2025 Season will be one to remember,” said Alex Grell, Palmer Hills assistant golf professional. “All of the events we are hosting are our way of showing appreciation for the loyalty of the golf community in the Quad Cities. Without everyone’s support, none of this would be possible.”
In addition to record rounds, last year was a big year for Palmer Hills. In 2024, the Iowa Golf Association (IGA) chose 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.
In addition, one of Palmer Hills’ golf instructors was 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-plus 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.
