Architect
28 courses on Course Vaults
William J. Spear built a substantial portfolio of accessible public and daily-fee courses across the American Midwest, with a concentrated focus on Illinois, Iowa, and the surrounding states. His work spans from the 1970s through the early 2000s, emphasizing playable layouts that serve municipal and regional golfers. Designs such as Amana Colonies in Iowa, PrairieView in Byron, Illinois, and Brown Deer in Coralville, Iowa reflect his commitment to creating enjoyable golf experiences without excessive difficulty or construction costs.
Spear's courses are characterized by straightforward routing that respects natural terrain while remaining approachable for a wide range of skill levels. His portfolio includes numerous municipal projects—among them Highland Woods in Hoffman Estates, Forest Park in Valparaiso, Indiana, and Palmer Hills in Bettendorf, Iowa—demonstrating his role in expanding public access to the game during a period of significant growth in affordable golf. While not typically featured in major national rankings, his layouts have provided steady play and value to their communities for decades.
Sources: Course Vaults course links only.
Amana Colonies
Amana Colonies Golf Club
🇺🇸 Amana, IA, USA
Palmer Hills
Palmer Hills Golf Course
🇺🇸 Bettendorf, IA, USA
PrairieView
PrairieView Golf Course
🇺🇸 Byron, IL, USA
Lake Shore
Lake Shore Golf Course
🇺🇸 Taylorville, IL, USA
Brown Deer
Brown Deer Golf Club
🇺🇸 Coralville, IA, USA
Voyager
Voyager Village Golf Club
🇺🇸 Danbury, WI, USA
El Paso
El Paso Golf Club
🇺🇸 El Paso, IL, USA
Pleasant Valley
Pleasant Valley Golf Course
🇺🇸 Iowa City, IA, USA
Turtle Run
Turtle Run Golf Club
🇺🇸 Danville, IL, USA
Highland Springs Municipal
Highland Springs Golf Course
🇺🇸 Rock Island, IL, USA
Forest Park
Forest Park Golf Course
🇺🇸 Valparaiso, IN, USA
Arrowhead
Arrowhead Country Club
🇺🇸 Edelstein, IL, USA
Marengo Ridge
Marengo Ridge Golf Club
🇺🇸 Marengo, IL, USA
Highland Woods
Highland Woods Golf Course
🇺🇸 Hoffman Estates, IL, USA
Auglaize
Auglaize Golf Club
🇺🇸 Defiance, OH, USA
Willow Creek
Willow Creek Golf Course
🇺🇸 Rochester, MN, USA
Hickory Ridge
Hickory Ridge Public Golf Center
🇺🇸 Carbondale, IL, USA
Macomb
Macomb Country Club
🇺🇸 Macomb, IL, USA
Meadowview
Meadowview Golf Course
🇺🇸 Mattoon, IL, USA
Midland
Midland Golf Club
🇺🇸 Kewanee, IL, USA
North Greens
North Greens Golf Course
🇺🇸 Atlanta, IL, USA
River Bend
River Bend Golf Course
🇺🇸 Lisle, IL, USA
Senicas Oak Ridge
Senicas Oak Ridge Golf Club
🇺🇸 La Salle, IL, USA
St Elmo
St Elmo Golf Club
🇺🇸 St. Elmo, IL, USA
Turtle Cove
Turtle Cove Golf Course
🇺🇸 Monticello, GA, USA
Twin Lakes
Twin Lakes of Kahoka
🇺🇸 Kahoka, MO, USA
Woods Edge
Woods Edge Golf Course
🇺🇸 Edgewood, IA, USA
Woods/Meadows
Hickory Sticks Golf Club
🇺🇸 Van Wert, OH, USA
Track rounds, rate courses, and explore architect portfolios on iPhone.
Get the app