
Finkbine Course
Finkbine Golf Course
About this course
Finkbine Golf Course serves as the home course for the University of Iowa golf teams and operates as a public facility in Iowa City. Designed by Robert B. Harris and opened in 1955, the course occupies rolling terrain characteristic of eastern Iowa, with mature tree-lined fairways and elevation changes that add strategic interest to the layout. The property sits along the Iowa River valley, and the routing takes advantage of the natural contours and wooded corridors that define the landscape. Harris, a Chicago-based architect active in the mid-twentieth century, created a layout that balances accessibility for university players and recreational golfers with enough length and challenge to host competitive events. The course has served as the venue for numerous collegiate tournaments and regional championships over the decades, providing a testing ground for Iowa Hawkeye golfers and visiting teams. The design features traditional parkland characteristics with tree placement and green complexes that reward accurate approach play. As a university-affiliated facility, Finkbine maintains a straightforward, functional character focused on playability and conditioning rather than exclusivity. The course provides a venue where students, faculty, and the broader Iowa City community can play, and it remains an integral part of the university's athletic program. The setting offers views across the surrounding farmland and wooded areas typical of the region, creating a pleasant environment for golf in the heart of the Midwest.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in IA
Quick facts
- Location
- Iowa City, IA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1953
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- Robert B. Harris
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 7,017 yards
- Difficulty
- 74.1/134
- Course Vaults score
- 7.7
Getting there
Most visitors arrive via Eastern Iowa Airport in Cedar Rapids, a compact regional hub roughly 30 minutes north of Iowa City along Interstate 380. The drive south is straightforward and quietly Midwestern - flat farmland giving way to the gentle roll of the Iowa River valley as you approach the university town. Finkbine Golf Course sits on the western edge of the University of Iowa campus, tucked between Melrose Avenue and the river's wooded corridor, where the hum of collegiate life fades into the open expanse of one of the Midwest's most respected public layouts.

FAQ
Common questions about Finkbine
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Finkbine has a Course Vaults score of 7.7 out of 10 based on 40 logged golfers.
Finkbine was designed by Robert B. Harris.
Yes. Finkbine is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Finkbine is 72.
Finkbine plays 7,017 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Finkbine is 134.



