Veenker Memorial Golf Course

Veenker Memorial Golf Course serves as the home course for Iowa State University's golf programs and operates as a public facility in Ames, Iowa. Designed by Perry Maxwell and opened in 1938, the course was named in honor of Howard "Cap" Veenker, who coached multiple sports at Iowa State and was instrumental in establishing the university's golf program. Maxwell, known for his strategic design philosophy and work on courses throughout the Midwest and beyond, created a layout that reflects the rolling prairie landscape characteristic of central Iowa. The course occupies gently undulating terrain with mature tree plantings that have matured significantly since the original construction, framing fairways and defining playing corridors. Maxwell's routing incorporates natural land movement and strategic bunkering that rewards thoughtful course management over pure distance. The design features greens with subtle contours and approach angles that require precision, typical of Maxwell's emphasis on shot values and variety in play. As a university course, Veenker Memorial serves both competitive collegiate golf and public play, maintaining accessibility while hosting Iowa State's men's and women's teams for practice and competition. The facility reflects the tradition of university golf courses that balance educational mission with community access, providing a venue where Maxwell's architectural principles remain evident in a setting shaped by decades of campus and regional golf history.