Representative image Photo: Stuart Logan · CC BY-SA 2.0
Davenport Country Club
Pleasant Valley, Iowa, United States
18 Holes · Par 71 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Parkland
— About
About Davenport Country Club
Davenport Country Club is a private 18-hole, par 71 course at Pleasant Valley, Iowa, built on rolling ground along the Mississippi River. H. S. Colt and C. H. Alison designed it. The ground brings real elevation change, and the round runs past ponds and mature oak, maple and ash trees to greens that are full of slope.
- Ron Forse and Jim Nagle's restoration enlarged greens, put tees back in their original spots and rebuilt bunkers, borrowing ideas from Alison's Hirono course in Japan.
- Spencer Creek runs through the property and shapes the strategy on several holes rather than sitting off to the side.
- Golf Digest has ranked Davenport third among the courses of Iowa.
- The par-5 2nd and 9th are the holes most often singled out as the course's signature par 5s.
History of Davenport Country Club
Davenport opened in 1924 as a private, member-owned club. The course was built to take advantage of the natural terrain rather than reshape it. The Western Open was staged here twice, in 1936 and again in 1951. Over its first ninety years the course went through several smaller renovations before a larger restoration took it back toward the original design.
Signature holes at Davenport Country Club
The 16th is the hole people associate with Davenport. It is a downhill par 4 with Spencer Creek in play, and it is nicknamed the Hole of Grief. In the 1951 Western Open, Sam Snead's tee shot found the creek, and the resulting double bogey ended his chance of winning that year.
When to play Davenport Country Club
Davenport is in eastern Iowa, so the golf season runs from spring through early autumn. Winters there are cold, which keeps the course closed for part of the year. Your host will know best when the course is in prime condition, since there is no public tee sheet to book.
Playing Davenport Country Club: tips
Davenport is private, so a round means playing as the guest of a member; there is no public booking and no published green fee. The club is at 25500 Valley Drive in Pleasant Valley, on the Iowa side of the Mississippi River. Ask your host about arrival times, dress code and whether a caddie or cart is available, because the club publishes no visitor guidance.
— Weather at Davenport Country Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
Visit Davenport Country Club
25500 Valley Drive, Pleasant Valley, IA 52767
Pleasant Valley, Iowa, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Davenport Country Club
Where is Davenport Country Club?
The club is at 25500 Valley Drive in Pleasant Valley, Iowa, just outside the city of Davenport, close to the Mississippi River.
Who won the first Western Open at Davenport?
Ralph Guldahl won the first Western Open played at the club, in 1936. The tournament returned to Davenport in 1951.
Which of the two architects led the original design?
Charles Hugh Alison was the principal architect on the initial routing plan, working with Harry Colt. Their original design dates to 1924.