Dick Phelps

Rhodes, IA

Keith Foster designed The Harvester on rolling farmland east of Des Moines, and it has been the standard for Iowa public golf since it opened in 2000. The routing moves through mature oak corridors and open prairie, with real elevation change that is rare for central Iowa. Bentgrass from tee to green, large undulating putting surfaces, and a collection of par 4s that ask for position off the tee rather than raw length. Conditioning is consistently among the best of any public course in the state, and the green fee stays well below what this quality of golf costs elsewhere. If you are driving I-80 through Iowa, this is the stop.

Rawlins, WY

Wyoming's high desert links gem

Last verified 2026-09-17

Littleton, CO

Raccoon Creek Golf Course is a Dick Phelps design located 20 minutes south of downtown Denver in Littleton. The established landscape features over 3,000 mature trees, numerous water features, and a good amount of elevation change. Stretching to 7,045 yards from the tips, it is one of the longer public courses in the Denver area. A former Colorado Open host site, Raccoon Creek has a new clubhouse and remains a great value with rates under $50.

San Angelo, TX

Quicksand Golf Course sits on about 300 rolling acres along the Concho River in San Angelo, Texas. Designed by Dr. Michael Hurdzan, the 18-hole course stretches to 7,171 yards from the back tees and features numerous bunkers, water hazards, and generous rolling fairways across five sets of tees. The layout is built to challenge a range of players, from scratch golfers to beginners, with a fully stocked pro shop and restaurant supporting daily play. Quicksand is a public course operated by Quicksand Partners, open essentially year-round with tee times bookable up to a week in advance for the general public.

Loveland, CO

Mariana Butte Golf Course is a City of Loveland public course in Loveland, Colorado, bordering the Big Thompson River with views of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. It was designed by architect Dick Phelps, a Colorado Golf Hall of Fame member, and opened for play in 1992. The course uses elevated tees and the river corridor to create a varied test across its 18 holes, with fairways bordering the water on several holes. From the back tees it measures approximately 6,604 yards, with a course rating of 70.8 and a slope of 130. Mariana Butte is owned and operated by the City of Loveland Parks and Recreation Department and is open daily to public play, with practice facilities and a restaurant on site.

Grand Lake, CO

Grand Lake Golf Course is an 18-hole public course in the town of Grand Lake, Colorado, bordering Rocky Mountain National Park. It first opened for play in 1964 and was designed by architect Dick Phelps. The course was carved out of forest at an elevation of about 8,420 feet, with elevated tee boxes, rolling fairways and subtle greens set against the Never Summer mountain range. Numerous water hazards come into play around the property, along with a modest number of greenside sand bunkers. Wildlife such as elk, deer and moose are commonly seen crossing the fairways. The course is owned and operated by the Grand Lake Metropolitan Recreation District and is open to the public, with tee times bookable online or by phone. A clubhouse offers breakfast and lunch service along with a driving range and putting green.

North Richland Hills, TX

Iron Horse Golf Course is a city-owned public course in North Richland Hills, Texas, winding through rolling terrain, hardwood stands, and two creeks along the historic Cotton Belt rail corridor that gave the course its name. It originally opened in 1988, designed by Dick Phelps. A renovation completed in 2020, led by architect Jeffrey Brauer, widened playing corridors, improved drainage and irrigation, rebuilt bunkers, and added a new forward tee set playing roughly 4,300 yards. The 18-hole, par-70 layout is supported by a full practice facility, golf shop, restaurant, and banquet pavilion. Owned by the city but funded entirely through course revenue rather than tax dollars, Iron Horse hosts more than 50,000 rounds a year along with tournaments and outings. Tee times can be booked online or by phone.

Estes Park, CO

Estes Park Golf Course sits in a natural valley along Fish Creek in the Colorado mountain town of Estes Park, near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. The Estes Park Golf and Country Club was incorporated in 1917, and the original 18-hole layout opened for play in 1918 before being reduced to nine holes during the 1930s financial downturn. The course was rebuilt to a full 18 holes and reopened in 1960 following a redesign credited to Denver golf course architect Henry Hughes, with later design input attributed to Dick Phelps. Today it is a public, par-71 course of about 6,321 yards, operated by the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. Mountain views surround the layout, and a companion 9-hole executive course sits nearby along Lake Estes.

Garland, TX

The Old Course at Firewheel Golf Park is a municipal course in Garland, Texas, owned and operated by the city and located at 600 W. Campbell Road. It has been in play since 1983, with slow-moving streams and heavily wooded areas framing its fairways across gently rolling terrain. Richard Phelps designed the 18-hole layout, which plays to a par of 71 and measures 6,845 yards from the back tees, with about 65 bunkers spread through the round. It is one of three regulation courses at the Firewheel complex, alongside the Lakes and Bridges courses. The course is open to the public and is known locally as an affordable, high-volume municipal facility. Conditions vary with heavy play, and carts, a driving range and a clubhouse are available on site.

Garland, TX

The Lakes Course is one of three 18-hole layouts at Firewheel Golf Park, the City of Garland municipal facility that ranks among the largest public golf operations in Texas. The Lakes plays to about 6,800 yards with water in play throughout, as the name suggests, and is generally considered the most demanding of the Firewheel courses. The complex also includes the Old and Bridges courses and a large practice facility.

Round Rock, TX

Forest Creek Golf Club is a Dick Phelps design in Round Rock, Texas, one of the top public courses in the greater Austin metro. The 7,154-yard, par-72 layout winds through native Texas terrain with mature trees, creeks, and significant elevation changes.

Columbia Falls, MT

Meadow Lake Golf Resort is an 18-hole resort course in Columbia Falls, Montana, situated in the northern Flathead Valley between Whitefish and Columbia Falls. The layout was renovated and extended by architect Dick Phelps during the 1980s to 6,703 yards, playing to a par of 72. It sits about ten minutes from Glacier Park International Airport. The resort setting includes views typical of the Flathead Valley's mountain terrain.

Carrollton, TX

The Lakes Course at Indian Creek Golf Club is an 18 hole par 72 public course in Carrollton, Texas, originally designed by Dick Phelps in 1987. Redesigned by Todd Clark in 2019, the tree lined course acts as a bird sanctuary and features level terrain. The layout is exceptionally walkable with easy access from greens to the next tee boxes. Players who can shape their shots will find an advantage on this nature focused course.

Pella, IA

Bos Landen Golf Course is an 18-hole, par 72 public course in Pella, Iowa, designed by Dick Phelps and opened in 1994. The name translates to Land of the Woods, reflecting the 190 heavily wooded acres upon which the course sits. Players encounter a wide variety of shot-making challenges across the championship layout, which spans up to 7,000 yards from the back tees. Recent updates include work completed by architect David Hoekstra in 2023.

Denver, CO

Foothills Golf Course is one of the Denver Metro area's most popular public facilities, featuring 36 holes (a regulation 18-hole championship course plus a 9-hole executive layout) and a driving range with expansive mountain views. The regulation course stretches to nearly 7,000 yards and offers a solid challenge for all skill levels. Rates are affordable and the facility is well-maintained by Jefferson County.

Great Falls, MT

A golf course located in Great Falls. Further details to be added from other sources.

Louisville, CO

Coal Creek opened in 1990 and was designed by architect Dick Phelps [1](https://www.coalcreekgolf.com/course-info/our-story/#:~:text=opened%20in%201990,Dick%20Phelps). After suffering extensive damage during the 2013 flood, the 18-hole course was completely renovated and reopened in 2015 [2](https://coloradoavidgolfer.com/coal-creeks-high-water-mark/#:~:text=2013%20flood,2015). The layout offers a links-style front nine and a back nine with dramatic elevation changes and mountain views [1](https://www.coalcreekgolf.com/course-info/our-story/#:~:text=links-style,mountain%20views).