It’s almost summer again, and Ames’ golf courses are getting ready to host activities for the entertainment of ISU students and local families throughout the warm season.

Golf is certainly a convenient way for residents to go out, enjoy the nature and stay physically active.

The Homewood Golf Course, the Veenker Memorial Golf Course and the Ames Golf & Country Club want to make sure this happens by offering their services and facilities to the general public.

Chris Barkema, Homewood Golf Course recreation coordinator, is in charge of organizing events and leagues at the course, such as the Thursday morning ladies’ league, the after work women’s league, the city employees’ league and the junior leagues.

“If you want to have a gold outing, give me a call, tell me what you want, and I can put something together for you, give you prices, give you options, talk about group sizes and offer services,” Barkema said.

“If you can let me know that you’re planning an event at least three weeks at advance, I can give you information, and you can decide if it fits for you price-wise and time-wise. We want to make sure we get the right fit for our costumers.”

Barkema said they offer regular adult passes and junior passes to the facility, which have a cost of $345 and $165, respectively, and are valid for a year. He recommends residents take advantage of the unlimited golf spring pass, which only runs in April and May and costs $115, and the $7 twilight rate Sunday nights after 6 p.m. and provides a great way to fill an empty summer afternoon.

“We have nine holes, and I know some people might want to play 18. They can play two times around,” Barkema said.

The Ames Golf & Country Club also hosts events during the summer, including the Cyclone Club golf outing, the Ames home builders golf event, the United Way golf event and many fund-raisers put on by other organizations. Jay Giannetto, Ames Golf & Country Club PGA professional, has helped in the organization of those events, making the golf course a veritable hub of activity throughout the year.

There are different categories of membership at the club. One of these is the social membership.

This membership gives access to the pool, tennis court and dining centers along with the golf membership, which gives guests access to the 18-hole golf course and a full practice facility.

“I always encourage people to come out, get a tour in the facility, I like to offer them a dining experience, and get them out to play in the golf course and spend a day at the pool, just to let them really feel the experience and get to know what we offer. Hopefully after that we can sign them up,” said Cory Strait, Ames Golf & Country Club General Manager.

“In the last few years we’ve really become a very family friendly club, it’s not necessarily like the old-time club. We’ve got a lot of young and middle age families, and we have activities for all of them, not just golf.”

“We’re the only private golf and country club in the Ames area, we have a full service restaurant and bar, a banking facility right here on our property,” Giannetto said.

The Veenker Memorial Golf Course offers events that are open to the general public as well, and is a true part of the Ames community.

Chris Seaboch, head golf professional at Veenker Memorial Golf Course, invites summer residents to participate in them.

“On the three major holidays – Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day, we run a tournament called the Big Schmink, and anyone is welcome to play in that.

Guests pick their own partners, then we assign them a blind partner, and they get to win some prizes based on how they play with the partner they’re assigned to,” Seaboch said.

Seaboch said that for Big Schmink, there are regular fees such as the tournament charge and golf fee, which adds up to $54 total.

He also invites residents to participate in the best shots that they offer at Veenker throughout the summer.

“We have some holes that are flat and wide open. We also have holes that are surrounded by trees, and a creek that runs through the course.

The facility itself is in an outstanding shape this year,” Seaboch said.

“Come out and enjoy the natural beauty while you’re here. You can just expect to use every club in your bag. This is not a short course by any means. We have 18 holes.”