Algona’s golf course has gone by a couple of names over the years. Longtime locals still call it Algona Country Club, but it’s formally known today as Eagle Hills, and it’s been part of the town for over a century, long enough that the name change hasn’t fully caught on in everyday conversation.
History · Course Layout · Pro Shop & Tech · Membership · Nearby & Related · Good to Know
Quick FactsAddress: 400 North Country Club Rd, Algona, IA 50511
Phone: (515) 295-7308
Course: 9 holes, par 36, 2,938 yards from the longest tees
Membership: semi-private, open to visitors
History
The course was designed by Willie Dunn Jr., a Scottish-descended professional golfer and course architect known for laying out several notable American golf courses in the early 20th century, and it opened in the early 1920s (some records list 1917, others 1920, so the exact founding year varies depending on the source). Either way, it’s been a fixture in Algona for over a hundred years, long enough that most longtime residents still default to calling it Algona Country Club out of habit rather than its current formal name.
Having a Willie Dunn-designed course in a town the size of Algona is a bit unusual. Dunn’s course designs from that era tend to show up more often in larger cities, so Eagle Hills’ pedigree is a point of quiet local pride among golfers who know the course’s history.
Course Layout
Eagle Hills is a 9-hole course playing to a par of 36 and stretching 2,938 yards from the longest tees, with winter rye fairways, bent grass greens, and a mix of water hazards and bunkers to keep things interesting. It’s a manageable course for an afternoon round rather than an all-day outing, which fits its role as a community course more than a destination one, and a 9-hole layout means it’s realistic to fit a round in after work during the summer months.
Pro Shop & Tech
The club runs a full pro shop with club fittings and repairs, and it has invested in indoor simulator technology, including a RoboGolfPro swing trainer and GEARS 3D motion analysis, tools you might not expect at a 9-hole course in a town this size. That combination of an old-school course with modern practice tech is a bit of a surprise for newcomers, and it means golfers here have access to swing analysis tools that a lot of bigger-city courses don’t bother offering.
Membership
Eagle Hills is semi-private, meaning you don’t need to be a member to play. Visitors are welcome, so whether you want a season membership or just want to play a round while you’re in town, both are options. For exact membership rates and current tee times, calling the club directly is the best way to get current numbers, since rates and tee time availability shift by season.
Nearby & Related
If you’re exploring recreation options around Algona beyond golf, the Algona Family YMCA covers indoor fitness and swimming, and Ambrose A. Call State Park is the go-to for hiking and camping instead.
Good to Know
Good to KnowIf you mention “Algona Country Club” around town, most longtime residents will know exactly what you mean even though the official name is now Eagle Hills, so don’t be surprised if both names come up interchangeably.
Iowa Golf Association
Eagle Hills is a member club of the Iowa Golf Association, the state’s governing body for amateur golf, which connects the course to a wider network of Iowa golf events and handicap tracking for members who want to take the game more seriously than a casual weekend round.
For New Renters
If golf is part of your routine, it’s worth knowing Algona has a real, well-established course rather than needing to drive to a bigger town for a round, one more thing that makes a smaller town like this livable for people used to having more options nearby.
Tournaments and Events
Semi-private courses like Eagle Hills typically host member tournaments and open events throughout the golf season, alongside outings booked by local businesses or organizations. Checking with the pro shop directly is the best way to find out what’s scheduled for a given season, since tournament calendars shift from year to year.
Even for non-golfers, the course grounds add a bit of green space and open scenery to this part of Algona, and the clubhouse is sometimes available for private events or gatherings beyond just golf, worth asking about if you’re looking for a local venue.
Practice areas, including a putting green and driving range, are typically part of the grounds too, giving members a place to warm up or work on specific parts of their game without needing to play a full nine holes every visit.
Looking for a place to call home near everything Algona has to offer? See our available apartments or start your rental application today.