Getting To Know: Finkbine Golf Course By Brian Weis

Getting To Know: Finkbine Golf Course

An Insightful Interview With Jeff Moore, Director of Golf

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Jeff Moore who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Finkbine Golf Course is the University of Iowa Department of Athletics championship golf course and is home to the Men's and Women's Collegiate Teams. Named for W.O. Finkbine, who donated the land to The University of Iowa, this scenic golf course, from the championship tee, stretches over 7,200 yards of rolling Iowa terrain, and plays to a par 72 with a USGA course rating of 74.6 and slope rating of 134. Finkbine has been the home to numerous NCAA tournaments plus the Amana VIP Classic, and 1991 Hogan Tour, and 1992 and 1993 Nike Tour Hawkeye Classic tournaments. More recently, the course has hosted the 2010 Iowa State Women's Amateur, 2013 Iowa Match Play and 2014 Iowa State Men's Amateur.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Finkbine offers the best conditioned course in town. Our lush fairways and smooth, quick greens make the course a challenge for all golfers. The park-like setting with undulating fairways and trees make this a great setting for golf.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Be below the hole on most greens because they slope moderately to severely back to front.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Ranked top 25 college courses in 2011 and 2012 by Golfweek magazine.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
Hole 13 is a downhill par 3 with water in front and behind. What makes the hole unique is we have two greens to use for play. When people think of our course they think of 13.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
Favorite hole is number 14 because of the view from the tee to a downhill fairway that slopes back up the hill. Take an extra club or two for your second shot because it plays severely uphill.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
On select days we will grill burgers and enjoy one of our seasonal beers like Summer Shandy or Amber Bock on tap.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
Current Iowa golf Steve Ihm shot 11-under 61 during practice with the team in 2013.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7239
Slope: 134
Rating: 74.6

More Information
Finkbine Golf Course
1380 Melrose Ave
Iowa City, IA, 52246
319-335-9556
www.finkbine.com

Revised: 05/05/2014 - Article Viewed 33,340 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.

All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.

On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.