Bettendorf, Iowa · Eastern Iowa & Quad Cities
Palmer Hills Golf Course
William J. Spear routed it over rolling hills and old oaks, with a creek in play on 11 holes. The Iowa Golf Association's 2024 18-Hole Course of the Year.
- BettendorfLocation
- William J. Spear, ASGCAArchitect
About Palmer Hills Golf Course
Palmer Hills is Bettendorf's city course, a William J. Spear design from the 1970s on land the city bought from the David Palmer family in 1971. The name fits: it's hilly, with oaks the course puts at 100 years old, two ponds and a creek that comes into play on 11 holes. The map survey shows about 51 feet of elevation change, 34 bunkers, trees along 14 holes and nine doglegs, so it's more about placement than length at a little over 6,500 yards from the Blacks. Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data.
The city keeps working on it. Trees have come out to widen fairways, bunkers have been redone, and new tees have gone in at both ends. In 2018 a new par-3 13th replaced a blind tee shot on 14; it has two bunkers, a two-tiered green and a runoff area behind, and it's the hole newcomers remember. The greens roll around 11 on the Stimpmeter.
The Iowa Golf Association named it the state's 18-Hole Golf Course of the Year for 2024, and the Quad Cities Business Journal gave it a Best of the Region award in 2023. Next to the course is the Forge, an 18-hole all-grass putting course that runs the same speed as the real greens, plus a 30-tee range. Walkers can rent a pushcart for $3, and in a snowy winter the course becomes a cross-country ski trail.
It's one of 19 courses Yoink watches in the Eastern Iowa & Quad Cities area, and the closest alternative is Duck Creek, about 4 miles away — handy when your first choice is booked solid.
What it's like to play Palmer Hills Golf Course
There's real elevation change: some holes rise or fall about 51 feet from tee to green. Water comes into play on 11 of 18 holes, and you carry it on 9 of them. Keep the ball in front of you. A creek or river runs through the property and comes into play on 10 holes.
Course character from OpenStreetMap contributors' survey data (ODbL).
How to get a tee time at Palmer Hills Golf Course
Yoink
If Palmer Hills Golf Course looks full for the day you want, it usually isn't for long: groups drop, rounds get moved and times reopen at all hours.
Yoink checks the sheet for you. Set a watch for the date, window and group size you want, and you'll get a push notification as soon as a spot opens — then book it directly with Palmer Hills Golf Course.
- Pick Palmer Hills Golf Course in Yoink.
- Choose your day, time window and number of players.
- Get an alert when a matching tee time opens — then book it directly with the course.
Golf courses near Palmer Hills Golf Course
- Duck Creek · Davenport · 4 mi
- Hidden Hills Golf Course · 4 mi
- Pebble Creek Golf Club · Le Claire · 5 mi
- Red Hawk Golf Course · Davenport · 6 mi
- Emeis Golf Course · Davenport · 6 mi
All 19 Eastern Iowa & Quad Cities courses in Iowa · Iowa golf courses
Palmer Hills Golf Course FAQ
Where is Palmer Hills Golf Course?
Palmer Hills Golf Course is in Bettendorf, Iowa, in the Eastern Iowa & Quad Cities area — about 4 miles from Duck Creek.
Who designed Palmer Hills Golf Course?
Palmer Hills Golf Course was designed by William J. Spear, ASGCA.
Is Palmer Hills Golf Course open to the public?
Palmer Hills Golf Course is municipal (City of Bettendorf, Parks and Recreation).
Can you walk Palmer Hills Golf Course?
Pushcart rental $3.
How do I get a tee time at Palmer Hills Golf Course when it's booked up?
Set a watch for Palmer Hills Golf Course in Yoink with your date, time window and group size. Yoink monitors the course's tee sheet and alerts you the moment a matching time opens, including cancellations. You book directly with the course.
What golf courses are near Palmer Hills Golf Course?
Nearby options include Duck Creek, Hidden Hills Golf Course and Pebble Creek Golf Club. Yoink watches 19 courses in the Eastern Iowa & Quad Cities area.
Sources
Facts on this page come from these pages, checked 2026-09-28. Rates and booking rules change, so confirm with the course.
- bettendorf.org · official
- palmerhillsgolf.com · official
- palmerhillsgolf.com · official
- palmerhillsgolf.com · official
Never miss a tee time at Palmer Hills Golf Course
Yoink watches the tee sheet so you don't have to. When a time you want opens up, your phone buzzes — you book direct.