Jones Park Municipal Golf Course

I don't play the Cedar Rapids city courses very often. But, when I do, Jones Park has worked its way into becoming one of my favorites. But it wasn't always that way. It takes time to learn to play Jones, so I used to hate it. Now I enjoy the walkable, par 70 layout very much.

The Good: The price is only $19 to walk on a Friday afternoon! That is pretty much unbeatable. At just over 6000 yards and par 70, Jones is very walkable and the pace was fine. We played in about 3.5 hours.

The Average: The course conditions are average, which you'd expect on a city golf budget. The greens roll fairly true and the fairways are in good shape. But there are dead patches where carts drive or where water hazards have come out of their banks.

The not so good: The par 5 16th hole is truly one of the silliest holes I've ever played. At 526 yards, it's long enough, and you have to hit to a ribbon of a fairway. There are hazards left and right and a cart path all down the right. The 2nd shot is either a layup to 170 or a forced carry to inside 100 yards. It's just too hard for average golfers.

Overall Jones is a good value and as long as you accept that 16 is going to be dumb, it's a fun layout.