Mr. & Ms. Legislator - Your Constituent Needs Your Help!!!

Golf Courses need changes in their Property Taxes to survive. You can help by doing the following:  

  • The Iowa Legislature should define golf courses as Agricultural land, not commercial property, to reflect the original classification and usage of the land.

  • Alternatively, the Iowa Legislature should create a new classification for recreational Greenspace properties to better reflect the current usage of the land and to promote these types of activities and quality of life in Iowa .

  • The Iowa Legislature should set uniform standards for golf course assessing for County Assessors in Iowa to prevent vastly different assessments of the same properties amongst counties in Iowa .

Remember:  

  • Each Golf Course is a Small Business owner who employs a number of local people.

  • Each operation is an Economic Driver in its community; as hotels, restaurants, and other businesses gain measurable benefit from having golfers in the community.   

  • Each Golf Course is a Tourist Attraction – a destination location that complements and showcases the beauty of our state . 

  • Golf Courses provide the state with Recreational Greenspace, a desired commodity for attracting people to move to and stay in Iowa .

  • Golf courses both private and public, give a lot back to their communities.  Each course hosts a number of charitable fundraising outings that they give the use of the golf course for each year.  In addition, many courses allow the local high school golf teams to use their facilities at no cost or a greatly reduced cost.

  • Iowa Leads The Nation in Golf Course per capita and has some of the Nation’s most affordable green fees . 

  • Primarily, property taxes are the Largest Expense next to labor at courses. 

  • Golf Courses only have six months each year to generate revenue, but pay property taxes 12 months out of the year.  These businesses cannot survive without your help!

  • By passing this one issue, you can help small business, enhance economic development, promote tourism, encourage use of recreational greenspace, and improve the Quality of Life in Iowa all with one swing!

  • Each owner/industry representative/member is your constituent AND VOTES!!!  

Iowa Golf Course Owners Association – www.iowagcoa.org - Dan Clark 515-485-4558