About Greenside - Official Podcast of the Iowa Golf Association
Greenside explores a wealth of topics surrounding the world of golf in Iowa and beyond. From Rules of Golf education to recaps with IGA Champions to anything golf related, we'll look to keep you entertained.
Golf 99: Discovering Iowa, One Golf Course at a Time
What started as a personal goal during the summer of 2020 became an extraordinary journey across Iowa.
In this episode, we talk with Randy Sikkema, of Pella, author of Golf 99: A Travel Guide to the State of Iowa Featuring All Its Golf Courses. Randy set out to play golf in all 99 Iowa counties, and along the way, his adventure grew into a remarkable project documenting all 390 golf courses in the state.
But Golf 99 is about much more than golf courses. As Randy traveled from county to county, he discovered the people, communities, landscapes, landmarks, and unexpected points of interest that make each part of Iowa unique. The book combines information about the state's golf courses with stories and observations from the road, photographs, and a look at the character of the communities he visited.
In our conversation, Randy talks about what inspired the journey, what he discovered while visiting all 99 counties, and what surprised him along the way. We also explore the sheer scope of researching and putting together an 852-page guide to Iowa's golf courses and the many places and people he encountered during the journey.
Whether you're a golfer looking for a new course to play or an Iowan looking for a reason to explore a part of the state you've never visited, Golf 99 offers a unique invitation: get out, travel Iowa, and discover what is waiting just around the next corner.
8 Jan 2026
Working for The King
Newton's Erik Larsen, Founder and Owner of Larsen Golf, joins the podcast to bring a unique perspective to golf course architecture and land planning. Larsen is also a former President of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.
For over 40 years, he’s honed his craft, not just running his own successful design business, but also serving as Arnold Palmer’s right hand at Arnold Palmer Design Company. While the “King” of golf rightfully commanded the spotlight, Larsen’s contribution, though often unseen, was instrumental in shaping some of the world’s most renowned courses.
Sit back and enjoy some stories from his past, Veenker Memorial and days as a caddie for an Iowa Amateur champion!
Larsen can be reached for more information at:
Phone: 904-631-7480 (tel:+19046317480)
Email: ErikLarsen@LarsenGolf.net (mailto:ErikLarsen@LarsenGolf.net)
8 Oct 2025
It's always cold in Mason City
Mason City's Joel Yunek joins the podcast to talk golf, the legal side of the world and traveling/playing golf in Ireland. Yunek admits he was never the best player but feels like he carved out a nice career, that's still going by the way, playing the game of golf. Sit back, grab a pint if you'd like and enjoy - it's been a while!
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 40 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
