Airport: Little land, lotta golf

CEDAR RAPIDS -- The first thing you notice about Airport National Golf Course is the driving range. That's on purpose, by the way.

"One of our goals was to build the nicest driving range around," said Airport pro and co-founder Mark Lemon. "We figured out where that was going to go first. ... We committed to having one of the best driving ranges in the state and then build the rest of the facility."

That speaks to the heart of Airport National.

The course is the home of 27 holes -- an 18 and a 9 -- a fantastic driving range and a mini-golf course, Waterfall National. Plus -- big plus, in my book and I didn't know this -- the range and mini are lit until 10 p.m. Cedar Rapids' St. Andrews is the only other range with lights that I know of.

Yes, the main 18 holes measure only 4,040 yards from the white tees (the tips at Airport), but that's what an "executive" is, a course that demands a driver only on a handful of holes (I hit driver six times, which is more than enough right now).

Airport is 117 acres of wall-to-wall golf, except for the parking lot, of course.

Lemon opened Airport in 1993 with Greg Mason. About five years ago, Lemon bought out Mason in an "amicable divorce."

But, really, that's been one of the only departures. Charlie Pribble was the course superintendent for 10 years before retiring and handing the duties to longtime assistant Jason Grimm.

Matt Erger has been a pro and is listed as an owner on the score card.

A lot of the maintenance crew has been around for 10 to 15 years. They all eat lunch in the clubhouse every day.

Lemon estimated the course crew has put $750,000 to $1 million of "sweat equity" into Airport through the years.

"One of the reasons we're still growing and really doing well is our staff is very well-trained and tight," Lemon said. "Everybody understands it's our responsibility to make sure everybody has the best experience they can."

My group this week played behind and in front of a pair of father-son twosomes. We also said hello to a few older gents just finishing off the back-back nine as the high noon heat settled in.

Just before we teed off, a College Community district school bus showed up with a load of young golfers from Prairie's summer school golf class.

It's an inviting course for young golfers. Some of them stick around and make a career of it. Former Cedar Rapids Washington golfer Nick Miller did just that.

He started on the Airport course as a 12-year-old, worked there as a teenager and is turning pro this year, Lemon said.

"That's kind of our next generation of young people who'll make a big impact," Lemon said.

Maybe because Airport keeps the driver in the bag most of the time, I played well, shooting a 73, which is 10-over par. Let me be clear, it's ALWAYS fun shooting 73.

If you play

• What: Airport National Public Golf Course & Range
• Where: 3001 Wright Brothers Blvd. East, Cedar Rapids
• When: 7 a.m. to dusk Monday through Thursday; 6:30 a.m. to dusk Saturday and Sunday
• Tee times: Accepted for weekends and holidays but not necessary, (319) 848-4500 or online
• Fees: Adults, $15 for 9, $19 unlimited; seniors, $14 and $17; college, $14 unlimited; high school seniors and younger, $7 unlimited. Plus lots of daily specials. Carts $9 for 9 and $14 for 18 per person
• Extras: Driving range and miniature golf
• Online: www.airportnationalpublicgolf.com

The lowdown on Airport National

Toughest hole -- No. 7 is a 384-yard straight downhill par 4 with a pretty tricky approach, complicated by the pond behind and drainage channel to the left. But I've always thought No. 15 was confounding. It's only a 162-yard par 3, but the hole essentially consists of a tee box, a massive hill and a green that sits atop. Seriously, we're talking straight up. If you end up short, you better hope the crew didn't mow. The hardest part is club selection. How many do you need to club up? The 162 is usually a 7 or 8 iron. Facing this hill, I picked the 5. I hit right at the flag, but the ball skidded off the back and ended up in a tricky downhill position. I chipped close and made par.

On the extra nine, No. 20 is the toughest. It's a 480-yard par 5 -- the course's only par 5 -- with a bit of a chute off the tee and a hard dogleg right. The uphill approach adds to the degree of difficulty. I put a pitching wedge from 115 within 8 feet and birdied.

Easiest hole -- No. 18 is rated the easiest on the card, and it's straightforward -- a 264-yard par 4 -- with only a back-to-front slope on the green to add excitement. But in my mind, No. 16 is the easiest. After you come off the silo-like No. 15, you get an 83-yarder that shouldn't stress you too much. Short isn't great, but it's salvageable. Long isn't horrible. But it's a big enough green that you shouldn't sweat it. I three-putted after putting a sand wedge within 20 feet. My playing partner, Mark Jensen, dropped in a 5-foot birdie.

Overall impression -- Airport National has a motto that reads "fast, friendly & fun family golf." It's true, on all counts. We made it around 27 holes in just more than four hours. The kids who ran the register and concessions were terrific. I had three birdies. Birdies are way fun. And Airport is a great place for families. We saw two father-son twosomes. Kids got to drive the carts, even. I hope my son, Evel Knievel III, doesn't read that.