The course, one of four municipals in the Iowa city, was converted from nine to 18 holes in 2000-2001—but because of persistent flood damage, the city is now thinking of reverting to a premier USGA 9-hole layout and adding a small par-3 “Academy Course” and driving range.

The city of Cedar Rapids, Iowa is thinking about turning back the clock when it comes to one of the four city municipal golf courses, reported television station KCRG.

Jones Park Golf Course was converted from nine to 18 holes back in 2000-2001, KCRG reported, but now, the city is thinking of undoing that expansion, because of the constant headache of repairing flood damage from nearby Prairie Creek.

Lisa Miller, the city’s Golf Superintendent, described a proposed plan to create a premier USGA 9-hole golf course, along with a small par-3 “Academy Course” and a driving range that Jones Park currently doesn’t have. That would allow room for more detailed golf instruction while cutting back on the room for the total number of holes, KCRG reported.

The estimate to convert to 9 holes and add an instruction center is just under $12,000, Miller said. That compares to the most recent estimate of more than $32,000 to repair flood damage this year by reseeding fairways and taking other corrective steps.

Flood damage to the course in 2008 was even more extensive and expensive to fix, KCRG reported.

When the Jones Park course was expanded 13 years ago, the thinking was that an occasional flood, every four or five years, would not create more than a temporary inconvenience, Miller added. But now, given a pattern that has even seen repeat floods causing damage in the same year, some golfers have approached the city suggesting the conversion to a nine-hole course, rather than continuing to subject Jones Park to constant repair after flooding.

Miller also noted that a recent trend in golfing is for more nine-hole rounds, to offer golfers a quicker and less expensive way to play.

The city of Cedar Rapids is planning to hold open houses, one held in the afternoon and another in the evening, on Wednesday, July 24^th, to explain the conversion idea to the public. The club’s golf staff will be on hand for the sessions to explain the concept and show proposed drawings of the new version of a 9-hole layout for Jones Park.

If the city reduces the number of holes at Jones Park, KPRG reported, the fairways closest to Prairie Creek would revert to their previous use as a flood plain.