In the summer of 2020, Randy Sikkema of Pella embarked on a journey: playing golf in all of Iowa’s 99 counties. He was just entering semi-retirement after decades as a certified public accountant. A lifelong golfer, he’d once had the goal of playing in all 50 states. With his free time opened up, he reframed his plan and decided to keep his travels closer to home. It was an excellent choice.
“It didn’t take long to realize I needed to write about my trips,” said Sikkema. “In addition to the wonderful golf courses, I saw just how much there is to see and do in this state. The landscape is beautiful, and I met so many ‘Iowa nice’ people everywhere I went. Pretty soon, what started as a golf book became an Iowa travel guide.”
The adventure officially began on Labor Day weekend of 2020 with a trip to Keosauqua in Van Buren County to play at the Riverview Country Club. Sikkema did have a bit of a head start, having played courses in 27 counties over the years. Still, it took a little over two years to hit all 99. On October 6, 2022, he hit the first tee at Spring Valley in Kossuth County, the last one on his list.
It would take another four years for the book to fully come together. On June 11, 2026, Golf 99: A Travel Guide to the State of Iowa was published through the Write Place. Organized by county, it documents 390 golf courses along with fun facts on local history, profiles of tourist destinations, and stories of the many people the author met along the way. There is even a ranking of his favorite Iowa pizza joints in the index.
Sikkema also served as the book’s main photographer, and nearly 2,500 of his photos can be found in the pages of Golf 99. That includes a photo of every county courthouse and Freedom Rock in the state. (For those who aren’t familiar, every Iowa county has a rock painted by artist Ray “Bubba” Sorenson with scenes that honor veterans. Sikkema made a point to visit each.)
“I hope everyone who picks up this book realizes just how much Iowa has to explore,” said Sikkema. “If they discover just one thing about this state by reading Golf 99 that they didn’t know before, I’ll be happy.”
His advice to travelers setting off on their own Iowa adventure?
“Take the two-lane roads. That’s where the beauty really shines.”
Golf 99: A Travel Guide to the State of Iowa is available for purchase on Amazon and BarnesandNoble.com.
Randy Sikkema grew up on a farm west of Morrison, Illinois. In 1978, he moved to Pella to attend Central College, where he met his wife, Tami. They have two children and four grandchildren. Sikkema spent his career in accounting, and many in Pella will recognize him as the Burgemeester from the annual Tulip Time festival.
