BETTENDORF, Iowa — A $50 million golf entertainment center is coming to Bettendorf.
Developers broke ground on Wednesday, Oct. 19 for the Iron Tee Golf facility, which will be located east of the TBK Bank Sports Complex.
40 acres of land have been cleared near the intersection of Middle Road and Forest Grove Drive for the complex.
The main development is a driving range with 58 climate-controlled bays, seating and TVs.
The complex will not only include a bar, restaurant, arcade and mini-golf, but also the "Hyperdeck VR" experience, which will use wind, temperature and moving floor platforms with VR technology.
On top of all of that, four 'multi-turf' sports fields will be built.
The project is the vision of Ryan Hintze, who owns Corn Belt Capital, a commercial development company.
“I was in my kitchen on a Sunday – I'm like ‘man, I wish I could be out playing golf right now,’" Hintze said. "So I searched the Internet and I found a smaller golf venue. I'm like, ‘why can't we have one of these here in the Quad Cities?’ It's a no-brainer with TBK.”
The City of Bettendorf is improving roads and utilities in the area to support the project, including several traffic circles, sewage and water mains.
“A facility like this certainly helps in tourism – and one of the big things that we're looking for is workers, right?" Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher said. "I think we have a people problem – we need people to move here. And you're much more apt to move someplace that you visited, found the people like we are here in the Quad Cities to be awesome, a low cost of living and great amenities like this.”
The Iron Tee Golf complex will also partner with First Tee Quad Cities, an organization that offers golf programs to youth.
"Much like our other program locations, this facility will also have a large First Tee classroom, where kids will learn all the ins and outs of golf," First Tee Quad Cities Executive Director Sara McLaughlin-Cross said. "But more importantly, we will be instilling confidence in them – to build their character and life skills.
The facility is "phase two" of the TBK Bank Sports Complex development. Future phases will include a large pedestrian bridge connecting to the Sports Complex.
In addition, the City of Bettendorf is also working with the Iowa Department of Transportation on a $48 million redevelopment of the I-80 interchange with Middle Road.
City officials say that improvement won't even start construction until as early as 2026.
Developers are hoping to complete Iron Tee Golf by late 2023.
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