The Legacy Golf Club

Matt Manning didn't wander long from the fairways following his 1998 sale of Beaver Run Golf Course in Grimes. Instead, he purchased The Legacy Golf Club, a championship 18-hole public golf course in Norwalk, in 2002.

"I think the biggest thing for us is being family owned and operated," said Matt's son and Legacy's general manager, Travis Manning. His wife, Angie, and mother, Sharon, also work at the course, catering food and handling the books, respectively.

It is that family-oriented atmosphere of familiar faces that clients appreciate, as well as an experienced staff with a low rate of turnover, Travis said.

"Once you've done something, you know how you can make it better," he said, describing Legacy's various amenities: bentgrass fairways, a driving range with target greens, global positioning on all of its golf carts and a full pro shop.

In a typical season, Travis said, about 35,000 rounds of golf are played at Legacy, which was named by Golf Digest as one of "America's Best Places to Play" in 2008/2009. It was also ranked in 2008 as No. 2 in Golfweek's "Best Courses You Can Play in Iowa."

Legacy's largest professional event of the year, The Gateway Tour Championship, which attracts nearly 100 golfers aspiring to the PGA Tour, will be held Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

The Des Moines Business Record - August 17, 2009