Sports in Altoona

Since 1964, Terrace Hills Golf Course has invited golfers of all abilities to send balls soaring between the trees lining each of its 18 fairways. Though relatively short at 6,421 yards from the back tees, plenty of hazards lurk throughout the terrain, ready to spoil any oncomer's overconfidence. Water confronts play on eight of the holes, including holes 3, 4, 12, and 13, where a stream snakes its way through the course and enervates golfers by forcing them to play "Marco Polo" with lost balls. Terrace Hills promises golfers a free round on their next visit if their rounds take longer than 4.5 hours when they have tee times on weekdays before 2 p.m. and weekends or holidays.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Total length of 6,421 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 68.8 from the back tees
• Course slope of 116 from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole

After selling his farm-equipment business in 1972, Dale W. Brady sought the counsel of his three sons to determine what should be done with the 200-acre plot of land originally used for testing out his new products. The three resolved to turn their land into a golf course. After a test green survived the winter and they earned the blessing of the region’s lawn-mower king, son Tom devised a layout from an aerial drawing and the team set to work, sculpting the rugged earth and opening the course in August 1973. A family-run enterprise ever since, the course bobs and weaves over 6,224 yards of rolling terrain that feature sparse tree lines, water hazards in play on five holes, and scenic views of the verdant landscape.

Since its relatively humble beginnings, Toad Valley Golf Course has grown to include a full-length driving range and the Field of Greens Mini Links, an 18-hole miniature-golf course that challenges players with realistic putting surfaces, including bunkers, water hazards, and contoured greens. The range’s grass tees offer practice on an organic surface similar to course conditions, and the putting surfaces emulate the tricky slopes of real greens and even include rough, sand traps, and water features that add to the scenery and allow putters to bob for wayward golf balls.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 71 course
• Length of 6,224 yards from the farthest tees
• Course rating of 69.1 from the farthest tees
• Slope rating of 114 from the farthest tees
• Four tee options
• Link to scorecard

Sleepy Hollow Sports Park sprawls over 80 acres of fields and slopes buzzing with a variety of year-round activities, from go-karts and bumper boats to downhill sledding. The team puts together four 5K races throughout the year: H20 Run, Sno Run, Mud Run, and Beer Run. During these meticulously constructed events, Sleepy Hollow will pit runners against manmade obstacles and natural obstacles.

Being an Iowa-based company, Sleepy Hollow supports more than 300 groups annually, providing funding for causes ranging from local schools to cancer research. The park also serves as the permanent residence of the annual Des Moines Renaissance Faire and Haunted Scream Park.

In addition to boasting years of firearms training and NRA certifications, Learn 2 Shoot Iowa's owners and instructors John McLaughlin and Frank Scaglione (a former law enforcement officer) can always tell you the weather. A well-rounded pair, each boasts achievements in the gun range as well as outside of it, which include working in the meteorology departments of TV stations, John's work with the Federal Aviation Administration, and Frank's ownership of an advertising agency. At Learn 2 Shoot Iowa, the pair brings knowledge culled from extensive firearms training to teach law-abiding adults the fundamentals of safely operating firearms. Together, they've created exclusive classes and private lessons to meet local students' needs and also teach official NRA courses for novices and experienced marksmen.

Ichi Bike’s technicians ensure smooth two-wheeled transport for bicyclists through a complete inventory of custom bicycles and parts, in addition to breathing life into bikes by way of comprehensive tune-ups. The team purveys new bikes as well as parts to keep their current set rolling smoothly, and these wares are available in the shop and Ichi Bike's online store. In the nonvirtual location, framed and unframed artwork hugs vivid, orange walls, and a steer skull imbues the establishment with a whimsical trace of Western décor, making it unnecessary to hang a photo of John Wayne falling off his first unicycle.

Brenton Skating Plaza's outdoor ice-skating rink is comprised of a 160'x60' sheet of ice that can hold up to 220 skaters. There, skaters—equipped with one of 450 pairs of skates available for rent—can cut lines through the ice in the open air, surrounded by all-glass boards. Throughout the season, which stretches from November to March, the rink hosts skating lessons, broomball games, and public skating.

When it first opened in 2008, the inventory at Kyle's Bikes aligned more closely with its name. The shop originally just housed gear for cyclists: bikes, helmets, and cycling apparel. But as its clientele and their needs grew, so did the merchandise on its walls and racks.

Today, Kyle's Bikes caters to more than just cyclists—it also accommodates runners and triathletes. In addition to cycles bearing brand names such as Jamis and Specialized, you'll also find Brooks, Asics, and Altra Zero Drop running shoes. Plus, technicians will also care for ailing bikes with tune-up and repair services if they're riding unsteadily or refusing to eat.