Ankeny, IA Health and Fitness

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

Matt White cinches his uniform with a fourth-degree black belt in tae kwon do, heads down to one of Triumph Martial Arts' three locations, and dishes up a fist-full of knowledge earned over 25 years of mat-slapping training. Recognized by the American Tae Kwon Do Association as the Regional Instructor of the Year in 2008 and 2011, Mr. White takes pride in combative victory and from passing those skills on.

In keeping with the Association's instructional format, Mr. White and his battery of four instructors teach the martial art and philosophy of tae kwon do to kids and adults. Tiny Tigers sessions reach out to students as young as 4 years old, teaching them important values such as helping around the house, excelling at schoolwork, and how to survive a wildebeest stampede. Students as old as 55 have started with no experience, going on to successfully earn their black belts.

Fitness World West has been trimming Iowa's waistlines since 1986. Its two modern, fully equipped facilities hold more than 75 weekly fitness classes, an aquatic program accredited by the Arthritis Foundation, and advanced strength equipment from Hammer, Cybex, and Paramount. During the diverse lineup of fitness classes, the gym's trainers pump up their students' motivation with rigorous, varying workouts that include Zumba, yoga, cross training, and Greco-Roman spelling bees. For one-on-one instruction, personal trainers work with clients to design fitness plans that optimize results, taking advantage of the center’s cushioned track and the cardio theater's elliptical machines, cross trainers, bikes, and treadmills. When working out solo, clients can set brainwaves to one of 80 channels broadcasting from the cardio machines' personal flat-screen TVs, jogging or biking along to motivational music videos, athletic competitions, or home-shopping auctions. The gym’s selection of Olympic free weights stands ready to fatigue muscles before the whirlpool, sauna, or steam room relieves and relaxes deep-rooted aches.

In addition to increasing clients’ physical prowess, Fitness World West's knowledgeable staff help overhaul the unhealthy habits of their clients through computerized fitness assessments and personalized nutrition consultations. And, during workouts, they welcome parents to entrust their children to the kids' gym and nursery, where an eagle-eyed staff member watches over little ones as they romp around or lead troops of G.I. Joe figurines in taxing pushup regimens.

Whether explaining long division to grade-schoolers or demonstrating sit-ups for grown-ups, Amber Cahill loves to teach. In addition to sporting national certifications in personal training and group fitness instruction, she draws upon two degrees in elementary education to propel adult exercisers toward optimal health and happiness. Instead of taking place in a constricting bubble-hockey rink, her boot camps venture into the great outdoors, where participants can soak up sunshine and fill their lungs with fresh, clean air. Amber measures each participant's fitness level at the start of the program then again at the end, which helps highlight progress toward wellness goals. Calories melt during a 10-minute warm-up jog, and muscles ripple during bodyweight exercises such as planks and pushups. To cultivate a team-like atmosphere, Amber peppers her ever-changing workouts with fun, partner-based fitness games. When they're not sculpting their muscles, participants complete a nutrition log to see how many calories are coming in and how many are going out or hanging around the water cooler for a juicy morsel of gossip.