University Libraries - Engineering Library

Join us on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025, as each College of Engineering department competes to design the best fairway for a mini golf design challenge!

See the final designs on Thursday afternoon in the Student Commons of the Seamans Center.

Teams are organized by department or organization with a deadline of Dec. 21, 2024, to register a team. Individuals can still be sign-up and put on a team until Feb. 1, 2025, by using the registration form on the bottom of this page.

Teams: 

• Up to 12 teams (fairways) in total.
  • Six fairways for each of the six departments.
    • Biomedical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
    • Individual sign-ups will be paired with others in their department to work together on the build.
  • Six additional teams for clubs and groups that are university-recognized and affiliated with the College of Engineering.
    • If you are affiliated with a club or team and would like to build a fairway, please email lib-engineering@uiowa.edu with your club name and team members. Space for teams is limited and on a first come, first served basis.

Build Requirements: 

• Fairways must be 8 feet by 2 feet, with all structures attached to the fairway.
• Design elements may not extend more than one foot beyond the edge of the fairway on any side, with no elevation maximum.
• Electronics or computer elements are allowed for design and aesthetic purposes, with only one power line.
• The teams will design the hole location, objects, interactive elements, and elevations along the fairway.
• During play:
  • The ball must always stay within the fairway.
  • The hole should be par 3.
  • There must be at least one human element of hitting the golf ball.
  • Groups can use materials from last year’s fairway but must have a different theme and can only reuse two design elements.
• Disassembly and Storage
  • Fairways must be easily transported to the Seamans Center Student Commons on the event day and stored for future use in August 2025.
  • There is no elevation limit when fully set up, but fairways must disassemble to a maximum height of 12 inches for storage.
  • The design should allow ALL elements to be removed so fairways can lay flat and be stacked.

Materials Provided: 

• Each team will be provided with (available for pick-up starting on Jan. 6 in the Machine Shop):
  • Wood base (8 feet by 2 feet)
  • 8 foot 2×2 board to be able to cut down
  • Turf (black in color)
  • For design elements and obstacles, access to scrap materials in both the Engineering Library and the Machine Shop on a first-come, first-serve basis
    • Any extra materials will be on the teams to provide.
  • The Machine Shop (G450 SC) will be open for Build Days throughout February so you’ll be able to pick up your materials and get expert help as needed.
    • Feb. 3–Feb. 26
      • M/W/F 11:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.
    • Feb. 18–Feb. 26
      • T/Th/S noon–6 p.m.
• We will be providing putters and golf balls the day of the event.

Judging:

• Judging will be both on technical and artistic elements.
• The judging grid will be on a 1-5 scale using the elements listed below.
  • Technical
    • All design elements are within the set parameters of the fairway
    • Well-constructed
    • The course can be reasonably completed as a par 3
    • Was the introduction within the time limit?
    • During play, ball stayed within the fairway
    • At least one human element of hitting the golf ball
  • Artistic
    • Overall design and theme
    • Aesthetically pleasing
    • Humor element
    • Surprise element
    • Creative use of everyday objects or elements

Awards:

• First, second, and third place  
• People’s Choice Award
  • Students, faculty, and staff get to cast a vote for their favorite the day of the event.

Thursday, Feb. 27 timeline:

• 9 a.m.–1 p.m.: Student Commons is open for build teams to set-up fairways
• 1 p.m.: All fairways to be in the Student Commons for judging
• 1:30 p.m.: Judging starts
• 2:30 p.m.: Public voting ends
• 3 p.m.: Announce winners
• 3:30–4 p.m.: Clean-up

All fairways will be saved and be brought out as part of the OnIowa! welcome event on Friday, Aug. 22.

The Engineering Open is sponsored by College of Engineering | Engineering Technology Center | NEXUS • KEEN • Lichtenberger Engineering Library

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact Kari Kozak in advance at lib-engineering@uiowa.edu.