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.

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 the KEEN, Lichtenberger Engineering Library, College of Engineering | Engineering Technology Center, and NEXUS. 

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.