Sunsets - The Day Coming to a Close

With wide open landscapes and the powerful sun of Iowa, sunsets provide great opportunities to capture unique hues of orange, yellow, and any other color in the rainbow. Combine these beautiful sunsets with other large objects and the picture can be superb.

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Lake Panorama Fireworks Show

The 4th of July weekend at Lake Panorama is filled with boating and fireworks. At night, all the boaters gather along Boulder Beach and the main basin to watch the grand firework show. With brilliant bursts of color up in the sky and boat lights bobbing up and down on the water, the firework show at Lake Panorama is a picturesque moment.

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Yale, Iowa 125th Firework Display

This past 4th of July, Yale, Iowa celebrated its 125th Birthday. The final celebration of the day was a great firework show at the ball diamond. These pictures were taken from highway four looking towards the beautiful display of fireworks and the town of Yale. There is nothing like capturing fireworks on film when you are not sure what blast of color the camera captured. Enjoy the beauty of the 4th of July in the United States of America.

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Winter Wonder Land

Iowa winter's can be out right cold and snowy, but with this comes the opportunity for some unique pictures of trees, houses, and farm buildings.

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Random Snap Shots

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Lake Panorama National Golf Course

Since it was developed in 1971, Lake Panorama National Golf Course has maintained its reputation as one of Iowa's most popular and formidable golf courses. The style of this magnificient golf course, coupled with its gentle undulation of lush, green fairways and strategically placed lakes creates a setting not typically found in west central Iowa. Below are pictures of key holes at Lake Panorama National Golf Course.

Hole #2

The second hole at Lake Panorama National is a short par 5 by today's standards that can be birdied. Measuring 475 yards from the white tees, the hole requires a drive that misses the two fairway bunkers on the left hand side of the fairway. From there, a 200 yard approach shot must carry the bunker guarding the green on the right hand side. This hole can be birdied by going for the green in two or laying back and hitting your wedge at the pin.

#1. View from the fairway just to the right of the bunkers that guard the left side of the fairway.

Hole #3

The third hole at Lake Panorama National Golf Course is a short downhill Par 3 with bunkers on both sides of the green. This short hole measures 161 yards from the tips, 150 yards from the yellow tees and just 140 yards from the red tees. Birdies can be made depending on the pin location and the wind that blows through the valley.

#1. The view of the green from tee box looking east towards the trees.

#2. A view from the right side of the tee box looking towards the green on this downhill Par 3.

3. A view from the front of the tee box during the fall.

4. A view from the front right side of the tee box during the fall.

Hole #4

The first of three long par 5's, this 560 yard hole is a three shot hole for even the big hitters. If your tee shot is long enough, the downhill slope will kick it forward. You still will be faced with a fairway wood into the landing area with a bunker guarding the left side. Be careful of club selection on this green that measures some 40 yards deep. Be sure to keep yourself below the pin for birdie opportunities because the green slopes from back to front. A 5 on the scorecard is a great score.

#1. A view at the green from the right side of the fairway about 175 yards out from the green.

Hole #6

Hole #6

The sixth hole at Lake Panorama National offers a decision off the tee box depending on what tee's you are playing. From the tips, the hole is a healthy 423 yards and requires a driver to reach the dog leg for a long to mid iron approach shot into the green. From the yellow tees, it measures only 334 yards. With that short yardage, some players are tempted to get as close to the green as possible with a driver while the smarter play is lay up at around 125 yards with a fairway wood or iron. From the shorter tees, the hole curves right to left more then a player thinks and with pines on the right side, curving the ball is ideal to land in the fairway. Once on the green, front pin locations are cupcakes compared to the back part of the green that features a hugh hill in the middle. Walking off this hole with a par is a good score.

#1. A view from behind the sixth looking towards the fairway.

Hole #7

The seventh hole at Lake Panorama National Golf Course is a challenging par 3 guarded by water on the right side of the green. Playing at 191 yards from the blues to 165 yards from the yellows and only 120 yards from the reds, club selection can range from a long iron to a short iron. The bailout area is left of the green to miss the pond but you will be faced with a difficult chip to a green that runs towards the water. Getting through this hole with a par is a good score.

#1. View of the seventh green from the red tee box. The tree on the right side can stop a tee shot from going into the water but the tree on the left can hinder a high pitch shot if the tee shot was pulled.

#2. A view over looking the pond towards the green with houses in the background.

3. A view looking towards the green over the pond during the fall.

4. The same view but with alittle Photo Shop done on the picture.

Hole #9

The ninth hole on the front nine at LPN offers golfers a choice off the tee. With a pond at the end of the fairway, the golfer can hit an iron off the tee or try to hit driver over the pond. Hitting driver over the pond requires a carry of over 260 yards but you are rewarded with a short pitch shot. Hitting an iron off the tee will require a shot over the pond to the green.

#1. A view looking over the ninth green towards the pond and fairway.

Hole #12

The 12th hole at Lake Panorama National is one of the most famous holes on the course. This lengthy Par 5 is known for its large oak tree guarding the lay up area. From the back tees, this hole measures 585 yards, 462 yards from the yellow tees, and 399 from the red tees. The tee shot must find the fairway between pine trees on the left and a water hazard on the right. Once in the fairway, you must decide if you are going to lay up or risk going over the large oak tree and water hazards that guard the fairway. The approach shot to the green can be severely downhill, flat, or an uphill lie depending on how much you want to challenge the lay up area. The green is guarded by three bunkers and has a number of swills that challenge your putting stroke.

#1. A view towards the green left of the oak tree. From here you would be facing a nice downhill lie off the rough into a green that is level with you. With the oak limbs above you, controlling your balls trajectory is an added plus.

2. A view from the right of the big oak tree.

3. The same view with alittle Photo Shop done on the picture.

Hole #14

The 14th hole comes after a tough stretch on the back nine and can be welcomed by many golfers. The hole measures 391 from the blue tees and 331 from the reds. The best shot off the tee box is a nice draw but anything in the fairway will be rewarded with a nice bounce to the left. A mid to short iron approach is needed to carry the two deep bunkers guarding the green on both sides. If uncertainty creeps into your mind on your approach, long is better than short. The green is contoured like many on this great golf course, but well struck shots will be rewarded. A par or even a birdie can be made before heading towards the tough 15th hole.

#1. A view looking towards the green from the left side of the fairway about 175 yards out from the green. Club selection is very important when trying to clear the deep bunkers in front of the greens.

Hole #15

The fifteen hole at Lake Panorama National is the hardest hole on the golf course and for good reason. The hole measures 389 yards from the blues, 354 yards from the yellow tees and only 300 yards from the forward tees. Distance is not a big issue on this hole but accuracy is. On the right side, out of bounds runs the whole length of the hole while pine trees guard the left side blocking shots to the green if you bale out to the left. Once in the fairway, you will have to thread you approach shot between two groups of trees over water that guards the front and left side of the green. Do not relax yet because the green features three tiers that run the length of the green making putting very difficult. If you are above the pin, you will be hoping for a two putt. This hole allows very few birdies along with some pars but mostly higher scores with all of its challenges.

#1. A view from behind the green.


#2. A view showing the undulation in the green and the space the player must thread his approach shot through the trees.



#3. Same view but with alittle Photo Shop done on the picture.


#4. Once again, a view from behind the green. A bunker even guards the right side of the green.


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Hole #16

The sixteenth hole is the last par 3 on the golf course and rewards proper club selection because the trees on the right side block the wind on the tee box while the green is open to the wind. The hole measures 179 yards from the blues, 167 yards from the yellows, and 151 from the forward tees. A large bunkers guard the front and right side of the green. Difficult pin locations are located on the front right side and the player should leave himself an uphill putt. With a good iron shot, birdies can be made along with a bunch of pars.

#1. A view behind the green looking towards the tee box and trees that guard the right side.


#2. The same view but with alittle Photo Shop done on the picture.