The Meadows at Dakota Dunes

Pros

• The remodel is beautiful with a great view.
• Natalie was an awesome bartender.
• The course is beautiful and well maintained.
• The staff are helpful and friendly.
• The golf course is excellent with top-notch service.
• The facility is neat, clean, and offers a great view.
• Pasta night features very good cuisine and personable staff.
• It's a wonderful place for gatherings and good food.
• The course is awesome and in amazing shape.
• The venue is perfect for weddings with stunning views and amazing food.
• The Fourth of July festivities are always excellent.
• The river setting and views along the course are outstanding.

Cons

• Sand flies made the course almost unplayable.
• The course is not marked at all: no tee boxes, markers, directions to the next tee, yardage signs, or cart electronics.
• The course is narrow, and fall leaves make it difficult.
• One cart had a low tire with bald tread throughout the back nine.
• The second cart started dying on the back nine, and the clubhouse did not respond to two calls.
• The beverage cart was missing during the second nine.
• The carts are among the worst in the area, despite renovations.
• The course was described as "blows," with staff who were rude and ignored when assistance was needed.
• The facility was very dirty.
• Staff were reportedly treated like expendable slaves by management.

Review

Dakota Dunes Country Club and its golf course come across as a remarkable blend of natural beauty, ambitious renovations, and a wide range of guest experiences. Many visitors are captivated by the setting: the course weaves through a residential neighborhood with sweeping Missouri River views, deer sightings, and the occasional bald eagle. The landscape and vistas alone make a lasting impression, and several reviews highlight how the scenery enhances a round of golf or a special event. Collectively, there is a sense that the property is a dynamic development - great potential with ongoing improvements that guests notice in various areas.

On the golf side, the course is frequently praised for its quality and challenge. Reviewers describe it as a solid, well-maintained track with greens that are varied and demanding, offering a different experience on each hole. The greens are often cited as the standout feature, with comments about their firmness and approachability depending on conditions. The layout is also described as scenic and enjoyable, with the river setting and surrounding trees adding to the atmosphere. A few players note that the course is quite narrow and requires accuracy off the tee, while others remark that in certain conditions it tests even accomplished golfers. There are also practical notes about some seasonal challenges - sand flies in certain conditions, and a reminder that fall leaves can complicate play. A small number of reviews mention being surprised by a lack of signage or markers in certain areas, which can affect pace of play or navigation.

The renovation activity spanning the club's buildings is a recurring theme. Guests consistently acknowledge that major improvements are underway, and that this ongoing work sometimes affects the overall experience. In particular, there are mentions of renovation work in progress within the clubhouse, as well as gaps in wayfinding around the golf course due to the absence of tee box markers, hole indicators, yardage signs, or signage directing players to the next tee. Some reviewers found this disorienting, especially during a rebuild phase, while others were primarily focused on the quality and upkeep of the greens and fairways themselves. A few practical frustrations arise, such as aging or underperforming carts and a beverage cart that didn't appear on a particular visit, but these concerns were balanced by overall praise for the course maintenance and layout.

Staff and service experiences are a study in contrast, with many reviews highlighting upbeat, friendly interactions, while a few paint a more challenging picture. Positive notes frequently mention excellent and attentive service from the team, including a bartender praised for her excellence, top-notch service on multiple visits, and friendly attitudes from staff in various venues around the property. The dining and banqueting teams are repeatedly recognized for going above and beyond: hosts and servers described as kind and accommodating, and the culinary offerings at events and the restaurant receiving enthusiastic praise. Yet there are notable exceptions where guests felt undervalued or neglected - reports of slow or unresponsive communication with the clubhouse, a lack of assistance when carts or beverages were needed, and some recommendations that management ought to address staff experiences to improve consistency. One guest even described encountering rude behavior and a general sense of being ignored when assistance was sought. Taken together, the sentiment is that service quality can be outstanding, but experiences can vary significantly by day and team.

Food, dining, and celebrations figure prominently in many reviews, underscoring the club's role as a social hub as well as a golf destination. The menu and kitchen staff receive frequent praise for quality and flavor. Specific dishes - pasta night offerings, ravioli, steak and chicken kabobs - are cited as standout meals, with guests noting that the preparation and presentation reflect care and high standards. The catering and banqueting side shines in several accounts, including weddings and private events. Guests describe elegant setups, breathtaking views for ceremonies and receptions, and a kitchen that consistently delivers during gatherings. In particular, the culinary team earns accolades for responsiveness, thoughtfulness toward guests with dietary needs, and the ability to adapt on the fly to ensure smooth events.

As a venue for weddings, special occasions, and group gatherings, the facility earns consistently strong marks. The space is described as beautiful and well-suited to celebrations, with a reception area that offers remarkable river views and a layout that can be configured to suit large groups. Reviews recount impressive experiences where staff were accommodating and proactive - helping plan, coordinating logistics, and ensuring things ran smoothly. One couple highlighted a responsive point person who ensured the reception met their expectations and resolved issues promptly. The property's ability to host large gatherings - ranging from intimate weddings to Scouts' merit badge events - appears to be a key strength, aided by the scenery, the well-kept grounds, and the multiple on-site amenities like the health club and dining venues.

Overall, the Dakota Dunes experience is a mosaic of beauty, sporting challenge, and sociable hospitality, colored by the realities of ongoing renovation and the occasional service inconsistency. For many, the course and its setting offer a memorable retreat that blends golf with social occasions and remarkable river views. For others, the experience depends on the day, the staff on duty, and how well renovations are integrated into the guest experience. What remains clear across reviews is a strong sense of the property's potential: a beautiful, well-located golf course and event venue that can be exceptional when the team is aligned, the renovations are harmonized with guest needs, and the staff deliver the high level of service that many guests have come to expect.

Physicians

• Siouxland Urology Center (0.5 miles)
• Cnos (0.6 miles)
• Bruening Eye Specialists (0.6 miles)
• Ear Nose and Throat Consultants and Hearing Services PLC (0.6 miles)
• Siouxland Pain Clinic (0.6 miles)
• ENT Consultants (0.6 miles)
• Setliff Sinus Institute (0.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Siouxland Surgery Center (0.6 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center (4.4 miles)
• St Luke's Regional Medical Center (4.8 miles)
• Northwest Iowa Hospital Corporation (4.8 miles)
• St Luke's Labor And Delivery (4.8 miles)
• MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center (4.8 miles)
• Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City (4.8 miles)

Pharmacies

• Dunes Family Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
• Thompson Dean Drug (3.9 miles)
• Walgreens (4.1 miles)
• Shopko Pharmacy (4.3 miles)

Places of Worship

• The Ark United Methodist Church (1.8 miles)
• Crosspointe Church (3 miles)
• St Boniface Church (3.9 miles)
• Cathedral of the Epiphany (4.5 miles)
• The Of Church Of Christ Latter-Day St (4.7 miles)
• St Thomas Orthodox Church (4.8 miles)
• Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (4.9 miles)

Restaurants

• Billy Boy Drive-Thru (1.9 miles)
• Taco John's (1.9 miles)
• McDonald's (2 miles)
• Lupitas Tacos (2 miles)
• Harveys (2 miles)
• Glass Slipper (2.2 miles)
• Beano and Sherry's Casino's (2.2 miles)

Cafes

• High Ground Cafe and Espresso Bar (2 miles)
• Pierce Street Coffee Works (4.7 miles)
• Jitters (5 miles)

Parks

• Centennial Park (2.2 miles)
• Ferrari Park (3.5 miles)
• Elk Point Overlook (4.2 miles)
• Scenic Park Playground (4.5 miles)

Transportation

• Siouxland Taxi & Limousine Service (4.1 miles)

Theaters

• The Sioux City Orpheum (4.6 miles)
• Promenade Cinema 14 (4.9 miles)