Opening in 2000, the Quad-Cities new Tournament Players Course (TPC) at Deere Run marks a commitment by the legendary equipment manufacturer John Deere.

For 25 years, the PGA Tour event has been played at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley.

As Friendship Farm, the 385 acres of wooded farmland and river-bluff property in Silvis that comprise Deere Run had been in the family of the late Patricia Hewitt, great-granddaughter of John Deere, and her late husband, former Deere chairman William Hewitt, for many years.

Designed by D.A. Weibring, three-time winner of the Quad-Cities' PGA event, the course is worked around a 5,000-year-old American Indian archaeological site. Working with Native Americans and archaeologists, club officials have located the Indian grounds, which, at the request of the Native Americans, will remain undisturbed and unidentified.

The club features a 28,000-square-foot clubhouse with a 150-seat dining room, a pro shop, and locker rooms.

A nine-year agreement places Deere, headquartered in Moline, as title sponsor of the tournament through 2006. The John Deere Classic will be covered live for television through at least 2002, reaching 95 million U.S. households and 210 million households worldwide in 140 countries.

The tournament generated $535,000 for local charities in 1998. This year's contributions still are being tallied.

The course is located a quarter-mile east of Interstate 88 and Colona Road in Silvis. For information on the tournament, call (309) 762-4653. The TPC at Deere Run phone is 796-1918.

There are plenty of public golf courses around the Quad-Cities. In fact, Golf Digest magazine ranks the Quad-Cities' public golf facilities second in the nation for metropolitan areas between 250,000 and 1 million residents, and 23rd out of 309 metro areas overall.

Here's where to test their ratings:

GOLF -18 holes

• Byron Hills -- Par 71, 6,017 yards -- Hillsdale Road, 2 miles east of Port Byron; (309) 523-2664 or (800) 523-9306
• Duck Creek -- Par 70, 5,662 yards -- Locust and Marlow Streets, Davenport; (319) 326-7824
• Emeis -- Par 72, 6,211 yards -- 4500 W. Central Park, Davenport; (319) 326-7825
• Gibson Woods -- Par 71, 6,220 yards -- U.S. 34, Monmouth Park, Monmouth; (309) 734-9968
• Glynn's Creek -- Par 72, 6,700 yards --19251 290th St., Long Grove, Iowa, near Scott County Park; (319) 285-6444
• Golfmohr -- Par 72, 6,338 yards --16724 Hubbard Road, East Moline, 2 miles east of Hampton; (309) 496-2434
• Hawthorne Ridge -- Par 72, 6,492 yards --Illinois 94, 2 miles south of Aledo; (309) 582-5641
• Hidden Hills --Par 70, 6,150 yards -- Interstate 80 and Middle Road, Bettendorf; (319) 332-5616
• Highland Springs -- Par 72, 6,500 yards -- 9500 35th St. W., Rock Island; (309) 787-5814
• Indian Bluff -- Par 70, 5,700 yards -- Indian Bluff Road, Milan, near Coal Valley; (309) 799-3868
• Maple Bluff -- Par 72, 6,186 yards -- U.S. 6, 1 mile east of Geneseo; (309) 944-5418
• Palmer Hills -- Par 71, 6,331 yards -- 2999 Middle Road, Bettendorf; (319) 332-8296
• Saukie -- Par 66, 4,939 yards -- 3101 38th St., Rock Island; (309) 788-2267

  GOLF - 9 holes

  • Country View -- Par 35 -- 2300 Avenue, Geneseo, south off Wolfe Road, 4 miles east of Colona; (309) 441-5272
  • Credit Island Park -- Par 34, 2,632 yards -- 2300 River Drive, Davenport; (319) 326-7820
  • Hillcrest Resort -- Par 30, 1,848 yards -- 16260 E. 350th St., Orion; (309) 526-8700
  • Olathea -- Par 36, 3,018 yards -- Off U.S. 67 near LeClaire, Iowa; (319) 289-4653
  • Red Dog Run -- Par 36, 3,044 yards -- 18215 12th Ave. N., East Moline; (309) 496-9355
  • Rustic Ridge -- Par 36, 3,120 yards -- 1151 E. Iowa, Eldridge, Iowa; (319) 285-8119
  • Sunrise -- Par 35, 2,880 yards -- 3947 Moencks Road, Bettendorf; (319) 332-6386
  • Valley Golf and Recreation -- Par 35, 2,640 yards -- 6364 Northwest Blvd., Davenport; (319) 391-4117
  • The Windmills -- Par 32, 2,100 yards -- Off U.S. 150, one mile northeast of Rio; (309) 872-5321

  GOLF - Driving ranges

  • Back 9, 2110 53rd St., Moline, 797-9567
  • Protential Golf Center, 2001 John Deere Road, Silvis, 792-5329
  • Sonny's Golf Range, 3511 Hickory Grove Road, Davenport, 388-0827
  • Top Hat Golf Center, 4701 60th St., Moline, 736-7729

  Bike trails

  • Great River Trail, Illinois -- This will be a 65-mile concrete-and-asphalt path from Sunset Marina to Mississippi Palisades Park, winding north and east along the Mississippi River through Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, Hampton, Rapids City, Port Byron, Cordova, Albany, Fulton, Thomson and Savanna. The trail is open from Rock Island to Hampton and from Albany to Thomson; almost all the remaining links are slated for completion by 2000. The trail also is to connect with the proposed Grand Illinois Trail, a 500-mile loop that will link the Quad-Cities, Galena, Rockford and Chicago; and the proposed American Discovery Trail, 6,000 miles of paths from California to Delaware. (309) 747-7800, 788-7800, or 793-6300
  • Ben Butterworth Parkway, Moline -- A portion of the Great River Trail that follows the Mississippi River from 25th Street east. The 2.2 mile path is a quality urban trail complete with three playgrounds, a marina, restaurants, two boat launches and a picnic area which connects with East Moline and Hampton paths for a total of about nine miles. (309) 797-0785.
  • Duck Creek Parkway -- Runs near Duck Creek from Emeis Park in western Davenport about 10 miles to Bettendorf.
  • Great River Trail, Iowa -- Begins at Credit Island, Davenport, and follows the Mississippi River east for 6 1/2 miles.
  • Kiwanis Bike-Jog Trail -- A 6.5-mile path along the Rock River from 7th to 60th streets, Moline.
  • Rock Island Arsenal Bike Path -- seven miles of flat, hard-surfaced path around and across Arsenal Island near the golf course and the Mississippi River, with a view of Davenport. Access via the Government and Arsenal bridges and the Rock Island Viaduct.
  • Rock Island Bike Path Ï Now open from Sunset Marina, 31st Avenue and the Mississippi River, past downtown Rock Island, much of it running atop the city levee. Expected to connect with Moline path and the Great River Trail.

  Ice skating

  • Quad City Sports Center -- Offers year-round Olympic-size ice-skating and soccer arenas. Skate rental, lessons, and public and private group sessions. 700 W. River Dr., Davenport. (319) 322-5220
  • Other winter ice-skating venues include Riverside Park Lagoon, Moline; the Longview Park rink, Rock Island; Sunset Park, Rock Island; Vanderveer Park, Davenport; Middle Park Lagoon, Bettendorf; and Scott County Park, north of Davenport. Skiing
    • Snowstar, 9500 126th St. W., Taylor Ridge. (309) 798-2666. Snowstar covers 17 acres and offers lighted slopes, ski lessons, and a full-service cafe and lounge. Hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, December through March.
    • Other ski areas within driving distance of the Quad-Cities are Sundown, Dubuque, Iowa; Chestnut Mountain, Galena, Ill.; and Devil's Head, Wis. Swimming
      • Bettendorf Middle Park Pool, 2407 Middle Road, Bettendorf, (319) 355-1022
      • Black Hawk College Aquatic Center, 34th Avenue and 60th Street, Moline. Call for indoor pool hours, (309) 796-1311, ext. 3302.
      • East Moline Municipal Pool (indoor), 4011 Archer Drive, East Moline, (309) 752-1624
      • Geneseo Community Park District Swimming Pool, 501 E. North St., (309) 944-3129
      • Hillcrest Resort, 1626 E. 350th St., Orion, (309) 526-8700
      • Kimberly Village Swimming Pool, 4044 Lille Ave., Davenport, (319) 391-2774
      • Middle Park Pool, 4500 Devil's Glen Road, Bettendorf, (319) 332-7565
      • Mel McKay Swimming Pool, 13th Avenue and 17th Street, Rock Island, (309) 793-1311
      • Moline Swimming Pool and Riverside RiverSlide, 3300 5th Ave., Moline, (309) 797-0788
      • Scott County Park Pool, Long Grove, Iowa, (319) 285-4968
      • Wacky Waters, off Interstate 80 at Northwest Boulevard, Davenport; offers water-park activities. (319) 388-9910 or (319) 985-2106.