The Iowa Great Lakes Golf Resort has been recognized by John Deere Golf and the Van Wall Group, a Deere dealership, as a “Landmark Property.”

According to Benskin Developers Inc., the proposed 18-hole golf course and large-scale retail and residential development encompassing more than 500 acres on the south side of Spirit Lake is the only Iowa golf course community to make the Landmark list and is one of only 21 in the world to receive the designation.

“John Deere Golf’s Landmark Property designation sends a message about the caliber of this course and community to golfers and real estate buyers across the country,” said Alex Benskin, a partner in Des Moines-based Benskin Developers.

The designation is intended to underscore the quality of design and construction of the 18-hole championship course and its accompanying active lifestyle residential community.

Nicklaus Design, founded by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, is designing the 230-acre public daily-fee golf course, which will be managed by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Troon Golf LLC. Weitz Golf International will construct the course, clubhouse and an estimated 900 residential units. John Deere technology services and products will be used in the construction and maintenance of the course.

The developer is finalizing plans to construct in late summer or early fall a model complex consisting of a community clubhouse, four low-density single-story condominium homes and three detached patio homes.

Construction of the golf course is scheduled to begin in early 2010 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. The cost of the entire development, including 400,000 square feet of retail space, 40,000 square feet of convention-center space and one or two hotels, could top $400 million, the Business Record reported in January. At that time, Benskin said the golf course has the potential to generate $1.5 million in annual revenues.

Mark Stevens, Spirit Lake’s city administrator, said the property has been zoned for the project to move forward and the preparation of a master site plan and preliminary plat should be under way.

“That’s the next official stage of the process,” he said.