Public Golf In/Near Des Moines?

[dogolfer]

Headed up today for a round from Kansas City - any thoughts? Open to any recommendations - just unsure as to where to play.

As of now, debating Tournament Club of Iowa or Otter Creek.

Thanks in advance!

[canonlbp430]

I have heard Legacy is good in Norwalk as well. I have not played there.

[macedan]

> @canonlbp430 said:

> I have heard Legacy is good in Norwalk as well. I have not played there.

 

The legacy is excellent and usually very well maintained. I also enjoyed Otter Creek in Ankeny. Links style, lots of wind, water, and bunkers, also maintained fairly well.

 

Sidenote: anybody have any recommendations on which 18 to play at Beaver Creek?

 

 

[briggek8717]

Stay away from Beaver Creek. The layout is boring. Pretty much every hole on the original 18 runs parallel to the previous hole and are generally just straight. The newer 9 is short and very strange.

If you want to ride, you are best off playing TCI or Legacy. TCI will be more of a challenge and have the greens running faster. Legacy is more wide open and geared more to a casual golfer. If you want to walk, Jester is my go to course for that.

[macedan]

> @briggek8717 said:

> Stay away from Beaver Creek. The layout is boring. Pretty much every hole on the original 18 runs parallel to the previous hole and are generally just straight. The newer 9 is short and very strange.

> If you want to ride, you are best off playing TCI or Legacy. TCI will be more of a challenge and have the greens running faster. Legacy is more wide open and geared more to a casual golfer. If you want to walk, Jester is my go to course for that.

 

Ah, shame. I'll be visiting my brother and beavercreek was what I assumed he was thinking, but it nice to hear Jester Park is nice as I believe that is where we will be playing.

[darunia484]

I like Waveland as well (old muni with rolling hills) but yeah Jester and Legacy are very nice. TCI is too hard for me, lose too many balls ..

[pmang]

I just moved to Des Moines. Hopefully I can get out at these courses shortly before the snow flies.

Edited October 2, 2022 by pmang

[sleuth]

On 10/2/2022 at 2:58 PM, pmang said:

I just moved to Des Moines. Hopefully I can get out at these courses shortly before the snow flies.

Quick summary:

 

Top tier:

Otter Creek in Ankeny

Legacy in Norwalk - they actually try to enforce pace of play

TCI - hard track because the fairways are lined with red sticks on every hole. And the pace of play is the worst in the metro, unless you're one of the first groups off.

 

Second tier:

Waveland

Jester Park

Copper Creek

AH Blank

 

Bottom tier:

Essentially everything else.

[pmang]

2 hours ago, sleuth said:

Quick summary:

 

Top tier:

Otter Creek in Ankeny

Legacy in Norwalk - they actually try to enforce pace of play

TCI - hard track because the fairways are lined with red sticks on every hole. And the pace of play is the worst in the metro, unless you're one of the first groups off.

 

Second tier:

Waveland

Jester Park

Copper Creek

AH Blank

 

Bottom tier:

Essentially everything else.

I’m in West Des Moines. I was a member at Mason City Country Club before moving down here. The cost for private clubs here are 4 times the cost at MCCC. I’ll be playing public tracks here clearly. Thanks for your advice.

[sleuth]

3 hours ago, pmang said:

I’m in West Des Moines. I was a member at Mason City Country Club before moving down here. The cost for private clubs here are 4 times the cost at MCCC. I’ll be playing public tracks here clearly. Thanks for your advice.

Look into the city golf pass. It's very affordable and the pass can be used to play Jester Park, Waveland, AH Blank, and Grand View.

[darunia484]

On 10/19/2022 at 4:44 PM, sleuth said:

Quick summary:

 

Top tier:

Otter Creek in Ankeny

Legacy in Norwalk - they actually try to enforce pace of play

TCI - hard track because the fairways are lined with red sticks on every hole. And the pace of play is the worst in the metro, unless you're one of the first groups off.

 

Second tier:

Waveland

Jester Park

Copper Creek

AH Blank

 

Bottom tier:

Essentially everything else.

 

Agreed, I really like Otter Creek and Legacy, although both are a little tough to walk (Legacy more so with how far some of the holes are spaced out).

 

Jester and Waveland are fun, but not as good condition. I'd say Blank is a little worse condition, but nice open style fairways.  Beaver Creek is pretty nice I thought, maybe similar level to Jester and Waveland.

 

I have not played Copper Creek, Woodland Hills, Terrace Hills, or Toad Valley.