Ankeny Golf & Country Club

Ankeny Golf & Country Club sits in Ankeny, a northern suburb of Des Moines in central Iowa. The course was designed by Leo Johnson, a Midwestern architect active primarily in the mid-twentieth century who worked on several courses across Iowa and neighboring states. The layout reflects the period's design sensibilities, with tree-lined fairways and modest elevation changes characteristic of courses built on Iowa's gently rolling prairie terrain. The course serves as the centerpiece of a traditional country club that has been part of the Ankeny community for decades. As the town has grown from a small railroad stop into a residential suburb, the club has maintained its role as a local gathering place. The layout accommodates golfers of varying abilities, with a routing that works within the natural contours of the land and incorporates mature trees that frame holes and define playing corridors. Ankeny Golf & Country Club functions primarily as a member-focused facility, offering the typical amenities of a Midwestern country club including dining and social activities alongside golf. The course provides a straightforward test of golf without severe hazards or dramatic features, emphasizing accuracy and course management over length. It represents the kind of community-oriented club common throughout Iowa, where golf is integrated into the broader social fabric of suburban life.