Creek at Echo Valley Country Club

Echo Valley Country Club's Creek Course sits in Norwalk, a southern suburb of Des Moines in central Iowa. Larry Packard designed the layout, bringing his characteristic attention to strategic bunkering and green complexes to the gently rolling terrain typical of the region. Packard, who worked extensively throughout the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century, often incorporated natural water features and native grasses into his designs, and the Creek Course reflects this approach with its namesake waterway threading through the property.

The course occupies land that transitions between Iowa's agricultural plains and the more varied topography near the Des Moines River valley. Players encounter a mix of open holes that allow the wind to factor into club selection and more sheltered corridors where mature trees frame the fairways. The routing takes advantage of elevation changes that are modest but meaningful in this part of Iowa, providing variety in stance and perspective throughout the round.

Echo Valley serves as a daily-fee facility, making the Creek Course accessible to the broader Des Moines golfing community. The layout offers a straightforward test of golf without excessive length or artifice, relying instead on thoughtful hole design and the natural movement of the land. For golfers in the region, it represents a solid example of Packard's work and provides a playable course that rewards accuracy and course management over pure power.