Grand View Golf Course

Grand View Golf Course sits on the south side of Des Moines, Iowa, occupying rolling terrain that overlooks the city and the Des Moines River valley. The course was designed by Tom Bendelow, the Scottish-born architect who laid out hundreds of courses across the American Midwest in the early twentieth century. Bendelow worked primarily for the A.G. Spalding sporting goods company and became known for creating functional, playable designs that fit modest municipal and daily-fee budgets. His routing work typically emphasized natural contours and straightforward hole corridors, making golf accessible to everyday players during the game's expansion era. The layout at Grand View reflects Bendelow's practical approach, with holes that move across varied elevation and take advantage of the property's topography. The course serves as a municipal facility for Des Moines residents and visitors, maintaining the democratic spirit of Bendelow's original vision. Tree-lined fairways and modest green complexes characterize the design, which has been updated over the decades to accommodate modern maintenance practices and play expectations while retaining its fundamental routing. Grand View operates as part of the Des Moines parks and recreation system, offering affordable golf in an urban setting. The course provides a straightforward test for golfers of varying abilities, with length and terrain presenting the primary challenges. Its location within the city limits makes it a convenient option for local play, and it continues to serve the community role that Bendelow's designs were intended to fill.