
Red Course
Willow Creek Golf Course
About this course
Willow Creek Golf Course's Red nine forms part of a 27-hole facility in West Des Moines, designed by Dick Phelps. The course sits in the western suburbs of Iowa's capital region, where residential development meets the gently rolling terrain characteristic of central Iowa. Phelps, who designed numerous courses across the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century, worked within the area's natural topography to create layouts that balance accessibility with strategic interest. The Red nine reflects the design sensibilities common to Iowa parkland courses of its era, incorporating tree-lined fairways, modest elevation changes, and water features that come into play on several holes. The routing takes advantage of the property's natural drainage corridors and existing vegetation, creating definition and variety across the nine holes. Players encounter a mix of hole lengths and angles that require thoughtful club selection and course management. As part of a multi-nine facility, the Red course combines with Willow Creek's other nines to offer different 18-hole configurations, providing variety for regular members and visitors. The course serves both recreational golfers and competitive play within the West Des Moines community. Conditioning and playability reflect the maintenance standards typical of established Iowa golf facilities, where the growing season and weather patterns shape the course's character throughout the year.
Quick facts
- Location
- West Des Moines, IA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1961
- Designer
- Dick Phelps
- Holes
- 9
- Par
- 36
- Length
- 3,243 yards
- Difficulty
- 36.5/120
Getting there
Most visitors to Willow Creek Golf Course arrive through Des Moines International Airport, a straightforward gateway less than twenty minutes west of the city center. The drive from the terminal traces Interstate 35 south before slipping onto local roads that wind through the well-kept suburbs of West Des Moines, where the urban grid softens into tree-lined residential streets and quiet parkland. Within fifteen minutes of leaving the airport, the landscape opens to reveal Willow Creek's welcoming entrance, a transition so seamless it feels less like a destination reached and more like a natural extension of the city's green fabric.

FAQ
Common questions about Red at Willow Creek Golf Course
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Red was designed by Dick Phelps.
Yes. Red at Willow Creek Golf Course is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Red is 36.
Red plays 3,243 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Red is 120.
Red is a 9-hole course.




