
Wakonda Course
Wakonda Club


About this course
Wakonda Club, located in Des Moines, Iowa, was designed by William Langford and opened in 1922. Langford, a prominent Midwestern architect who often collaborated with Theodore Moreau, created a course that reflects the strategic design principles of the Golden Age. The layout occupies rolling terrain south of downtown Des Moines, taking advantage of natural elevation changes and wooded corridors that define many holes. The property's mature trees and varied topography provide both visual interest and strategic challenge throughout the round. The course features classic Langford characteristics, including well-bunkered greens with subtle contours, strategic fairway positioning, and holes that reward thoughtful play over pure power. The routing moves through changes in elevation that create a variety of approach shot angles and stances. Several holes play along or across natural drainage areas, adding both aesthetic appeal and strategic complexity. The greens typically feature the kind of understated movement that becomes more apparent with repeated play. Wakonda Club has served as a significant venue in Iowa golf, hosting numerous state championships and regional amateur events over its century of existence. The club maintains a traditional private club atmosphere, with a membership drawn largely from the Des Moines business and professional community. The clubhouse and grounds reflect the club's long history in the city, and the course has undergone periodic updates to preserve Langford's design intent while adapting to modern maintenance practices and playing expectations.
Rankings
Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Private column compares member-only and guest-restricted courses.
Best in World
Best in USA
Best in IA
Quick facts
- Location
- Des Moines, IA, USA
- Access
- Private
- Year built
- 1923
- Holes
- 18
- Designer
- William Langford
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,910 yards
- Difficulty
- 81/150
- Course Vaults score
- 8.4
Getting there
Des Moines International Airport sits just ten minutes from the gates of Wakonda Club, making this one of the most effortlessly accessible private clubs in the American Midwest. The brief drive northwest traces the city's western edge before slipping into the wooded residential enclave of West Des Moines, where the landscape softens into mature hardwoods and rolling terrain. Wakonda's discreet entrance reveals little from the road, but once through the gates, the transition is immediate - a serene, parkland sanctuary that feels a world removed from the state capital's downtown pulse, yet remains closer to a major airport than nearly any club of its caliber.

FAQ
Common questions about Wakonda
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Wakonda has a Course Vaults score of 8.4 out of 10 based on 34 logged golfers.
Wakonda was designed by William Langford.
Wakonda is listed as private on Course Vaults; guest access is typically restricted.
Par at Wakonda is 72.
Wakonda plays 6,910 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Wakonda is 150.


