Waveland Municipal Golf Club

Waveland Municipal Golf Club sits on the west side of Des Moines, serving as one of the city's public golf facilities and a fixture of Iowa municipal golf since its opening in 1964. Warren Dickenson designed the course during an era when many American cities expanded their public golf offerings to meet growing demand from recreational players. The layout occupies gently rolling terrain typical of central Iowa, with mature tree-lined fairways that have developed character over six decades of play. The course measures modest by contemporary standards and reflects the design sensibilities of its time, emphasizing playability for a broad range of golfers rather than championship length or severe hazards. The routing works through established neighborhoods and parkland, with the property's natural contours creating elevation changes that add interest without imposing extreme difficulty. Water features and bunkers appear strategically but not excessively throughout the eighteen holes. Waveland functions as an accessible daily-fee facility within the Des Moines Parks and Recreation system, drawing local residents, junior golfers, and visitors seeking affordable golf in Iowa's capital city. The course maintains a straightforward, unpretentious character consistent with municipal golf operations across the Midwest. Its longevity and continued use speak to its role in the community as a practical venue for recreational play rather than a destination layout, providing generations of Des Moines golfers with a convenient place to learn and enjoy the game.