Public

Waveland Municipal Course

Waveland Municipal Golf Club

Des Moines, IA, USA
Jackson K
mearney
Jono
dbodin
mikevicente
+19
18 holesPar 726,544 yds71.2/124

About this course

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.

Rankings

Ranked by CV ratings from golfers who've played this course. Positions are shown worldwide, by country, and by state; the Public column compares courses anyone can play.

3400

Best in World

3160

Best in USA

25

Best in IA

Quick facts

Location
Des Moines, IA, USA
Access
Public
Year built
1901
Holes
18
Par
72
Length
6,544 yards
Difficulty
71.2/124
Course Vaults score
6.6

Getting there

Des Moines International Airport sits just minutes from Waveland Municipal Golf Club, making this a remarkably straightforward arrival for a course of such quiet historical significance. The drive northwest from the terminal traces the city's western edge, passing through established residential neighborhoods before the landscape opens to reveal the rolling, tree-lined fairways tucked into the heart of Des Moines proper. What strikes most visitors is the seamlessness of the approach - no winding country roads or dramatic transitions, just the understated grace of a golden-age municipal layout emerging from the urban fabric, as accessible today as when it first welcomed the public nearly a century ago.

FAQ

Common questions about Waveland Municipal

Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.

Waveland Municipal has a Course Vaults score of 6.6 out of 10 based on 24 logged golfers.

Waveland Municipal was designed by Warren Dickenson.

Yes. Waveland Municipal is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.

Par at Waveland Municipal is 72.

Waveland Municipal plays 6,544 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.

The slope rating at Waveland Municipal is 124.

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