
White/Red Course
Willow Creek Golf Course


About this course
Willow Creek Golf Course in West Des Moines features two eighteen-hole layouts, with the White and Red nines forming one of the possible combinations at this municipal facility. Designed by Dick Phelps, a regional architect active in the Midwest during the latter decades of the twentieth century, the course serves the western suburbs of the Des Moines metropolitan area. The property occupies terrain typical of central Iowa, with gentle rolling topography shaped by agricultural land conversion into recreational use. The White and Red combination offers golfers a straightforward test suited to a range of abilities. The routing likely incorporates the natural contours of the site, with fairways that move across modest elevation changes and greens that reflect Phelps's practical approach to municipal design. Water features and strategic bunkering provide definition and challenge without excessive penal elements, consistent with courses intended for high-volume public play. As a municipal facility, Willow Creek serves both residents and visitors seeking accessible golf in the Des Moines area. The course accommodates league play, casual rounds, and junior programs typical of community-oriented operations. The White/Red pairing provides variety when combined with the facility's other nine-hole options, allowing returning players to experience different hole sequences across multiple visits.
Quick facts
- Location
- West Des Moines, IA, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1961
- Designer
- Dick Phelps
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 71
- Length
- 6,190 yards
- Difficulty
- 69.2/120
Getting there
Most arrivals to Willow Creek Golf Course begin at Des Moines International Airport, a straightforward fifteen-minute drive to the west into the suburban edge of West Des Moines. The route follows I-235 and transitions onto local boulevards, passing through orderly residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors before the landscape opens slightly toward the course grounds. It's an accessible, unpretentious arrival - fitting for a municipal facility that has quietly earned its place in Iowa's public golf conversation without the fanfare of resort gates or winding estate drives.

FAQ
Common questions about White/Red at Willow Creek Golf Course
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
White/Red was designed by Dick Phelps.
Yes. White/Red at Willow Creek Golf Course is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at White/Red is 71.
White/Red plays 6,190 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at White/Red is 120.
White/Red is a 18-hole course.




