Few public golf courses in Iowa carry the history that Waveland does. Opened in 1901, it stands as one of the oldest municipal courses in the United States, a civic institution that has introduced the game to generations of Des Moines residents. The layout occupies a rolling, wooded tract on the city's west side, and its mature trees and natural terrain give it a character that many newer courses spend millions trying to manufacture.
The course plays through a landscape shaped by the glacial drift that defines central Iowa — gentle but meaningful elevation changes, firm fairways in dry summers, and enough strategic variety to reward repeat play. It's the kind of track where locals have logged hundreds of rounds and still find new angles to consider.
For a public fee, Waveland offers a genuine connection to golf's longer arc — not a modern amenity showcase, but a living piece of the city's recreational history. It has long been a benchmark for what a well-run municipal course can and should be.
