Jester Park Golf Course

Operated by Polk County Conservation, Jester Park Golf Course sits within one of the largest county park systems in Iowa, a sprawling natural area along the Saylorville Lake corridor northwest of Des Moines. The course shares its grounds with campgrounds, equestrian trails, and wildlife habitat — giving it a decidedly unhurried, outdoors-first atmosphere that sets it apart from the manicured resort mentality found elsewhere in the region.

Central Iowa's rolling glacial terrain shapes the playing experience here, with open fairways subject to the persistent prairie winds that can turn a manageable par 72 into something considerably more demanding. The landscape shifts between wooded corridors and exposed stretches, rewarding course management over raw power.

As a public county facility, Jester Park fills an important role in the Des Moines-area golf scene — an accessible, affordable option that draws everyone from beginners to regular-season regulars. It's the kind of place where the game feels genuinely democratic, more focused on a good afternoon outside than on handicap indexes or dress codes.