Favorite Golf Course in DSM

[Bu4ISU]

Well, I don't know about you guys but I'm ready for spring!
I've been a member at Hyperion for around 7 years now, so I have my home roots/love for the course. Big fan of the challenging fairways/greens. Course is usually always in good shape except for beginning and the tailing end of the season. I've played tons of DSM area courses including (off the top of my head)Briarwood, Jester, Beaver Creek, Ankeny, Des Moines GC, Terrace Hills, Willow Creek, Woodland Hills and Glen Oaks. Glen Oaks being my favorite, Willow Creek being my least favorite
That being said, what are your favorite courses in DSM area? Throw your least favorite in there too to spice things up.

[TallKidIsTall]

not sure

[enisthemenace]

****...I just posted a long piece in the other thread...from my phone. I can't bring myself to write it again. Any way to merge??

[Bu4ISU]

****...I just posted a long piece in the other thread...from my phone. I can't bring myself to write it again. Any way to merge??

How do I do that.. I posted it in wrong forum

[Bu4ISU]

Notice you left off the 3 main public course in Des Moines...Waveland, Blank and Grandview. I play Waveland A LOT. Blank a couple times a year. Both are good courses. Waveland is the best of those though, IMO.

I played Hyperion for the first time last year. Once I made myself "believe" every green...no matter what it "looked" like was breaking away from the clubhouse, I didn't have any issues. It took 3 holes, and I was lucky to be on all three in regulation. Greens were very fast, but true. Shot well out there.


I like Legacy. It used to be the best "value" in the area, but they've jacked their prices over the last couple of seasons. Still a great course, but now you have to pay for it.


Least favorite course...hard to say. Toad Valley ranks right up there. It was great quite a number of years ago, but then they picked up their liquor license. You used to be able to bring your own booze on course, which made one of the worst tracks the best. Now...it'sjst a waste.


A little windy, but...favorites:


- Waveland
- Legacy (still have Coors Light tall boys for the price of a 12 oz Bud Light)
- Jester


Least favorite:


Toad Valley


There are quite a few in between.

I just listed the courses I've played. But agree with the Jester

[Cyclonic1]

It has been a few years but I always liked the greens @ DMG&CC

[im4cyclones]

The Legacy in Norwalk. And it isn't close.

Edit: For public courses. Wakonda is probably best overall in DSM area.

[capitalcityguy]

The Legacy in Norwalk. And it isn't close.

Edit: For public courses. Wakonda is probably best overall in DSM area.

Except Wakonda is private. I bet you meant Waveland.

[zwclones51]

I'm hoping to become a member at a course this summer. Anybody have any ideas? I'm looking for it to be decent price. I'm 24 and an average golfer but wanna hit the course more.

Open to suburbs of Des Moines as well as they may be cheaper. I really like Adels course.

[enisthemenace]

Except Wakonda is private. I bet you meant Waveland.

Pretty sure the "public course" edit was in reference to Legacy. Poster was saying Wakonda was the best DSM course (public or private).

[enisthemenace]

I'm hoping to become a member at a course this summer. Anybody have any ideas? I'm looking for it to be decent price. I'm 24 and an average golfer but wanna hit the course more.

Open to suburbs of Des Moines as well as they may be cheaper. I really like Adels course.

Speaking of Wakonda. You're at the age where a Junior membership is an option (pretty sure anyway). Last I heard, they were killing for new membership. You can probably get on pretty cheap there and by all accounts...great course.

[sunnysideup]

I would put Blank, Jester, and Copper Creek in my top 3. I'm a 95-100 stroke guy so places like Waveland are just a waste of time and golf balls for me. For me, Blank really offers everything I want. Decent challenge, a good mix of hazards, and usually has a good pace. For a guy like me Blank is open so I won't lose 15 balls a round yet still has some interesting holes.

Jester is the same in that regards. The only thing I don't like about Jester is the par 5 11th hole where unless you can hit 325 off of the tee you have to lay up at 150 yards before the shore of the pond.

Copper Creek is a great place to get a mixture of both worlds. The front eight holes are fairly wide open with just some sand here and there. At nine through most of the back you enter a heavily wooded area where accuracy is king. Wander off the fairway and you end up in the wooded deep ****. Like Waveland without the topography changes.

My worst. Toad Valley. Just an overall boring course with no sand traps. Every time I go there the greens are shoddy. Once a couple of years ago we went there and both holes 1 and 2 were closed and under repair. So we paid for 18 holes and only got to play 16. Did we get a discount? Nope.

[sunnysideup]

A special note. Woodland Hills north of Des Moines really pisses me off. Every green is a circle and the size of a dining room tabletop.

[WhatMeWorry]

Legacy is the best public course
Blank is great in the early and late season because the greens are very good those times of year compared to others.
Waveland is great up until the city tournament, then goes to pot. But on a windy day it's the best course on that particular day.
Jester is good when nothing else is open. Ok here and there for a change.
Tci is very good, but also the most unpredictable condition wise.

If you have some extra time, drive up to Honey Creek in Boone, or Veenker. Always a good time.

[WhatMeWorry]

Least favorite. DG&CC. Members at Des Moines do the best job at making guest feel unwelcome. Congratulations. And you might want to do something about that 1980's architecture.