Waveland Golf Course
About Waveland Golf Course
Waveland Golf Course is a municipally owned course in Des Moines with a history stretching back more than a century. The land was deeded to the Des Moines Park Department in 1894 by Fannie Mae Ingersoll, and the course, designed by Warren Dickson, was dedicated in 1901. It is counted among the oldest courses in the country and possibly the oldest municipal one.
Traces of the park's past remain visible: an elk paddock once stood in the northeast corner, trolley rail remnants survive near the parking lot entrance along University Avenue, and the foundation of the old caddie shack and maintenance building can be seen near the 14th tee. The Drake University Observatory, designed by John Wetherell, also stands on the grounds.
Read more
Many original greens, fairways and tee areas are still in play, though the 1960s MacVicar freeway project took nearly 25 acres from the park's south side, rerouting Golf Creek and prompting new holes and renumbering. The brick clubhouse was once the golf professional's home.
At a glance
- Access
- Public
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,603 yards
- Tees
- 6 tee boxes
- Course rating
- 71.2 / 126 slope
- Opened
- 1901
- Difficulty
- Harder than most
Scorecard
| Tee | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | Out | In | Total | Par | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Par | 4 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 36 | 72 | ||
| Handicap | 9 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 16 | |||||
| Blue | 365 | 153 | 585 | 371 | 325 | 355 | 503 | 182 | 393 | 243 | 366 | 570 | 152 | 328 | 481 | 460 | 365 | 406 | 3232 | 3371 | 6,603 | 72 | 71.2/126 |
| Blue/White Combo | 365 | 153 | 550 | 361 | 325 | 355 | 503 | 178 | 393 | 225 | 366 | 564 | 152 | 303 | 481 | 453 | 357 | 354 | 3183 | 3255 | 6,438 | 72 | 70.6/126 |
| White | 316 | 147 | 550 | 361 | 318 | 345 | 493 | 178 | 376 | 225 | 356 | 564 | 126 | 303 | 470 | 453 | 357 | 354 | 3084 | 3208 | 6,292 | 72 | 69.9/123 |
| White/Gold Combo | 316 | 147 | 486 | 301 | 318 | 345 | 493 | 137 | 376 | 133 | 356 | 508 | 126 | 298 | 470 | 340 | 265 | 354 | 2919 | 2850 | 5,769 | 72 | 67.5/118 |
| Gold | 313 | 142 | 486 | 301 | 285 | 296 | 483 | 137 | 376 | 133 | 298 | 508 | 115 | 298 | 411 | 340 | 265 | 318 | 2819 | 2686 | 5,505 | 72 | 66.3/114 |
| Red | 310 | 137 | 395 | 296 | 280 | 282 | 380 | 130 | 370 | 133 | 296 | 437 | 108 | 185 | 409 | 340 | 260 | 314 | 2580 | 2482 | 5,062 | 72 | 64.3/109 |
Tee and scorecard data retrieved from the USGA GHIN course database
Course handicap at Waveland Golf Course
How many strokes you get from each tee, by handicap index.
| Tee | Rating | Slope | 0 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 36 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | 71.2 | 126 | -1 | 5 | 10 | 16 | 22 | 27 | 33 | 39 |
| Blue/White Combo | 70.6 | 126 | -1 | 4 | 10 | 15 | 21 | 26 | 32 | 39 |
| White | 69.9 | 123 | -2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 31 | 37 |
| White/Gold Combo | 67.5 | 118 | -5 | 1 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 27 | 33 |
| Gold | 66.3 | 114 | -6 | -1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 31 |
| Red | 64.3 | 109 | -8 | -3 | 2 | 7 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 27 |
Work out your exact course handicap here, or calculate your handicap index.
Golf courses near Waveland Golf Course
- Urbandale Golf & Country ClubUrbandale · Private · 9 holes · 3.5 mi8.9
- Willow Creek Golf CourseWest Des Moines · Public · 18 holes · 5.1 mi6.7
- Glen Oaks Country Club IowaWest Des Moines · Private · 18 holes · 6.0 mi9.6
- Echo Valley Country ClubNorwalk · Private · 18 holes · 6.2 mi8.8
- Bright Grandview Golf CourseDes Moines · Public · 18 holes · 6.6 mi7.9
- Des Moines Golf and Country ClubWest Des Moines · Private · 18 holes · 6.7 mi9.4
- A.H. Blank Golf CourseDes Moines · Public · 18 holes · 6.8 mi7.3
- Woodland Hills Golf CourseDes Moines · Public · 18 holes · 6.8 mi9.6
Updated October 2026 · Best golf courses in Iowa ›
All golf courses in Des Moines ›