Des Moines Golf Trip Planning Guide
Des Moines has quietly become one of the Midwest's best food and drink cities, with the East Village and Court Avenue districts rivaling cities twice its size. The golf is sneaky good — Waveland is the second-oldest public course west of the Mississippi, and several newer designs offer championship-caliber golf at Iowa prices.
Quick Facts
Spring, Summer, Fall
DSM (10 min drive)
$22–$99
$300/night
4 of 5
~$277/person
Sample 3-Day Itinerary
Here's a realistic 3-day itinerary for a group golf trip to Des Moines. Every venue below is real and pulled from our curated database — no filler.
Day 1
Tournament Club of Iowa — parkland, $59–$99 · 4.4★
Arnold Palmer design and former Korn Ferry Tour host — the best public course in Iowa with tournament-level conditioning
801 Chophouse — steakhouse, $$$$
Des Moines' best steakhouse — dry-aged prime beef, private dining room, and a power-dinner atmosphere
Exile Brewing Company — brewpub
Des Moines' flagship brewery — great IPAs in a sprawling industrial taproom with games
Day 2
Jester Park Golf Course — parkland, $29–$49 · 4.4★
Polk County course along Saylorville Lake — scenic water views and a great practice facility
Court Avenue District Bar Crawl — 2-3 hours, $20–$40/pp
Walk Court Ave and East Village hitting Exile, Hessen Haus, Fong's, and more — all walkable
Fong's Pizza — casual, $
Chinese-pizza fusion in a former Chinese restaurant — crab rangoon pizza is the move, and the bar is excellent
Hessen Haus — sports bar · Open late
German beer hall with boot-drinking challenges and live music — the most fun group bar in DSM
Day 3
Otter Creek Golf Course — parkland, $32–$55 · 4.3★
Ankeny municipal that plays way above its price point — rolling terrain with well-maintained greens
Adventureland Park — half day, $40–$55/pp
Iowa's amusement park — roller coasters, go-karts, and group-friendly fun 15 min from downtown
Harbinger — farm to-table, $$$
James Beard-nominated seasonal tasting menus — the best fine dining in Iowa by a wide margin
Hello, Marjorie — cocktail · Open late
East Village craft cocktail bar — inventive drinks in a stylish, intimate space
Course-by-Course Guide
Des Moines has 5 courses worth playing. 4 are walkable if you want to save on cart fees.
Where to Stay
Des Moines has 2 group-friendly lodging options in our database, starting at $300/night for the whole house. Several options include hot tubs — a non-negotiable for most groups.
$400–$1200 /night
Sherman Hill and Beaverdale neighborhoods
$300–$800 /night
East Village and Drake neighborhood
Group Dining Guide
4 restaurants vetted for group golf trips. Several can handle large parties without a reservation headache.
801 Chophouse
$$$$Des Moines' best steakhouse — dry-aged prime beef, private dining room, and a power-dinner atmosphere
Fong's Pizza
$Chinese-pizza fusion in a former Chinese restaurant — crab rangoon pizza is the move, and the bar is excellent
Harbinger
$$$James Beard-nominated seasonal tasting menus — the best fine dining in Iowa by a wide margin
Smokey Row Coffee & Kitchen
$All-day cafe and brunch spot — biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and great coffee
Nightlife
4 bars curated for groups. 3 stay open past midnight.
Exile Brewing Company
Des Moines' flagship brewery — great IPAs in a sprawling industrial taproom with games
Hessen Haus
Late nightGerman beer hall with boot-drinking challenges and live music — the most fun group bar in DSM
Hello, Marjorie
Late nightEast Village craft cocktail bar — inventive drinks in a stylish, intimate space
Lefty's Live Music
Late nightDive bar with live music and cheap drinks — the late-night anchor of the Court Avenue scene
Activities Beyond Golf
4 off-course activities for rest days or afternoons.
Court Avenue District Bar Crawl
Walk Court Ave and East Village hitting Exile, Hessen Haus, Fong's, and more — all walkable
Adventureland Park
Iowa's amusement park — roller coasters, go-karts, and group-friendly fun 15 min from downtown
Saylorville Lake Boating
Pontoon rental on the big reservoir north of town — swimming, fishing, and lake cruising
Jasper Winery Tasting
Urban winery with live music on the patio — right in Des Moines with a great outdoor atmosphere
Getting There
Fly into Des Moines International Airport (DSM) — it's a 10-minute drive to Des Moines. For groups of 8+, consider booking a shuttle or party bus from the airport (local providers include Des Moines Party Bus and Iowa Party Express). Renting two SUVs usually works for groups of 4-8.