The Ankeny Brief
Otter Creek. It's the only course we could confirm in Ankeny that takes the public, and the City of Ankeny owns it. It opened in 1982, and the renovated course reopened in June 2009 on a Paul Miller design with multiple tee boxes, bluegrass fairways and a lot of tall grass and mounding. The Iowa Golf Association named it its 2016 18-Hole Course of the Year.
A weekday walker pays $33 for 18 holes. Note that Otter Creek's weekend starts Friday: weekday rates are Monday to Thursday, weekend rates Friday to Sunday. Each row below shows weekday, then weekend.
Juniors are 18 and under. Seniors are 60 and up on the course's rate page, but 55 and up on the city's FAQ, so ask when you book if you're in that gap. Nine-hole senior and junior rates match the regular nine-hole prices. Renting clubs means leaving a license or credit card at the shop.
Book on ottercreekankeny.com or call 515-965-6464. Tee times open one week in advance, and cancelling takes a call at least 24 hours ahead. Thursday evenings go to leagues, and Tuesday evenings have leagues too, with open play still available. A few house rules catch first-timers:
The course is open seven days during the season, from 6:30 a.m. in summer until sundown; the rate page says 7:30 a.m. in spring and fall, the city's FAQ says 7. The double-ended range closes Tuesday mornings until noon. For lessons, ask the shop about PGA pro Tom Tays.
Maybe, so look first. In 2025 the course and range closed Nov. 19, on about a week's notice from the city, and we hadn't seen a 2026 date as of Nov. 1. The pro shop stayed open last winter Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., for gift certificates and gear. The most recent spring opening we could find a city notice for was March 31, in 2023.
The Tin Cup Bar & Grille in the clubhouse, known for the Otter Burger and homemade pizza. It's seasonal: its site says it runs through Sunday, Nov. 1 this year and returns in spring. Groups over six should reserve (20 is the cap), and the Pinnacle Club rooms handle larger parties.
No. Don't plan a round at either without a member.
A member club since 1962, with a 9-hole course, private pools and a clubhouse dining room. Membership questions go to the club.
Some golf directories still list it as daily-fee public. Its own site calls it extremely private and exclusive, and that's the source we'd trust.
If Otter Creek is booked, the wider Des Moines metro has more public courses. We haven't priced those here, so check with each course.
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Otter Creek Golf Course, at 4100 NE Otter Creek Drive, is the public course, owned by the City of Ankeny. Ankeny Golf and Country Club and Talons Golf are private.
Yes. It's owned by the City of Ankeny and open to everyone, with no membership required. It's an 18-hole, par 71 course that the Iowa Golf Association named its 2016 18-Hole Course of the Year.
On the course's rate page, 18 holes costs $33 walking or $51 with a cart Monday to Thursday, and $43 walking or $61 with a cart Friday to Sunday. Nine holes runs $23 to $42.
One week. Book through ottercreekankeny.com or call 515-965-6464, and cancel at least 24 hours ahead.
The date changes with the weather. In 2025 the course and driving range closed Nov. 19, and the city announced it about a week before. Call 515-965-6464 to check this year.
Yes. Ankeny Golf and Country Club, at 314 SW Irvinedale Drive, is a private club with a 9-hole course, pools and a clubhouse. For public play, Otter Creek is the option.
No. Some directories list it as public, but its own website describes it as a private, exclusive club.
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