Lake Panorama National

Lake Panorama is a popular residential area for the boaters of Iowa, a demographic larger than one might imagine. A modest drive west from Des Moines will find the title lake and its resort. If you stay to the near end of the water body, you’ll find Lake Panorama National Golf Course on a peninsula surrounded on both ends by the lake. The public-access facility was designed by Richard Watson during 1971.

Although golfers won’t reach the shores during their round, there are a number of smaller yet equally dangerous bodies waiting to collect a mishit ball. Both nos. 5 and 15 exact a penal payment for those who have hit a wayward drive; although a pitch back to the fairway will be easy, anything beyond that will be near impossible. A wide pond sits at the front of both greens, meaning that even those who have hit the perfect drive will need to steel their nerves lest they top a ball in the wet.

A nine-hole short course is located a few minutes drive away, but also operated by the Lake Panorama resort.