West Des Moines Gyms and Fitness

Studio owner Ryan Esdohr approaches power yoga with a background in sports medicine, leading invigorating and rejuvenating classes for all skill levels. As early as 5:30 a.m. on select mornings, Ryan gathers students in the heated studio space and guides them through a flowing sequence of powerful poses and invigorating transitions. The therapeutic heat loosens tightly wound limbs and spurs increased sweat, and the challenging workout leaves muscles feeling strong enough to squeeze magma out of a pumice stone.

Since opening in 2002, the course at Legacy Golf Club has collected a litany of regional and national awards thanks to an ingenious layout envisioned by Jeffrey D. Brauer, who claims a ranking in Golf Inc.’s 2010 list of the world’s highest-value course architects. Each player that tees up on the first hole peers into the abyss of Mr. Brauer’s delicate design, relying on precise control to avoid the Kentucky bluegrass roughs and water hazards that come into play on 14 holes¬—including all 9 on the back side. Those who succeed enjoy luxuriant lies on the bentgrass fairways, and earn the best chance of shooting the par of 72, not counting the illegal practice of using the club as a baseball bat. En route, they must slay the par 4 2nd hole, a downhill screamer with a dramatic approach over a 5-acre lake, as well as the par 3 14th and 17th holes, where matters are complicated by swirling winds. Before hanging up their golf gloves for the day, players must clear a final high hurdle in the 611-yard par 5 18th hole, where a large amphitheater-style green funnels well-placed approaches and echoes shouts of “Fore!”

Class A PGA Professional Rob Randall heads up Legacy Golf Club’s golf school, having claimed much recognition for his instructional prowess. He brings expertise earned over more than 20 years and some 20,000 golf lessons to his lessons at the practice facility, where bentgrass tees, six target greens, and TaylorMade practice balls lend veracity to practicing swings and juggling-based intimidation tactics.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 7,199 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 74.7 from the back tees
• Course slope of 137 from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole
• Scorecard

For more than 26 years, the fitness experts at Push Pedal Pull have shared their knowledge with customers purchasing new and used muscle-pumping equipment. The staff happily equips exercisers with brawn-building devices for home, commercial, and hovercraft-based gyms, such as treadmills, ellipticals, and free weights from brands including Precor, Everlast, and Spri. Push Pedal Pull’s refurbished selection of used equipment from health clubs and commercial fitness facilities rotates regularly, stocking workout rooms for discounted prices. Manufacturer-certified equipment technicians repair malfunctioning equipment according to manufacturer standards and stock spare parts in the store to speed up repairs so customers can return to running, lifting, and astrally projecting as soon as possible.

Countryside Golf Course's 18-hole layout takes golfers across 160 acres of bucolic, gently undulating Iowa countryside. The horticultural oasis challenges golfers from the moment they stake their tree slivers into the soil of the first tee box, which plays into a 574-yard par 5 featuring a subtle dogleg-right and a green guarded by sand and water on either side to form the course's hardest-rated hole. Water comes into play on seven holes—including six of the first nine holes—placing a high premium on precise approach shots and ties to Poseidon's family tree.

After traversing the Bent grass circuit astride a golf cart, which helps hunt down wayward drives while daydreaming about a dream job as a Mars rover, players can head toward the clubhouse for a post-round meal or drink. At the wooden u-shaped bar, guests can crack open a beer and refuel with hot dogs and sandwiches.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole course
• Bent grass fairways and greens
• Length of 6,366 yards from the farthest tees
• Three tee options
• Link to scorecard

Goals in Motion Fitness Studios challenges students of any fitness level to push the boundaries of their exercise comfort zones via supportive group classes and nutritional education. The 5,500-square-foot studio accommodates up to 70–80 students per class. The studio offers a variety of classes including strength-training, kickboxing, yoga, Zumba, circuit-training, and power 45 high-intensity workouts and the trainers include modification in each class to ensure each participant is always hot on the heels of their physical-possibilities frontier. For a longer-term challenge, students can enroll in a nine-week challenge program.

The Goals in Motion program imparts the value of a positive attitude while emphasizing a lifestyle of balanced eating with regulated carbs, lean protein, and healthy fats over short-term diet fads, and supplements. The founders of Goals In Motion, Mardi Pfannebecker and Sandy Hafner, strive to maintain the studio's family-like atmosphere and even work out among members. Both owners graduated from Iowa State University, Mardi with a degree in exercise science and Sandy with a degree in business.