DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines Police’s Bomb Squad Unit responded to Waveland Golf Course Thursday afternoon after a golfer found an improvised explosive device.

“We sent some officers out here. They were able to put eyes on it and definitely recognize that to be something suspicious and potentially dangerous. So, we evacuated the course,” Sgt. Paul Parizek, with the Des Moines Police Department, said.

Sgt. Parizek said that the bomb squad decided to detonate the IED rather than transport it.

“They suited up, went out there, confirmed that it was actually a device, it was a live device. So we figured the best course of action, rather than handle it, was to detonate it where it was,” Sgt. Parizek said.

Police say that the IED was located off the fairway and green near hole 8 of the golf course.

“It wasn’t along the fairway. It wasn’t on the green. It was off a ways. So you’d have to basically make a bad shot to go out there and see it,” Sgt. Parizek said.

Sgt. Parizek said the Des Moines Police Department will work with the ATF to investigate the bomb.

“We’re going to need to forensically examine that. The ATF will help us with that. They provide a great resource when we need those those high scientific values in the case like this,” Sgt. Parizek said.

Sgt. Parizek said that the police already have some theories on who may be responsible for the IED.

“One of the theories that we’re kicking around is that there might have been some kids messing around, maybe some adults messing around over the holiday, and left one behind. I mean, we see that it’s not uncommon, particularly this time of year, for people to try and make their own fireworks or to actually make, you know, these types of illegal devices and then try and detonate in somewhere where people weren’t at so they can see if they’re getting it right. So it’s there’s a whole bunch of theories, a lot of investigating left to do,” Sgt. Parizek said.

Jim O’Hare, a golfer who visited the course after it reopened Thursday evening, said that he was worried the course would be closed all night.

“I heard about it probably mid-afternoon. I saw a news report and we are playing a golf league here on Thursday nights that we’ve played in for years and years and years. So, we were a little concerned about whether the course was open and we called out here, and they said, come on out, we’re going to be reopening. So here we are,” O’Hare said.