I study the weather forecasts before I decide where to play, but the extended forecast says HOT for the whole state!!! I do not enjoy staying home when rain is not in the forecast. Kearney was the closest starting point remaining from Lincoln so into the "Golfing Nebraska" mobile on the road early to Kearney.
06/22/2016
Kearney CC is a relative short course at 6100 yards but quite hilly with small undulated greens and lots of tree lined fairways. The course is very well maintained with very scenic views. You have to be a good wedge player to score well.
Next Stop: Awarii Dunes at Axtell
Located just south of Kearney near Axtell is Awarii Dunes. It was designed after the links courses of Ireland that inspired the designer to find this property with many natural features needed for an Irish Dunes course. From the tips it plays 7000 yards with many sand bunkers and winding fairways. Large greens with many undulations and challenging putts makes for well placed approach shots. It is a must visit!!
Next Stop: Holdrege CC
Holdrege CC is a traditional tree lined Country Club with small flat greens and large old trees lining the rolling fairways. A creek meanders through 7 of the front nine holes and comes into play. The front nine has a unique layout with 3 consecutive par 5's ( holes 4-6 ) and finishes with par 3's back to back. The back nine is newer with larger greens and mounding.
Next Stop: Alma
Located near the Harlan County Reservoir on the Kansas border is the Alma Municipal Golf Course. The property is unique as it is shaped like a large plus sign, Fairly level fairways with a few trees and small elevated greens with one exception on the 5th hole with a kidney shaped green 12 yards wide and 50 yards long. It is proclaimed as the largest green in the state.
I stayed the night in Alma and will head to Oxford in the morning.
06/23/2016
West on Hwy 136 lies Oxford and the Cardinal Country Club. It was cut out of a hilly wooded terrain that leaves you with a few blind approach shots. The small domed green make a short putt almost impossible. Also the thick brush lines a dry creek bed that winds through the course.
Next Stop: Arapahoe
Arapahoe Golf Club is a gentle rolling hills layout with small to medium sized greens with thick rough and prairie grass on most holes beyond the rough. The par 5 second hole is an L shaped fairway around a large grove of trees and a waste area.
Next Stop: Cambridge
Cross Creek is picturesque layout that is 7200 yards from the championship tees that was the longest in the state when it was opened in 2001. Very well maintained with large elevated tiered greens and wide fairways with a finishing 6 holes that are very challenging. Well worth the visit!
Next Stop: Elwood
Located 5 miles north of Elwood just south of Johnson Lake is Lakeside CC. Among rolling hills and flat meadows it is unique in the fact that some greens are small and flat while others are large and tiered. Sand bunkers throughout the course and wide to narrow fairways make for a great golf experience.
Last Stop: Bertrand
My last stop of trip was to Bertrand and the Hi-Line Golf Course. The course turned 25 years old this year and is a very well maintained flat course with large elevated greens with mild sloping. Five of the greens have sand bunkers. As I was playing, several locals were practicing for their men's league but I noticed that the greens keeper had placed 4 of the pins so tight to the edges that an aggressive putt would fall off the green. A very easy walk and a fun course to play!
Score Card: 186 Courses Played
Miles Driven: 493
Total Miles since 7/21/2014: 8818
Miles Driven: 493
Total Miles since 7/21/2014: 8818
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