09/12/2016
After an early start from Lincoln ( Kearney by 5:30am) , I was on the first tee at Oshkosh by 7:45 am ( Mountain Time)
Oshkosh CC is located within view of the southern bluffs of the Platte River Valley. The layout is made up of gentle rolling wide fairways and natural prairie rough. Pines are scattered throughout the rough lines with small to medium rolling elevated greens. A marker indicates Oregon Trail tracks on the 2nd fairway. When I finished the round, I met two charming ladies getting ready to play whom were very interested in what Golfing Nebraska was all about. They wished me well and I was on my way.
Next Stop: Chappell
Chappell Golf Club is located south of town next to Chappell Lake along side I-80. A well manicured course with elevated greens large greens with mounding and sand bunkers around most of the greens.Scattered pines line the fairways with water hazards on the 4th and 9th holes. A very nice clubhouse facility makes for a great golf experience.
Next Stop: Sidney
Hillside winds over and around the bluffs in southern Sidney. The hillside holes have narrow rolling fairways full up dips and undulations. Some holes lie between the bluffs with long narrow fairways. Most of the rough is native grass and sand rock. The greens are large with undulations and elevations and some mounding. The 10th tees from the clubhouse level to a drop of 30 feet to the fairway. A very scenic back nine with a 600 yard monster makes for a challenging finishing nine.
Next Stop: Potter
I will always remember Prairie Pines at Potter for a couple of reasons. It is my 200th course played in Nebraska and it is the only 7 hole course in the state. The greens are very well maintained and large with few breaks. The fairways are not irrigated and create a lot of roll. The toughest hole is the uphill par three 5th, 211 yards to an elevated green with some undulations making it a difficult par. Two short par 4's are driveable but have water hazards in front of the green. A fun course to play!
Next Stop: Kimball
I made good time all day and have time to play nine at Four Winds in Kimball. They are plugging the front nine so teed off on the back. Four Winds is locate south of Kimball near I-80. The course is lined with thick pines and thick brom grasses in the rough. Large undulated greens and well manicured fairways makes for a great course to play. Water comes into play on three holes. Worth a replay, right Don Z?
09/13/2016
An early morning drive from Kimball to Grant to play Pheasant Run Golf Club. The course is right next to Hwy 61 north of town. A fairly open course with sparse trees and rolling fairways with mid-sized greens with very little break. Two dry ponds are the only hazards on the course.
Next Stop: Imperial
Imperial CC lays on a flat terrain near the city park on the west end of town. Most of the fairways are straight with two doglegs. Small flat greens and wide manicured tree lined fairways makes a good tee ball a must.
Next Stop: Enders Lake
Located just south of Enders near Enders Lake state recreation area, this course is flat and short but the natural prairie rough makes a fairway tee shot necessary to score. Very few trees line the fairways, but the best defense for this course is the small greens and a ruthless greens keeper. Take note of the pictures of the pin placements from the previous weekends scramble. Ruthless!
Next Stop: Benkleman
Benkelman Golf Club is a level layout carved out of a cottonwood forest next to the Republican River near the Kansas border. A gulch on the 8th and 9th holes is played as a water hazard after rains. Medium to small sized greens with slight breaks make positioning in fairways a must. The clubhouse is an old schoolhouse from Doane, NE.
Next Stop: Trenton
Trenton Golf Club is a sand greens course north of town near the airport. It is laid out over a series of hills and valleys.
Next Stop: Hayes Center
Hayes Center Golf Club located on the east side of town near the fairgrounds is transitioning from a sand greens course to grass greens. Three of the greens have been built with the remaining 6 holes using temporary greens in the fairway near the old sand green. The course is flat with straight fairways that are not irrigated have lots of run on tee shots.
Scorecard: 207 courses played
Miles Driven: 990
Total Miles since 7/21/2014: 10,952
