Looking for July Trip Suggestions - $500per person

[umassgolfer]

Hey all,

 

Sorry for another one of these threads, but I think this is a little different than the others out there.

 

So 3 buddies + me are looking for a trip in July. We are looking at cooler weather destinations within a reasonable drive of a United Airlines hub. Tough part: budget (excluding airfare) is $500 per person. That's for 3 rounds of golf and 2-3 nights hotel, double occupancy is ok.

 

Looking for Thurs-Sun, with golf on Fri, Sat, Sun. Stay&Play is great, especially places with 2 or 3 quality courses.

 

We got all excited about Geneva National in Wisconsin, and then found out they have no availability. Another idea was going to Denver, finding an AirBNB and playing Fossil Trace, Ridge @ Castle Pines and Bear Dance.

 

Please let me know if anyone else has ideas for a good trip with some memorable/quality golf. Thanks in advance for the help.

[CDM]

Being a Denver'ite the 3 courses you are choosing are pretty good . Add Riverdale Dune's or Arrowhead as something to look at.

I assume rental car and food is outside $500 like airfare? If so.... and if your mainly looking for great golf, get more than 3 rounds and like Links below is my suggestion.

[i][b]**Disclaimer[/b]... Below is not a high "entertainment" trip... it is mainly about great golf with friends and beers afterwards. Lodging is basic but good at Gothenburg and Valentine[/i].

[b][size=5]DAY 1[/size]: [/b]
Take an EARLY flight to Denver given you get the two hour gain (if possible). Drive 3.5 hours drive along I-70 to Gothenburg Ne... YEP I said Nebraska LOL

[b][u]WildHorse golf course:[/u] [/b][url="http://www.playwildhorse.com/"][b]http://www.playwildhorse.com/[/b][/url][b] Cost : $106[/b]

Rate is $66 w/cart. A basic room in Gothenburg would be around $40 a person (2 per room estimate)...[i]honestly [i]less [/i]it looks like depending on your comfort level. So looking at around [/i]

[b][size=5]Day 2: [/size] [/b]
[b]The Prairie Club [/b][url="http://www.theprairieclub.com/packages.html"]http://www.theprairi...m/packages.html[/url] [b][i]Cost: $374.00[/i][/b]
Get up early (depending on first tee time at prairie club) It is about a 2 hour drive ([i]routing says 2.5 hours... but it really is a little over 2 hours[/i]) ([i]Check road construction as there are different routes.) [/i]

You get two days of unlimited golf on 2 excellent courses. There is also fun little par 3 course. So if you book the tee times when you make reservations you can get 36 a day in both days and play the par 3 at night. July the sun does not go down until l7:30/8:00pm in the area so gives plenty of time for 2 rounds per day.

[size=5][b]DAY 3: [/b][/size][b]The Prairie Club (again)[/b]
Play 36 hours and drive back .....if possible since you have to fly. You could do one round and then drive to DIA to fly home?. It is about a 5.0/5.5 hour drive back to DIA I think.

[i]If you can swing the extra day ,,,stay in Valentine which is 20 min drive from The Prairie Club. Eat/Crash out and drive back the next day. A room I think when we did it was around $80 or so? So $40 per person - 2 per room of course ... [/i]

[size=5][b]Day 4:[/b][/size] [b]Optional[/b]... Drive back after crashing in Valentine Ne....Fly home.


[i][b]Golf / Lodging Estimate Total: $480.00 Extra Night in Valentine $520.00[/b][/i]

So for around your price ... maybe bit more for gas ([i]though driving around Denver is about he same distance LOL[/i]). You get 3 - 4 nights, 5/6 rounds of great golf. Not including the Par 3 course at Prairie Club which is sweet to grab a couple of buckets of beers and play.

All of it is an easy drive honestly...just...well its Nebraska and not a lot of views. GREAT golf though The Wildhorse course was built/designed by the people who worked on Sand Hills Golf Club (which you drive by)... Sand Hills is rated the number 1 course built in the last 50 years... 8 in the US .. I think 10 in the world. So don't let the pictures fool you.

[i]Just don't buy some the local smoking substance and cross the state border...cops are all over that since the other states have tried to sue Colorado HHAHAHA. [/i]

[i]Edit: [/i][i]At Prairie Club breakfast is part the night stay so on Day 3 it is free. The food at Prairie club is really good. But as I noted you can drive into Valentine in 20 mins if you want for food. There is some great steaks places in the area for really good price.[/i]

[BG5]

Go to northern Michigan. Cheap compared to the rest of the country and courses are amazing

[CDM]

[quote name='BG5' timestamp='1427249505' post='11210007']
Go to northern Michigan. Cheap compared to the rest of the country and courses are amazing
[/quote]

Good option too as you maybe able to fly to Detroit cheap since no one goes there... I know from Denver it is REALY cheap making the golf tempting.



Second thought if what I listed looks good. You can shorten your drive.. Go to Lake McConaughy... 2.5hrs or so from DIA.

Bayside Golf Course [url="http://baysidegolf.com/#/home/"]http://baysidegolf.com/#/home/[/url]

Price is $60 with cart so a room split I think is around the same as before $ 40/50. So pricing is the same overall. Drive to Prairie Club is around 2.5 hours.. so overall shorter driving.

[i]Edit: Looked at week long trip we did...stayed in Ogallala when we did Bayside. So 20 mins away.[/i]

[Bucky023]

That time of year I'd second Michigan. Another great option is the a Eagle Ridge resort 2 hours or so from Chicago. Beautiful area, flexible lodging options, and great courses. The General is their signature course and is a top 10 in Illinois.

[umassgolfer]

Thanks for the replies. Denver area courses look great. Northern Michigan gets a ton of love on here. Very different, but both seem like strong options.

[PinonMagnolia]

I'd second the trip from DIA or even Omaha/Lincoln over to the Prairie Club in Valentine, NE.

Prairie Club is just spectacular, especially if you're with friends with no worries. The staff is top notch, but as someone else noted, there is no entertainment other than you, your friends, and wildlife/nature/golf.