Sandhills trip

[Openwater22]

In the early planning stages of a June 2015 trip to play some Nebraska courses. Already have the courses;

Sand Hills

Prairie Club Dunes and Pines

Dismal River

Either Firethorn or Wild Horse

 

Help with logistics would be appreciated. Drive time between courses, where to lodge, order to play them in. Is there lodging close to any which would minimize unpacking and repacking? I.E. if we stay and play at Prairie, is a day trip to Dismal or Sand Hills doable? We are driving in from Michigan. Thanks.

[deadsolid...shank]

Driving between Sand Hills, Dismal, and Wildhorse is fairly simple and relatively short distances (relatively being the key word, short for us). Valentine (Prairie Club) is about 90 miles to Mullen (Sand HIlls and Dismal), then Mullen to Gothenburg (Wild Horse) is about 110 miles. It's going to be almost all extremely rural territory on two lane roads, but there wont be much traffic.

Lincoln (Firethorn) is the most separated from the others, about 200 miles from Gothenburg, but guessing if you come into Nebraska on I80 you could hit Lincoln first, then Gothenburg, then up to Mullen and finish with Valentine. Then you would have to loop back down to the interstate. Staying at Prairie Club, you could make it a day trip down to Sand Hills and Dismal.

And if I remember correctly, the Prairie Club is about 17 miles south of Valentine, so it is just a touch shorter going the furthest point north of the trip.

[Openwater22]

deadsolid,
Any lodging recommendations?

[deadsolid...shank]

Prairie Club has very nice lodging. Ww stayed in one of the cabins which was really nice. Four individual bedrooms each with its own bathroom around a common room. Expensive, but very nice. I haven't stayed in the loge but have heard it's nice as well. Unfortunately I haven't made it to Sandhills or Dismal yet so I can't speak to accommodations there. If you wanted to stay alongside I80 I would recommend either Kearney (about 60 miles east from Gothenburg) or North Platte (30 miles west of Gothenburg and where you'll head north to Mullen). Both have several of the chain motels and restaraunts and will have a lot more options than Gothenburg. Lincoln will also have all the major chains to choose from.

Sorry I can't give you any better and more specific ideas on the lodging.