Cross Nebraska Trip

[Argonne69]

Bummer, you heading home, too? :(

 

[Stetson]

Great pics! I am sure you will agree that no pictures can do the courses or the landscape justice thiugh

[Argonne69]

No, you're so right. A sweeping vista cannot be captured in a still photo without the proper lens. I took a view short videos sweeping the view, but they still pale in comparison to being there. The holes do begin to blend together, but the true highlight is simply standing in the open prairie, especially when you're the only person in sight.

[Stetson]

Right on, the vastness of it is difficult to express. Many saw the first time they go to the ocean they feel so small. Standing in the Sandhills and looking out gives me a similar feeling.

 

Yes the holes blend together after 10 rounds, but as you said if it was more of a leisurely day at Prairie Club or Dismal would be different.

 

I wish I had the ability to do what you do!

[Conrad1953]

Right on, the vastness of it is difficult to express. Many saw the first time they go to the ocean they feel so small. Standing in the Sandhills and looking out gives me a similar feeling.

 

Yes the holes blend together after 10 rounds, but as you said if it was more of a leisurely day at Prairie Club or Dismal would be different.

 

I wish I had the ability to do what you do!

 

I second that Stetson! I'm sure you can get torn over getting in the rounds

you want to get in while still being able to savor the experience. Sounds like

Arg had a great balanced plan.

 

i play with guys sometimes that come down here to play the trail and it seems

they're always rushing to play as many courses as they can.

 

I love the wide open spaces you have up there......in the summer, haha, and

not too windy please. I remember seeing a sign up there that said one day

the wind stopped in Nebraska and everyone fell over, lol.

[Stetson]

In a Bandon thread someone wrote the wind was absent and was only a 1-2 club wind. Which is funny because that is the Sandhills region to a T

[Argonne69]

I definitely caught a big break with the weather. I was in Nebraska as a child, and I remember the temperatures being in the 100's with gusty winds. Morning temps in the low 60's, and afternoon highs in the upper 80's? I'll take that anytime. I'm used to playing in windy conditions, but the light, cooling breezes were just fantastic.

[deadsolid...shank]

You guys would not have been disappointed today. As I drove past Woldhorse, Bayside (a few miles away but close enough) and Four Winds, I can assure you the wind was present and plenty strong!

[mokedaddy]

Great pics. Courses look fantastic.

 

I played Quarry Oaks today and It is probably a blessing you didn't get to play it. The course is not in great shape. Still a fun track but you can tell they have gotten an abundance of rain this year and the greens and tees are showing the wear.

[golfdaddy01]

yeah we have had some rain recently , over 2 inches Friday night. johnny goodman just had the metro tourney and it's in amazing shape as far as fairways and greens go, but wet on low lying areas

 

hitting Wildhorse in early October , can't wait

[Stetson]

Hitting Wild Horse on Saturday... Hope the greens are not rolling at a 14+ plus like they were last month

[Conrad1953]

Hitting Wild Horse on Saturday... Hope the greens are not rolling at a 14+ plus like they were last month

 

Wow, 14 is fast. I hope you hit 'em well Stets and can keep the ball BELOW

the hole, lol.

[PuttCurseRepeat]

So Argonne, how would you rate the courses on this trip?

[Argonne69]

I'd rank them as 1) Dismal River White (Nicklaus), 2) The Prairie Club Dunes, 3) Dismal River Red (Doak), 4) Wild Horse, 5) The Prairie Club Pines, 6) Bayside, 7) Awarii Dunes, 8) Woodland Hills, and 9) Riverdale Dunes.

 

The top 4 are seriously good courses. Pines is excellent. Bayside is very good. AD, WH, and RD are good courses, but nothing special.

 

Overall, it was a great trip. A few minor snags in the travel, but the weather was fantastic, the courses excellent, and the people friendly. I don't think I can recommend the trip enough if one is willing to drive 950+ miles. Unfortunately, unlike the RTJ courses in Alabama, they're pretty much oriented linearly, rather than in a loop. On the RTJ, one can start in Birmingham, and drive two different circles and play a bunch of courses. The "Nebraska Trail" is a long drive with a 2.5 hour detour to Valentine. Well worth it, but a serious drive nonetheless.

[deadsolid...shank]

I'd rank them as 1) Dismal River White (Nicklaus), 2) The Prairie Club Dunes, 3) Dismal River Red (Doak), 4) Wild Horse, 5) The Prairie Club Pines, 6) Bayside, 7) Awarii Dunes, 8) Woodland Hills, and 9) Riverdale Dunes.

 

The top 4 are seriously good courses. Pines is excellent. Bayside is very good. AD, WH, and RD are good courses, but nothing special.

 

Overall, it was a great trip. A few minor snags in the travel, but the weather was fantastic, the courses excellent, and the people friendly. I don't think I can recommend the trip enough if one is willing to drive 950+ miles. Unfortunately, unlike the RTJ courses in Alabama, they're pretty much oriented linearly, rather than in a loop. On the RTJ, one can start in Birmingham, and drive two different circles and play a bunch of courses. The "Nebraska Trail" is a long drive with a 2.5 hour detour to Valentine. Well worth it, but a serious drive nonetheless.

 

I'm surprised about Riverdale Dunes Argonne. It seems like most people like it pretty well. One of the better thought of courses in Denver.

 

Looks like I'm going to play Bayside again in about two weeks (it's probably been more than 10 years). Will be interested to see if I like it better than I remember.

[Stetson]

Just because Riverdale Dunes was #9 doesn't mean it was bad. He did play a few top 100 courses and except for Woodland Hills I would rate the other Nebraska courses as top 2-3% in America

[Argonne69]

Just because Riverdale Dunes was #9 doesn't mean it was bad. He did play a few top 100 courses and except for Woodland Hills I would rate the other Nebraska courses as top 2-3% in America

 

Yup. When you play only top rated courses, it's hard to say something bad about the course on the bottom of the list. It's kind of like finishing last in the 100 meter final at the Olympics. You still beat out a lot of competitors to get there.

 

I thought RD was a fine course, and it was in great shape. Visually, though, it didn't stack up against the competition.

[robengel]

What an awesome trip! Great pictures too. I really think we have some underrated golf in the state of Nebraska. I have only played Awarii out of those courses and loved it. I've been dying to make it out and play Wild Horse and Bayside, planning a trip to Prairie Club next summer for our anniversary. Another great one out west is the hills in McCook. Too bad you didn't know about some little steakhouses or bars, usually that's where to get the best food in Nebraska, some little town dive usually has the best steak you can get. Thanks for the writeup!

[Argonne69]

I just verified that Dismal River Red was my 350th course played. My 300th was in August 2015, so it's been quite a year. Whoo hoo!

 

I guess I better start planning for my August 2017 trip. With ~50 new courses per year, I should try to play Pebble Beach as my 400th.

[Conrad1953]

I just verified that Dismal River Red was my 350th course played. My 300th was in August 2015, so it's been quite a year. Whoo hoo!

 

I guess I better start planning for my August 2017 trip. With ~50 new courses per year, I should try to play Pebble Beach as my 400th.

 

Haha, you got a good thing going Arg. We'll live vicariously through you. I hope

you do threads each time so we can see the pics and read your thoughts.

[Argonne69]

I just verified that Dismal River Red was my 350th course played. My 300th was in August 2015, so it's been quite a year. Whoo hoo!

 

I guess I better start planning for my August 2017 trip. With ~50 new courses per year, I should try to play Pebble Beach as my 400th.

 

Haha, you got a good thing going Arg. We'll live vicariously through you. I hope

you do threads each time so we can see the pics and read your thoughts.

 

Thanks. This trip was my 51st. I generally try to create a thread for each one. Here are a few recent ones:

 

North Central Illinois: http://www.golfwrx.c...r-memorial-day/

 

Southern Mississippi: http://www.golfwrx.c...pi-trip-report/

 

Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus: http://www.golfwrx.c...us-trip-report/

 

Austin: http://www.golfwrx.c...n-mid-december/

 

South Central Wisconsin: http://www.golfwrx.c...in-circle-tour/

 

Orlando to Jacksonville: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/topic/1112317-orlando-to-jacksonville-in-february/

[Conrad1953]

I just verified that Dismal River Red was my 350th course played. My 300th was in August 2015, so it's been quite a year. Whoo hoo!

 

I guess I better start planning for my August 2017 trip. With ~50 new courses per year, I should try to play Pebble Beach as my 400th.

 

Haha, you got a good thing going Arg. We'll live vicariously through you. I hope

you do threads each time so we can see the pics and read your thoughts.

 

Thanks. This trip was my 51st. I generally try to create a thread for each one. Here are a few recent ones:

 

North Central Illinois: http://www.golfwrx.c...r-memorial-day/

 

Southern Mississippi: http://www.golfwrx.c...pi-trip-report/

 

Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Columbus: http://www.golfwrx.c...us-trip-report/

 

Austin: http://www.golfwrx.c...n-mid-december/

 

South Central Wisconsin: http://www.golfwrx.c...in-circle-tour/

 

Orlando to Jacksonville: http://www.golfwrx.c...le-in-february/

 

Wow, I didn't know.........of course I spend too much of my time in the basement (19th hole).

Thanks, I look forward to reading them!