The Prairie Club

CFA Jay · May 18, 2011

I am heading there tomorrow with 7 other guys. I have heard nothing but great things.

Trugravity · May 27, 2011

I'm going on a buddies trip to the sandhills of NE this August, so I'm looking forward to your feedback on The Prairie Club. Also, I'd be interested if anyone in your group has played both PC and Wild Horse GC and which they preferred? Our plan is to work one of these places into the trip... just trying to decide which one.

Thanks,
bk

rlheiman · May 27, 2011

Prairie Club is awesome. I can't say enough good things about it. The conditions were perfect last August. It plays firm and fast. The lodge and rooms are really nice and the staff was excellent. Since you are going with a bunch of buddies. Have fun betting on the HORSE course. A few beers and you could have a great time there for hours.

The Pines is a mixture of links and a handful of holes cut out of the pine trees along the canyon rim. The Dunes is just a brute. The fairways are huge, but so are the bunkers and greens and over all length can stretch to like 8000 yards which includes some insane carries off the tee on a few holes.

Wild Horse is really a great course too, but not on the same scale as Prairie Club. It feels more packed into a smaller area, where prairie dunes is just massive.

I'd pick Prairie club over Wild Horse simply because of the 46 holes at Prairie Club. Wild horse is an easy walk where Prairie club is a hike, almost too much to walk. If budget is an issue, Wild Horse will be way cheaper, but Prairie Club is worth every penny.

nolaclone · August 2, 2011

I played Sand Hills, Prairie Club, & WIldhorse all last summer on a golf trip. Wild Horse doesn't compare with The Prairie Club. WH is a very nice course, don't get me wrong, but after playing 36 at Sand Hills, 36 on the Dunes at PC, and 36 on the Pines at PC....WH is a quite a few notches below. HOWEVER, the rates at Wildhorse are also quite a few notches below what you're going to pay at PC. The Prairie Club is HUGE. If you play it from the tips on a windy day...good luck.

fairwayallday · August 3, 2011

I cannot wait to go up to play the PC. I have had my eye on it ever since it was about to open. I have played Wildhorse and it was pretty good but from the pics I have seen of the PC it is in a different class.

And Sand Hills, cripes! I would do some bad things to get that opportunity...

nolaclone · August 3, 2011

Haha...Sand Hills was unbelievable.

You'll really enjoy PC...the people up there are terrific and the course is beautiful.

I'm actually headed back up there Aug 18-21...playing Dismal River on Aug 18th and will be at PC Aug 19th and 20th. Looking forward to seeing/playing Dismal for the 1st time.

fairwayallday · August 4, 2011

Holy crap! I forgot all about Dismal. You must have some serious connections my friend!

I am very jealous right now, I am a huge Nicklaus design fan and try to play all of them that I can.

Please post some feedback if you could on DR and I hope you have a great time!!!

Trugravity · September 5, 2011

[attachment=853250:NE Golf Trip Pics 083.JPG][attachment=853251:NE Golf Trip Pics 095.JPG][attachment=853252:NE Golf Trip Pics 097.JPG][quote name='fairwayallday' timestamp='1312459558' post='3450730']
Holy crap! I forgot all about Dismal. You must have some serious connections my friend!

I am very jealous right now, I am a huge Nicklaus design fan and try to play all of them that I can.

Please post some feedback if you could on DR and I hope you have a great time!!!
[/quote]

I went on a buddies trip in early August to the Sandhills region. We played Wild Horse (18), Sand Hills GC (3 days) and Dismal River (1 day). All were great courses... Wild Horse is an incredible bargain and a really nice layout. Not much more to be said about Sand Hills than has already been said. And, Dismal River was the sleeper... 3 out of 4 in our group preferred the overall experience at Dismal River to the other courses. I loved the remoteness, the big features of the course, the lodging and dining were all top-notch. Plus, Chris Johnston could not have been a more gracious host. When we were dining he stopped by our table, talked and showed us, from just behind the lodge, the the area where the new Doak course will be built. Dismal River left a mark on my golfing soul. Here are a couple of pics, one taken on the par-five, windmill hole, one with our group standing on the par-five, 18th hole and one with Chris Johnston after the round.

fairwayallday · September 8, 2011

Wow! Thank you for the pics and story. Sounds like you had a really great time. I heard that Tom was building another course at DM but as most of his courses are, I assume it will be private...

maybe someday!

feedlotdoc · September 8, 2011

I cant say enough good things about Prairie Club. Played it for the third time about 2 weeks ago. AWESOME!!! As said above, WildHorse is a great course, but PC is on another level. Still trying to get on Sandhills. I think I finally found an in for next summer!

nolaclone · September 28, 2011

Got back from the trip and am still recovering from the beating at the hands of the courses. Played 18 at Bayside in Ogallala, 36 at Dismal River, 36 at Prairie Club Pines, and 36 at Prairie Club Dunes. Beautiful area of the country to play golf. The courses did not disappoint. Really tough tracks. With wind, they are all quite a test. We had a group of 8, and I would have to say that the experience at Dismal was probably the groups favorite. The lodging, staff, food, and of course golf was all top notch at Dismal. I could post pictures of the trip, but i see a guy in an Iowa Hawkeye polo shirt in the above photo and have made a vow never to be seen in the same webspace as anyone wearing black/gold (Iowa State alumni here)! Can't wait to get back to western Nebraska. Hidden gem of golf in the USA.

Trugravity · November 9, 2011

[quote name='nolaclone' timestamp='1317222119' post='3597883']
Got back from the trip and am still recovering from the beating at the hands of the courses. Played 18 at Bayside in Ogallala, 36 at Dismal River, 36 at Prairie Club Pines, and 36 at Prairie Club Dunes. Beautiful area of the country to play golf. The courses did not disappoint. Really tough tracks. With wind, they are all quite a test. We had a group of 8, and I would have to say that the experience at Dismal was probably the groups favorite. The lodging, staff, food, and of course golf was all top notch at Dismal. I could post pictures of the trip, but i see a guy in an Iowa Hawkeye polo shirt in the above photo and have made a vow never to be seen in the same webspace as anyone wearing black/gold (Iowa State alumni here)! Can't wait to get back to western Nebraska. Hidden gem of golf in the USA.
[/quote]

Too funny! I posted the pic and am a Fighting Illini fan, so no love for the black and gold here either. Ironically, earlier in the day I was ribbing my buddy about wearing the Hawkeyes shirt, as a backup, in case there was no toilet paper to be found on the course. Interesting to hear that your group favored DR too as it sometimes doesn't get the love it deserves.

venand · February 19, 2012

I am so jealous of this topic. I will get there one day.....

mccjud · February 20, 2012

I asked the wife if I have clearance to do a prairie club trip on 2.5 years for my 30th birthday.

Her response? "Only if you never promise to never talk about becoming a national member there ever again until you return."

The good news of this all, she actually listens to what I say when I think she's ignoring me.

I_HATE_SNOW · June 5, 2013

Just played both 18's at Prairie Club. Still in awe at how great of shape it is in at such a young age. They are planning another 18, just north of the road in and using the deep canyon to the north. Not sure which course I liked the best?

taylorjmc · November 17, 2013

My father in law is a member at The Prairie Club and this past summer, he showed me some potential holes for the new 18 "Old School". This will be the best 18 holes at the Club if it does in fact get built.