Dismal River expanding

[Cysmic]

Looks like Kemper is going to expand Dismal River's offerings and add a third course.

 

Third course planned for Dismal River in Nebraska (golfcoursearchitecture.net)

 

Nebraska is absolutely blowing up with outstanding new golf!

Edited February 15, 2023 by Cysmic

[Stetson]

Well this is surprising. They have lost money for a decade and 2022 had the worst course conditions I have ever seen at any course in my life. Sometimes you can’t make this stuff up

[puttnforthe8]

20 minutes ago, Stetson said:

Well this is surprising. They have lost money for a decade and 2022 had the worst course conditions I have ever seen at any course in my life. Sometimes you can’t make this stuff up

 

Really?  Wow - do you know what happened?  Self-inflicted, rot, other?  

 

How do you know they lost money?  Are there financials published?

 

 

[Stetson]

10 minutes ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Really?  Wow - do you know what happened?  Self-inflicted, rot, other?  

 

How do you know they lost money?  Are there financials published?

 

 

The course has been sold repeatedly since opening. I feel like there have been bankruptcies but someone will correct me if I am wrong. 

[puttnforthe8]

1 hour ago, Stetson said:

The course has been sold repeatedly since opening. I feel like there have been bankruptcies but someone will correct me if I am wrong. 

 

I see...saddening.  Did the 'poor ownership' and money cause the poor conditions?

 

I really love the property - It is one of the coolest properties around and an amazing 'get away from everything' type of place.  

[asommers1441]

Is Dismal open for public to play? 

[canonlbp430]

14 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Really?  Wow - do you know what happened?  Self-inflicted, rot, other?  

 

How do you know they lost money?  Are there financials published?

 

 

In 2022 Nebraska had a bad winter for grass. A lot of courses in Omaha and Lincoln had a hard start to the year which was even worse out west. At Dismal a lot of the greens were dead from winter kill, which is understandable. What wasn't as understandable was the greens still being awful in July.

 

In 2021 most of the fairways on the Doak course died, they said this was due to a malfunction in their satellite irrigation system.

 

Hopefully Kemper will overhaul the daily operations which have gone downhill the last few years. When we were out there three years ago you could tell they weren't cleaning the cabins very often and all of them had moths flying around. Last year people I know said the wifi and TV in the cabins had been shut off.

[canonlbp430]

2 hours ago, asommers1441 said:

Is Dismal open for public to play? 

 

 I doubt they would turn you down if you are going to stay there overnight. Technically it's private but actually more semi-private with their membership structure.

[puttnforthe8]

2 hours ago, canonlbp430 said:

In 2022 Nebraska had a bad winter for grass. A lot of courses in Omaha and Lincoln had a hard start to the year which was even worse out west. At Dismal a lot of the greens were dead from winter kill, which is understandable. What wasn't as understandable was the greens still being awful in July.

 

In 2021 most of the fairways on the Doak course died, they said this was due to a malfunction in their satellite irrigation system.

 

Hopefully Kemper will overhaul the daily operations which have gone downhill the last few years. When we were out there three years ago you could tell they weren't cleaning the cabins very often and all of them had moths flying around. Last year people I know said the wifi and TV in the cabins had been shut off.

 

Geez...that is horrid.  I know the ownership group just doesn't do things 'right', never has.  It has been an arrogance thing imo and the need to compete with SH.  They are in the middle of nowhere FFS!! They need to be a destination that people want to go to and the place wants them there.  I love the place, but always felt 'unwelcome'.  

 

FYI - the moth thing is a standard fixture, not a cleaning thing (i am sure they are slacking on the cleaning too though)...it's just odd and laughable that they don't know how to mitigate the moths.

[canonlbp430]

4 hours ago, puttnforthe8 said:

 

Geez...that is horrid.  I know the ownership group just doesn't do things 'right', never has.  It has been an arrogance thing imo and the need to compete with SH.  They are in the middle of nowhere FFS!! They need to be a destination that people want to go to and the place wants them there.  I love the place, but always felt 'unwelcome'.  

 

FYI - the moth thing is a standard fixture, not a cleaning thing (i am sure they are slacking on the cleaning too though)...it's just odd and laughable that they don't know how to mitigate the moths.

 

It has the potential to be one of the most unique golf destinations in the country but the cost of operating is always going to be an issue with how scenic it is. It might only tap that potential if someone buys it that has endless resources and the bottom line at the end of the year doesn't really matter.

[Chanceman]

I felt it lagged the Prairie Club in vibe by some way. Just a sense of disorganisation in the air. People firing shotguns near a golf course is also not my idea of serenity. And so far away - the road in from the highway goes on forever.

[Schley]

I'm pulling for Dismal River.  I think they have about everything for an outdoorsman in addition to golf.  They have to get the golf right first.  Also had a great steak there when we stayed.