North Central Nebraska Golf - Prairie Club, Wild Horse, etc.

[FuzzyKnuckles]

On 2/10/2024 at 1:07 AM, Dancin said:

You're not getting 12 or even 8 unaccompanied out at Ballyneal in season. Members are only allowed to send a max of 4 out unaccompanied and only Sun-Thu. Like every other top private course, the membership is making full use of the facilities and they have a waiting list that isn't even taking new names, so there isn't a lot of room for unaccompanied play these days. You would have had a much better chance 6 years ago.

 

They pretty much ignore requests from the general public now. Without a Ballyneal member or a pro at a top club, your best bet for a foursome would be to have your pro call a week or two ahead and hope they happen to for some reason be very empty that upcoming Sunday (unlikely).

All great info, I appreciate it! Thankfully we’ve got a current member connection, but we’re still a few months away from penciling anything in. Thanks again.

[NebraskaTaco]

Well, you got to update us on how the trip went??? 

[FuzzyKnuckles]

On 5/21/2024 at 3:37 PM, NebraskaTaco said:

Well, you got to update us on how the trip went??? 

August! Still a few months away! The latest news is we are looking at renting a sprinter van and making the drive from DFW 🤦‍♂️

[Aaf09001]

On 5/25/2024 at 8:40 AM, FuzzyKnuckles said:

August! Still a few months away! The latest news is we are looking at renting a sprinter van and making the drive from DFW 🤦‍♂️

We are doing the same thing after they cancelled our flights from Denver to North Platte. Have a 12 person Ford Transit rented from Denver and have 8 guys heading to 3 rounds at Wild Horse and 5+ rounds at Prairie Club towards the end of August. Can't wait!

[FuzzyKnuckles]

On 6/17/2024 at 10:17 PM, Aaf09001 said:

We are doing the same thing after they cancelled our flights from Denver to North Platte. Have a 12 person Ford Transit rented from Denver and have 8 guys heading to 3 rounds at Wild Horse and 5+ rounds at Prairie Club towards the end of August. Can't wait!

Did you book through Turo? Get a decent rate?

 

We may see you there around then!

[cory773]

This is some great info here. Trip coming up for my dad and I in mid July. We ended up flying in and out of Denver and renting a car. The layover plus flight time to North Platte was around 4-6 hours depending on the flight so it made more sense to us. Playing the Prairie Club and Wild Horse. We have a half a day on our drive to Valentine too so looking at stopping at Pelican Beach for a quick 9. A couple questions. 

 

- I would love to walk but have heard Prairie Dunes is almost un-walkable? Maybe we can walk the Pines course? 

- There is almost no info on Pelican Beach online. Anyone played it? The remoteness, the volunteer greens keepers and the honesty box just seems too fun to pass up!

[Aaf09001]

On 6/18/2024 at 3:35 PM, FuzzyKnuckles said:

Did you book through Turo? Get a decent rate?

 

We may see you there around then!

We looked at Turo but renting two cars was more than renting the van through Hertz at the Denver Airport. Using company code think we got the van from Tuesday morning - Monday morning for around $790. Hope to see you as well, look for the guys in the clown van, that will be us.

[Aaf09001]

On 6/22/2024 at 12:33 PM, cory773 said:

This is some great info here. Trip coming up for my dad and I in mid July. We ended up flying in and out of Denver and renting a car. The layover plus flight time to North Platte was around 4-6 hours depending on the flight so it made more sense to us. Playing the Prairie Club and Wild Horse. We have a half a day on our drive to Valentine too so looking at stopping at Pelican Beach for a quick 9. A couple questions. 

 

- I would love to walk but have heard Prairie Dunes is almost un-walkable? Maybe we can walk the Pines course? 

- There is almost no info on Pelican Beach online. Anyone played it? The remoteness, the volunteer greens keepers and the honesty box just seems too fun to pass up!

I have not been up to Prairie Club yet but imagine they are walkable from what I have seen and have read. It is going to be very hot in July / August so walking may be rough. I am looking to also get a 9 holer in, Augusta Winds a little north of North Platte. From the looks of it, might be similar to Pelican with a little honesty box. Looking forward to hearing about your trip, be sure to let us know how you enjoy Wild Horse and Prairie Club!

[Husker4theSpurs]

You will not want to walk at Prairie Club ... neither course. Can't say I've seen anyone walk honestly.

[TK3]

On 6/17/2024 at 4:17 PM, Aaf09001 said:

We are doing the same thing after they cancelled our flights from Denver to North Platte. Have a 12 person Ford Transit rented from Denver and have 8 guys heading to 3 rounds at Wild Horse and 5+ rounds at Prairie Club towards the end of August. Can't wait!

We have the same itinerary, except we’re a 4some / 1 round @ WH / 5 rounds @ PC / and 1 round @ Dismal River. 
 

we leave Saturday early morning and tee-off at Wildhorse Saturday afternoon. 
 

Will keep you posted. 
TK

[Aaf09001]

On 7/3/2024 at 9:43 PM, TK3 said:

We have the same itinerary, except we’re a 4some / 1 round @ WH / 5 rounds @ PC / and 1 round @ Dismal River. 
 

we leave Saturday early morning and tee-off at Wildhorse Saturday afternoon. 
 

Will keep you posted. 
TK

Hope you have a great time! Excited to hear about it.

 

[TK3]

Ok guys, I’m back from my trip.

 

It was a wonderful experience from playing Wildhorse to the Prairie Club to Dismal River.
 

Of the four courses we played, my favorite order is:

1. Dunes at Prairie club

2. Wildhorse

3. Pines at PC, and

4. Dismal River.
 

It’s not the Dismal River was not good, it’s just that the other courses were that great.

Loved everything about WH, even the 25 mph wind. Immaculate condition. Unbelievable greens.
 

Prairie Club was in a class by itself.  The accommodations were first class.. The courses were extraordinary, immaculate conditioning, firm, and fast just the way you expect a links course to be. Dramatic blowup bunkers, but I was a little disappointment in the pin placement on the greens.
 

The greens are huge with several elephants buried underneath, if you know what I mean, but the pin placements were always a “Sunday pin” behind bunkers, on top of a ridge, etc.

 

This is a resort course with resort players, so you gotta make it a little easier. I must’ve three putted 25 times in five rounds. Still shot in the low 90s.

 

Dismal River with beautiful - it reminded me a lot of the Dunes course may be a little tighter.
 

No T-box, you just teed up wherever you saw the markers for middle, back or front tees.  
 

We played the middle tees.

Great greens, great condition and some blind shots. It’s just that the other courses were spectacular.
 

The Pines course was a combination of the dunes and an inland courses put together.
 

Again wonderful course, great conditionings very tough greens, horrible pin placements.
 

Also, someone mentioned walking…you do not wanna walk any of the courses I just mentioned, they are way too long and too much up and downs and distance between the T-boxes and the greens.
 

All in all a fantastic trip and whoever is going there soon you will definitely enjoy it. Thanks everyone.
Cheers.  

[Mullenboy]

Awesome trip!  Glad you enjoyed it all.  That area has become like a second home to me.

 

And wow are you right about walking these... any of them CAN be walked... the question is why would one try?  It's very hot out there and none of them are particularly built for walking.  Of all of them I'd say Wildhorse is the closest to being walkable.

 

If you ever go back, let's get you on the other private clubs.  🙂

 

 

[Aaf09001]

Great update, thanks @TK3! We leave in just about a month and as of now we have 9 rounds over the 5 days, going to be action packed. 

Hope that we get some nice weather and we don't get those Sunday pins at the Dunes course! Were the pines greens as wild as the dunes greens seem to be? They all look massive with crazy swales. When I was out at Wild Horse last year we got about 40 mph wind in early May but my buddy and I loved the vibe of that area so much we decided we are coming back with a group to show them the course.

 

Will be the maiden voyage to Prairie Club, but I am sure it will not be the last. Will update everyone after the trip, we can't wait to come from four corners of the country to meet in the hills!

[Mullenboy]

"we have 9 rounds over the 5 days"

 

Will you please post the details?  I'm curious how this is all shaking down. You are gonna love it. 

 

 

[TK3]

Hey A,

 

u fortunately for your group, the Pines’ greens were even more undulating!!!

 

But it’s more about the pin placement. You are right, the greens - like the fairways - are HUGE! If the pin placements are reasonable, you’ll have a blast. If they’re not, you’ll still have a blast, but you will leave some greens shaking your head!! 😳

[canonlbp430]

Wildhorse isn't a bad walk. They have cut throughs from greens to tees that are an easier walk than almost all of the cart path to tee walks.

[Aaf09001]

On 7/15/2024 at 10:30 AM, Mullenboy said:

"we have 9 rounds over the 5 days"

 

Will you please post the details?  I'm curious how this is all shaking down. You are gonna love it. 

 

 

As of now this is our itinerary:

Tuesday drive up from Denver and get a 9 hole scramble in at Lake Maloney south of North Platte. Know nothing about it but we will be itching to do something after flights and the drive

Wednesday - Us sickos (me included) wake up early drive a little north to Augusta Winds? Know nothing about it either but looks fun and rather unique 9 hole course, good intro to the sand hills. Was hoping for GrayBull Wednesday morning but no luck getting our group on. If anyone out there wants to help facilitate that I wouldn't be against it! Wednesday afternoon our first round at Wild Horse

Thursday - 36 at Wild Horse and stay on property

Friday - Leave early for Prairie Club and play 36 at the Dunes Course

Saturday - 36 at the Pines Course

Sunday - 18 at Dunes and departure

 

We have a trip long game and the Sunday will be our Trip Championship so should be a great time! Was hoping to find my way onto CapRock somehow but unfortunately struck out there as well. I am sure I will be back to the area and hopefully then can find a way onto that one special club that you know 🙂...as well as those other two (not to say they aren't special I am sure they are).

 

We leave in just about a month, will share some updates after the trip. Open to any food suggestions anyone has in North Platte as we are there for a couple of nights.

[Mullenboy]

Great trip!  Man that sounds like a lot of fun.  As for GrayBull and Caprock... the first is just doing a soft opening this summer, the second is very very private.  It's quite tough to access either, especially for a large group.  Sand Hills would be even more difficult.

 

So.. accentuate the positive as you have!  You're going to have a blast.  Make sure to allow time for the Horse Course at PC.

 

 

[FuzzyKnuckles]

Love it, thank you for the great review! We leave in a month as well and are very excited

[High Draws Low Fades]

Awesome review! Got me very excited about our trip in two months. Three full days of golf, but feeling like that might not be enough haha.

[Stetson]

That is one heck of a trip, will be great fun. Feel free to find a way to add Bayside in it

[Mullenboy]

If new to Nebraska (and perhaps even if not) allow time to get a RUNZA... unique Nebraska fast food.  Tough to explain.  But great.

 

There's one in Gothenburg and one in Cozad.... 🙂

Edited August 9, 2024 by Mullenboy

[Stetson]

1 hour ago, Mullenboy said:

If new to Nebraska (and perhaps even if not) allow time to get a RUNZA... unique Nebraska fast food.  Tough to explain.  But great.

 

There's one in Gothenburg and one in Cozad.... 🙂

and order a Runza. Don’t go there and a burger or chicken strips.  So many ppl go there and get a burger

Edited August 9, 2024 by Stetson

[Mullenboy]

13 hours ago, Stetson said:

and order a Runza. Don’t go there and a burger or chicken strips.  So many ppl go there and get a burger

Indeed.  I thought that was assumed.  🙂

[Stetson]

4 hours ago, Mullenboy said:

Indeed.  I thought that was assumed.  🙂

Out of towners need it clearly stated 😂

[deadsolid...shank]

On 8/9/2024 at 2:20 PM, Stetson said:

Out of towners need it clearly stated 😂

I don’t like the Runzas. But I do really like their burgers!  And my daughter loves the chicken strips. We used to play several tournaments with the guy who owned our local ones. He would bring a bagful of Runzas and then give me flak when I wouldn’t eat them. 
 

My wife’s grandmother (a true old German/russian) used to say, “those aren’t cabbage burgers”!😀
 

 

[Aaf09001]

On 8/8/2024 at 5:43 PM, Mullenboy said:

If new to Nebraska (and perhaps even if not) allow time to get a RUNZA... unique Nebraska fast food.  Tough to explain.  But great.

 

There's one in Gothenburg and one in Cozad.... 🙂

I’m going to make it a point to get one of these while we are in North Platte / Gothenburg area

[Aaf09001]

Happy Opening Day at GrayBull! Hope some of you get to play it, looks beautiful. 

[Husker4theSpurs]

Playing GrayBull early September. Looking forward to it.

I don't love Bayside, but I would certainly play it over Lake Maloney in North Platte if it were me.