The Nebraska Sandhills is home to a wealth of recreational activities, but a growing draw for tourists from out of state and abroad is its world-class golf courses. With vast rolling hills and endless acres of natural beauty, the Sandhills make a perfect venue for golfers seeking a variety of courses not intruded upon by man-made structures.
When private Sandhills golf courses were first being developed in the mid-1990s, they were available only to those seeking high-end experiences at exclusive clubs. Today, the Sandhills has become a destination for all golfers, offering excellent municipal courses and exclusive club courses, many designed by world-famous golf architects.
Golfing provides a growing source of tourism revenue, while striving to conserve the unique beauty of the Sandhills. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus once compared the area to the Scottish Highlands, where the game of golf was invented. Designers have focused on adapting courses to the landscape—one where sand bunkers occur naturally, native grasses provide the rough, and clear, flowing rivers act as the water hazards.
The Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen, built in 1999, led the development of high-end links-style courses in the Sandhills. It is one of the most exclusive courses in the country, ranked in the top ten U.S. courses by Golf Digest magazine from 2011 to 2021. A private club open only eight months of the year, this course is one of the most high-end options in the country for hitting the links.
The Dismal River Club, a few miles of south of Mullen, is another exclusive club that draws members from abroad. It offers not only a fantastic course but also hunting, fishing, and other outdoor adventures.
For those planning a golf-based vacation, the Prairie Club in Valentine offers three courses, with some holes running along the Snake River canyon. The Dune, Pine, and Horse courses each offer a unique experience and also have been nationally recognized by golf publications. The Prairie Club offers packages that include dining and lodging, encouraging those looking for a getaway to come and stay and play at this unique golf destination.
The Sandhills is also home to some of the finest public courses in the country. The Wild Horse Golf Club in Gothenburg was ranked as the seventy-seventh best public course in America by Golf Digest in 2019. The Bayside Golf Club in Brule is a public course designed by top golf architects that offers the natural beauty of the Sandhills without the restrictive membership required by some clubs.