[Tim_Weiman]

Dan Kelly:

I stand corrected.  I need a golf holiday every few hours.

But, seriously, the intent of our get togethers is to do things which aren't typical for golfing holidays.  Most important is to try an get an architect involved with a project to join us for a day/evening.

As I said, the Northern Michigan get together set a standard that will be hard to top, including:

Playing Crystal Downs
Dinner with CD pro Fred Muller
Playing High Pointe
Tom Doak walking along at High Pointe
Tom Doak doing slide show the next morning
Walking Kingsley with Mike DeVries
Dinner with Mike DeVries
Playing Acardia Bluffs

What was the best part?

Very tough question, but I'll go for the scene at dinner with Mike DeVries when Dick Daley so kindly began our discussion of Kingsley with a question for Mike:

"What the hell were you thinking on #18?"

Mike DeVries handled the question quite well, I recall.

After we all stopped laughing.

[Mike O'Neill]

Dick,

You are the absolute best! Way to sell my home state. And you are absolutely right about WH (I'm definitely am a homer as you know, so beware).

Let me make a couple of points and/or suggestions. First of all, I-80 is the easiest drive in the world, for those that might make it. I drove from Omaha to Ogallala in 4.5 hours regularly last year while working on Bayside. It is cruise-control stuff. However, I would suggest you think about hitting one or two courses in the Omaha/Lincoln area to add the flavor if that helps with hesitant players. How about Firethorn? If Dick Youngscap can see his way to some sort of SH outing, Firethorn would probably be a possibility too. You can fly into Omaha and be in Lincoln in 1 hour tops. From there it's two hours to WH and then one more to Bayside. Finish up at SH after another 1.5 hours through land that will inspire all the budding golf hole designers. That's 27 holes a day with travel time!

If you want to start in Denver, just reverse everything. But saving the Sand Hills for last might create more anticipation.

By the way, when you have time, will you be able to post any photos of Wild Horse?

[Mike O'Neill]

Dick,

You are the absolute best! Way to sell my home state. And you are absolutely right about WH (I'm definitely am a homer as you know, so beware).

Let me make a couple of points and/or suggestions. First of all, I-80 is the easiest drive in the world, for those that might make it. I drove from Omaha to Ogallala in 4.5 hours regularly last year while working on Bayside. It is cruise-control stuff. However, I would suggest you think about hitting one or two courses in the Omaha/Lincoln area to add the flavor if that helps with hesitant players. How about Firethorn? If Dick Youngscap can see his way to some sort of SH outing, Firethorn would probably be a possibility too. You can fly into Omaha and be in Lincoln in 1 hour tops. From there it's two hours to WH and then one more to Bayside. Finish up at SH after another 1.5 hours through land that will inspire all the budding golf hole designers. That's 27 holes a day with travel time!

If you want to start in Denver, just reverse everything. But saving the Sand Hills for last might create more anticipation.

By the way, when you have time, will you be able to post any photos of Wild Horse?

[George Pazin]

I'm in. Anyone who wants to be bored silly by me for 18 hours can just fly into Pittsburgh & ride out with me. I made this drive in one day 10 years ago - it could not be an easier drive. Once you get into Ohio, you could tie a rope to the steering wheel & go to sleep, it's so straight & flat.

There are some Wild Horse threads from summer 2000 that have photos - maybe someone can pull one forward - I'll try over the weekend if I can find the time.

Dick -

I'm looking forward to your rebuttal of Noel's interesting points.

[RJ_Daley]

George and Noel, I don't have any argumentative rebuttal for Noel's comments and most of what he says is correct in my view regarding the experience and degree of difficulty of Sand Hills.  I suspect Noel is the higher skilled player that can make the more demanding shots at Sand Hills even in significant wind.  The feeling of isolation is integral to the experience at SH.  The endless sand hill terrain, even the drive out there puts you in a frame of mind that brings one to focus on what a rare experience you are about to have.  Wild Horse is a 1.5 miles north of the village.  There are lots surrounding the project that are begining to fill in with homes.  Soon roof lines will start to detract from the prairie views.  The golf course has no homesites within it's boundaries.  So as a contiguous unit of golf course, the merrits of the design will remain.  

But, why I say WH is the best golf course in America is on the point of why probably those that played SH 50 times would say they prefer WH more.  SH simply is not a comfortable play for ALL skill levels.  Yet, I have no doubt that the best players on a windy day would be greatly challenged by WH to demand their very best.  The varied lies in wider fairways leading to great strategy of positioning the tee ball and yielding diverse second shot options are as great or greater at WH.  When one gets to the greens and surrounds, I firmly believe WH has more diverse playing options, better greens for more interesting pin placements with more subtleties.  This last week I have never played any course with better greens; so firm that it is difficult to leave a ball mark, yet not not so firm as to reject everything off the green (if that makes sense)  The ground game into greens, the putting if you like from many yards off green, bumping and chipping from around the greens is infinite in options.  The bunkers are rugged, grassy lipped to perfection, sand is natural from the very ground it is built upon and just inconsistent enough to allow good sand play but more uncertainty than the kitty litter sand boxes of the most groomed golf courses.  (BTW, they get sand material right behind my lot in fall when the irrigation canal is dried up and the naturally washed sand is absolutely great).  But the greens are so consistently perfect rolls, and the fastest I have ever played.  The sand composition of the greens allows for cups to be cut as sharp and hard edged that the things the ball does on the cup edges amazes me unlike anything I have ever seen.  The vastness of the surrounds and the overt green contouring coupled with some subtleties that takes great study and local knowledge to learn breaks is a combination that will ever test your putting imagination.  

I have been remiss in my adulation for what Josh Mahar the super does there, and have neglected to mention the Club House staff.  There you will find knowledgeable pro and assistant in Don Graham and assist Robert Weyeans.  I have spent more time talking with Robert, and he has a fine pedigree of experience growing up around Pine Valley where his Dad was a teaching pro and then Riviera.  He informs that he knows our own Geoff Shackelford and Lynn from time at Riviera and hopefully Geoff can attest that Robert has seen much of the best there is in golf courses design, yet Robert says Wild Horse is his home forever...

[NAF]

I was not arguing any of Dick Daley's points..I agree with what he is saying for the most part..I only did one trip there,he has done many and it seems a lot of people have fallen in love with Wild Horse..The super (who I believe I met at Sand Hills) does an amazing job, the course conditions are better than a most northeast country clubs!!..

Perhaps Nebraska needs a golf trail ala the RTJ golf trail..starting in Omaha and ending in North Platte or in the Sand Hills..5 to 7 courses that are public and adequately marketed could bring people into the state..

Just an idea..

[RJ_Daley]

Noel, the Nebraska golf trail is EXACTLY what is needed!  I have made inquiries and had conversations with an office and an individual at the Nebraska State Office of Tourism and Developement.  Unfortunately, the response I got is that they are already involved with the Buy.com tour event at Champions, and not in the mode to get deeper into golf.  That fellow that headed that department, I am told, has now "moved on".

This last trip I made there led me to some new contact ideas to promote such a golf trail concept.  The people I met with this time tell me that it is more likely that you would get a favorable response and more support out of regional development promotional entities.  I have leads to a Grand Island based regional office that I am going to pursue in coming fall-winter months, since one of our contributors (Mike Moritz) put me onto yet another fantastic piece of sand hills property near Danebrog and 10 miles from Grand Island regional airport.  Also, I have already met with North Platte DEVCO that has an agressive team trying to grow the local economy and found them more enthusiastic.  Now, Paul Hermsmeyer and his wife Betty (a County Commissioner) have mentioned a regional tourism entity that promotes their area Niarobbe River wild life and recreational area that may be more in tune to support the golf trail addition to recreational opportunities for Nebraska.  

There are good courses that already exist out of Omaha and Lincoln that could sign on as gateway venues to lead to the great sand hill terrain courses that are "UNIQUE" to this country.  The possibilites are vast.  They would blow away the RTJ trail of
Alabama on shear pureness of natural prairie-sand hill golf for a great factor of $ less to construct and operate.  It is a no-brainer.  

I am aware of a project in sand hills that is in the serious stage of assembly of funds.  Silly in some regards regarding the alleged cost that is going to be thrown at the project (something like 8-10million for the course or 2 courses alone).  The reality is that for 10million, one could build 5 world class prairie sand hill courses within 10-15 miles of I-80 corridor and have the Nebraska trail up and running in less than three years.  Include the more northerly location of Hermsmeyer's property for diversity and ancillary recreational symbiosis with the Niarobbe River and you have some special conditions for tourism.

Gotta turn them sodbuster-cornhuskers on to some new thinking...  

[Mike O'Neill]

Dick,

I like your way of "new thinking". By the way, did Tommy join you on this trip? Or does he still not know what he has been missing?  

[Cory]

I am pleased to hear people discussing the great courses that are starting to pop up in Nebraska.  As for all the people that say that they wont come to Nebraska unless they play Sand Hills, I say it's your loss.  Wild Horse, Bayside and Firethorn would be an incredible trip in itself.  Nebraska has so many untapped pontential golf sites that it is incredible.  And what I hope doesn't happen is too many courses popping up.  A few more great ones is fine.  I have played both Wild Horse and Sand Hills and agree with alot of the comments above.  If Wild Horse was sitting on the edge of the ocean, as someone mentioned above, it might possibly be ranked in the top 35-50 golf courses in the world.  Sand Hills is just one of those special places that only God can create.  It is beyond words.  I haven't seen alot of the great courses, Augusta, Shinnecock, Pine Valley, Pebble Beach or other courses around Carmel Bay.  However, I couldn't imagine a better setting or atmosphere for golf.  You feel like your the only one out there and it is damn inspiring.  Sand Hills is definitely a much tougher course to play as compared to Wild Horse.  And granted, I'm not a scratch golfer and at times, a hack.  However, Sand Hills has 18 great holes and probably the best 3 finishing  holes on the planet.  The trip to Nebraska is worth it regardless if you play Sand Hills or not.  Get away from the parkland tracts and come out and play golf courses that inspire.  And on top of that, the Cornhuskers friggin rule.  Sorry about that.  Had to throw that in.

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