Wild Horse GC (pics)

[Tony_Chapman]

Mike - I wasn't going to mention the housing, but rather wanted to wait for someone to bring it up. While we all know that NO housing is the way to go, they have situated the lots at WH to at least be away from play (ie. I will never hit the ball into someone's front yard).

Yes, they are a minor eyesore, but I didn't think they took away from the experience. I would say since my visit last June approx. 10-15 houses have been put up.

And, re: #8 there may be no bunker tougher than that one except the Pit on the 18th at SH.

[Jason Hines]

Tony,

I concur on the housing, I have been going back to WH since its first month of opening.  The houses are not as bad as you would think, you are too busy looking at and playing the course.  There seems to be plenty of wooga in between the first cut and the OB.

Jason

[gooshnt]

We love to see our beloved Wild Horse being discussed.  Thanks for the write-up, Tony.  
A couple of thoughts on previous comments.  The burning we do is relatively easy as controlled burns go because of the many barriers we have i.e. fairways, cart paths.  But we want to make sure we are very careful of what we are doing because when we let it go--stand back!!  The pasture we are built on was "improved" at some point way back when by introducing bluegrass to it.  The fire helps to suppress some of that and encourages the warm season native grasses such as bluestems and prairie sandreed.  We have noticed a better and healthier population of those as since we implemented our burning plan.  Also without cattle the rough becomes thick and matted from the old dying vegetation--the fire helps to clean that up.
The natural look of the bunkering is very easy to maintain here due to the sandy native soil and fine fescue edges.  That is the key--fine fescues.  They stay "bunchy" and don't creep like a bluegrass would.  After studying our bunkers (and Sand Hills also)--I am in awe of how good Dan Proctor and Dave Axland are at recreating the natural look.  There are some other courses that have raggedy bunkers and some look pretty good, but no where is as natural as these two places.  Other raggedy bunkers usually look good, but on closer inspection seem a bit contrived.  The best way to judge the naturalness of a bunker IMHO is to look at it from a view not intended for play--if it looks good then it really is good!
One last thought on the condition of the course to appease Dick's curiousity about dessication.  We had another very dry winter and are very prone to winterkill.  The course held up pretty well however and only has a couple of knobs on #17 that were killed and need resodded.  The rest looks pretty good however.  Spring comes slowly here in central NE, but by May our turf is usually starting to come around.
Wild Horse Supt.
Josh Mahar

[Marc Haring]

Hi Josh.
We have about 80 acres of rough grassland on our course but I couldn't burn it due to the mammal and bird population. Do you have any issues in this regard?
Also, do you have to control your weeds chemically in the long rough?
The bunkers look fantastic. I tried growing our edges in an attempt to create the same effect but encountered way too much opposition from the golfers. Might try and do it one at a time so it sneaks up on them.

[RJ_Daley]

Josh, If you want to see a spring come slowly...try northern Wisconsin  I watch your weather throughout the winter-spring and I'd trade you in a minute.  Today is the opening day of our county course.  I'm sure it is very soggy at this point.  But, its golf!

I hope to see you this spring, and hi to Amy.  

For you fellows that don't know, Josh married very well indeed.

[Tony_Chapman]

Yesterday Adam Clayman was talking about the 9th and I mentioned I have a picture. Here it is:



Also (and maybe Josh could help me out on this) wanted to let you know they are building new tees on 1, 9 and 10 from what I could see. They will probably add 20 yards on 1 and 9 and the new one on 10 is located on the other side of the cart path and in front of the current back tee.

[rjsimper]

I think 20 more yards on 1 is an EXCELLENT idea.  When I played there, it was straight downwind (is this the prevailing wind) and I believe I hit 3I, half SW for both rounds I played...while I felt like a stud, 3I -full PW or so would be a little nicer for a 1st, IMHO

[Brad Swanson]

#1 and even #9 could definitely use some additional length.  #10 however is already a pretty strong test into a stiff breeze.  Any additional yardage there would really be tough.  I always thought that #2, and #4 could use a little more length.  I'd love to see an option for a longer shot requirement on #4 which might require a bounced in shot utelizing the nice contouring short of the green.  However, if it aint broke...

Cheers,
Brad Swanson

[Tony_Chapman]

Brad - I think 10 is probably the toughest driving hole on the course, but it appeared to me the new tee made the hole may 15-20 yards SHORTER. How's that in this day and age.   Also, with the differing angle of that tee shot, it appeared to make the drive a bit easier in my opinion.

[Sven Nilsen]

Dragging this thread out of retirement to add some new photos:

First Six Holes:

First Tee


150 Yard Markers


First Green


Second Tee


Second Green


Third Tee


Third Approach


Third Green


4th Tee


4th Green from behind


5th Tee


5th Green from the left


6th Tee


6th Green

[Jason Hines]

Sven,

You probably know this, but I cannot see the photos?

Would love a winter fix of true prairie golf....

Jason

[Sven Nilsen]

Second Set - Holes 7 - 12

7th Approach


7th Green


8th Tee


Through the Chute on 8


8th Green


9th Green


10th Green


10th from behind the green


11th Green from back left


12th Approach


12th Green

[Sven Nilsen]

Last Set - 13 through 18

13th


Looking back on 12


15th Tee


15th Green




16 from Fairway


16th Green






Working Windmill


17 Tee




17th Fairway


18th from 17th Fairway


17th Green


18th

[Patrick_Mucci]

Great photos of one of my favorite courses, especially when the wind blows

[Jerry Kluger]

In my humble opinion WH could be the best example of a minimalist design in the US. There are certainly better courses which are minimalist designs but they are on far better pieces of property such as Sand Hills, Ballyneal, Bandon, etc. Given that piece of what I would call ordinary farm land, WH is genius - but what do I know.

[PCCraig]

Sven:

Thanks for the photos, wow Wild Horse looks pure!

I'm assuming this was on your super long road trip this past summer/fall, but when exactly were you there?

[Sven Nilsen]

Sven:

Thanks for the photos, wow Wild Horse looks pure!

I'm assuming this was on your super long road trip this past summer/fall, but when exactly were you there?

Pat:

Was out there twice this year.  These pictures are from around Sept. 15.  WH was my first stop on a four week drive, which included golf at the following:

WH (36)
Ballyneal (3 days of 36)
CommonGround (waiting for Patrick Kiser to post his photos from our round out there)
Bear Creek (36)
Sand Hollow
Old MacDonald (36)
Pacific Dunes
Bandon Trails
Chambers Bay
Wine Valley (36)
Bully Pulpit
Links of North Dakota
Hawktree
Troy Burne
Erin Hills
Shepherd's Crook

I wish I'd taken more photos on the trip, but the combination of long drives, camping along the way and trying to lighten the golf bag did not work out for the Nikon and its limited battery life.  If anyone wants to see some off topic pictures of Arches NP, Yosemite or the Pacific Coast, I'd be happy to oblige.

[Scott Szabo]

The pictures of the 16th green don't do it justice.  It's a tough target to hit as the green tends to fall off on all sides.  The pit at the frong right of the green is no place to play from. 

Even with the recent apparent softening of the turf the course is still a blast to play and one of the better values around.  We make the trek out to play it at least once or twice a year and look forward to it each and every time.