Omaha Country Club

[Mike_Cirba]

I'm curious to know the scoop on Omaha (NE) Country Club and whether it's worth a visit.

Business takes me to Sioux Falls, SD, so it wouldn't be a horribly long drive and I could brag to Matt Ward about my cross-country travails.  

The design history is promising.  Designedy by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek in 1925, with revisions ten years later by Perry Maxwell.  Some additional changes were made by Dave Bennett in the 80s, evidently.

Any feedback is appreciated.  Thanks!

[Don Herdrich]

forget Omaha, try to get on the Field Club..........nice old design and low profile club..........

[Tom Renli]

Mike, Maxwell did do some work at OCC although it is not obvious in the greens.  I enjoyed playing there, however it will not wow you.  Don, I agree The Field Club is a nice, old low profile club.  However, the changes to accomodate the VA Hospital, the road that you play over and the shortened holes to produce a par 69, have spoiled it for me.

The other alternatatives are Happy Hollow, a Landford design in Omaha or Firethorn in Lincoln (Dye) that are both good.  I have not played Wakonda in Des Moines, but I have heard consistent good things about it.  Thanks, Tom

[Chris_Clouser]

Mike,

I believe the original date in your post is right for the course, but the Maxwell work was in 1951.  It was believed to be the last project that Maxwell was able to complete before his health got the best of him.  Depending on who you talk to, he worked on about 8 holes.  Some easy to document, some not.

I believe Jeff Brauer was up for a job there recently, but Keith Foster got it.  From what I understand they are wanting to redo the course to be more of a Maxwell type of design and get rid of the Stiles/Van Kleek feel that still exists.  You should contact the club.  Tom Athy is top notch and was very helpful when I talked to him in the past.

[RJ_Daley]

I spent a day at Happy Hollow, looking for what was left of Langford.  Forget it... not worth the bother because all the Langford was pretty much destroyed.  I'd like to have a crack at Jeff's Champions if I knew someone to get on that private course.  Firethorn in Lincoln (about 60 miles away) is another great choice, but private course.  Quarry Oaks is a public modern, not walkable, tough test.  It is 3/4 of the way between Omaha and Lincoln.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Mike I liked Quarrey Oaks. It was not walkable as Dick said but had a numbe rof very good holes. There are several other good courses  in the area as well.

[Jason Hines]

Hi Mike,

Rumor has it that OCC approved a several million dollar renovation recently, don't know the specifics other than redo greens and add length.  They do need to remove a few trees as well.  Omaha is known for or plagued by "very good" golf courses, no Pinehurst or dumps either.

Are you driving or flying to S. Falls?  I played with friends at Arbor Links in Nebraska City this weekend.  I am not a fan necessarily of Palmer courses by I commend the Arbor Day Foundation's stewardship of the land and innovations with course maintenance.

RJ, next time you come through, I can get you on Champions.

Jason

[Matt_Ward]

Mike:

You've traveled more than most on GCA partner!

Just a quick vote for a stop in Lincoln and Firethorn -- solid Pete Dye course without all the hard edges you find in other locales. Firethorn is private as already noted but I see it as the second best course in Cornhusker land behind that relatively unknown course in Mullen. There are no major glaring omissions with the layout -- just solid Pete and if time permits one you should include when in the area.

[Mike_Cirba]

Gentlemen (and I use that term loosely );

Thanks for all the feedback.

I usually get out to Sioux Falls twice a year in my new job, and although I don't have a planned trip imminent, I've been scouting for possible places to play within a reasonable drive.  (My last time there I drove to Sutton Bay and back, somewhat crazily, but glad to have done it!).  

Jason,

I did see where Champions was done by Jeff Brauer which definitely had me interested and if Jeff is still talking to me after my comments on the Giant's Ridge thread, I'd really enjoy playing another of his courses.  THANKS for the kind offer.  

Tom/Don,

The Field Club sounds pretty cool, especially since it was built originally in 1898.  Do you know what architects were involved there over the years?  It certainly sounds like the low-key, in the know choice in town.

On the other hand, I've been a closet Stiles/Van Kleek fan since I was a kid vacationing in Brigantine, NJ and playing their course in that town.  I actually had no idea they did work that far from the east coast so I'm really curious to see what's left.

Chris,

Leave it to you to give me the real skinny on Maxwell's involvement!  It sounds as though he probably didn't get too much of a chance to make a positive impact, but if I found one or two internal green poofs it would probably be worth the trip!

All,

I'll update you when I get some travel plans together.  Thanks again for such helpful posts.

[Gene Greco]

Johnny Goodman was a member at The Field Club while he was US Open champ in 1933, last amateur to do so.