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Craig Sweet

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Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« on: July 05, 2006, 06:15:23 PM »
I did a search here and foound some discussion of golf in Omaha...mostly the Omaha Field Club...

I'll be in that neck of the woods in mid September and again in late October...

Any suggestions on where to play?
We are no longer a country of laws.

Jason Hines

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2006, 06:54:07 PM »
Hi Craig,

Omaha is blessed or cursed with a lot of very good golf courses, but none that blow your socks off.  Are you looking at private or public?

Craig Sweet

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2006, 06:56:15 PM »
Jason...it doesn't matter to me.  I'm planning on staying a couple of extra days each visit, and would prefer to play "good" courses....

We are no longer a country of laws.

Jason Hines

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2006, 07:25:35 PM »
No problem, some of the other Nebraskans probably have different opinions, but here are mine.  Jeff Brauer has a couple of courses in Omaha/CB, Bent Tree in Council Bluffs and Champions Run in Omaha.  Both are very good.  I believe Happy Hollow Country Club used to be a Langford and Moreau, Quarry Oaks has nice views and trees along the river.  I am not a big Palmer Course fan, but there is The Players Club in Omaha, Nebraska City has Arbor Links which is a Palmer course as well, but it uses minimal fertilizers and has interesting tidbits from an ecology and agronomy stand point.  There is Robert Trent Jones Sr., Willow Lakes, which used to be a military course.  And then, there are 40 other places that are “very good” as well.

If you have a full day with nothing to do, drive 3 hours to Wild Horse in Gothenburg.  That is probably the best course in the state you can play.
 

Tom Renli

Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2006, 10:45:47 PM »
Craig,
I think Jason has it, a number of good but no great courses.  In Omaha in order, I would try the following:
* Omaha CC - talk of some Tillinghast and Maxwell presence
* Champions - Nationwide host
* Omaha Field Club - J Goodman's club, reduced to par 69 for VA hospital

Lincoln, an easy hour away maybe a better call:
* Firethorn - hosted several USGA events
* Woodlands - GD 4.5 or 5 star, I know, fire away
* Lincoln CC
* Wilderness Ridge - new property on South side

Cheers, Tom

Craig Sweet

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #5 on: July 05, 2006, 11:26:28 PM »
Thanks Tom!....Will there still be some golf ouot there in late October or is the season pretty much over?
We are no longer a country of laws.

Tony_Chapman

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2006, 11:40:54 PM »
Craig -- As long as we don't get a mid-October snow you should be fine. Most of the courses stay open year round, unless they are unplayable by snow.

I agree with all the posts. If you can get access to private clubs, you'll probably want to go with OCC or Happy Hollow Club. For my $$, I like the Trent Jones course. Really fun. Brauer's course in CB is fun as well.

Dan Boerger

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #7 on: July 06, 2006, 07:45:41 AM »

I've played Champions on Omaha a number of times and really like it. The final strech of holes can be very demanding. Also, OCC is a fine course.

In Lincoln, I've played and really enjoyed Wilderness Ridge.
"Man should practice moderation in all things, including moderation."  Mark Twain

Jason Hines

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #8 on: July 06, 2006, 09:00:19 AM »
Hey Craig,

I forgot to mention, OCC is right in the middle of a remodel.  Let me know when you are out this way, maybe I can join you for a round.

J.

RJ_Daley

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #9 on: July 06, 2006, 10:39:20 AM »
Just a minor observation... Happy Hollow, Langford and Morreau has had all the interesting stuff pounded out of it.  There are photos in the club house indicating it might have been a pretty good example of L&M at one time.  But, I'd say all has been lost there through much remodelling.  It was also soft as chocolate pudding.

L&M is noted as original archies for OCC, remodelled by Perry Maxwell.  Yet, another site identifies Styles and Van Kleek as originals, which I believe is wrong.  I haven't seen it personally.

Jason, who is remodelling OCC now and what do you think of its design and history?
No actual golf rounds were ruined or delayed, nor golf rules broken, in the taking of any photographs that may be displayed by the above forum user.

Jason Hines

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #10 on: July 06, 2006, 11:36:09 AM »
Hi RJ,

Keith Foster is re-doing the course, their website says in the spirit of Perry Maxwell, which would be nice.

I have not played OCC yet, I only go for a run by it on the weekends, so I personally do not have specifics.  Course conditions are always perfect, other comments from those I know who have played was that it was short and tight.  

Drove by the course Sunday, greens are staked off and dirt, it appeared some of the fairways were re-seeded.

Tony_Chapman

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #11 on: July 06, 2006, 12:08:57 PM »
RJ - Maybe this will help.



Here is some text from there website

Quote
Omaha Country Club offers the finest in amenities, beginning with 18 championship holes of golf originally established in 1927 by Langford and Moreau. In 1951, nationally acclaimed architect, Perry Maxwell was retained to breathe new life into the time-honored course. Omaha Country Club now sits among the nation’s finest private clubs including Augusta National, Prairie Dunes, Southern Hills and Colonial as bearers of Perry Maxwell designs. Honoring the spirit and integrity of the original course and the redesign by Perry Maxwell, renowned golf course architect Keith Foster was commissioned in 2003 to restore the golf course’s traditional appearance and character. Enhancements to the course will be complete in October of 2006. Magnificently designed throughout 300 acres of forested countryside and original Omaha farmlands is Omaha Country Club and its championship golf course. Each hole respects a land of great natural beauty with panoramic views of mature vegetation and natural rolling terrain. The course’s tree-lined fairways, multiple tee positions, strategically placed bunkers and hazards and impeccable greens combines the most exciting elements of course design with attentiveness to preserving the natural terrain and character of the land. The bentgrass greens are built to USGA standards with fairways, semi-rough, and rough areas defined by a variety of grasses and local vegetation, along with thousands of Australian and Ponderosa Pine, Red Oak and Crimson King Maple trees, some of which have been in place for over 200 years. The length, layout, and individual features of each hole, the unique contour of each putting surface, the positioning of the fairways and bunkers combine to create a challenging, visually striking and enjoyable setting for golf. From the first drive to the last putt, the course has been designed for the players’ maximum enjoyment. 18 championship holes of golf – a masterpiece that will be appreciated by professionals and amateurs alike, time and time again.

Now, Maxwell died in 1952 -- I think -- so who knows what he got done after being commissioned in 1951.

nandoal

Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #12 on: July 27, 2006, 09:33:53 PM »
Craig Sweet, I'm in the same position as you.  I'll be in the Omaha area the week of Labor Day. (coming in from Pittsburgh)  And I told my wife I'm going to play twice while we are in town visting her family.  Any suggestions on two GOOD tracks to play?

Craig Sweet

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2006, 11:05:28 PM »
nandoal....I think the courses mentioned are pretty good...from what I have read here and from the little research I have done...I am going to try and play the Omaha Field Club and maybe the Champions (?)course....Happy Hollow sounds like a good bet too.
We are no longer a country of laws.

Jeff_Brauer

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2006, 11:18:06 PM »
OCC believes it is Langford, but Whitten saw an ad in an old mag where Stiles lists it as a credit.  Neither side is budging.

Maxwell did four holes and it was the last project before his death, but there is an old newspaper article with him on site during construction and being quoted.  I believe he did greens 4,5,6,13,and 16.  5 may have been a complete new hole, with some others combined. I recall seeing old aerials, and the original 3rd hole was a Mae West type arrangement that was obliterated at some point in the 70's I believe.  They had a master plan prepared back then, I think by Dave Bennet of Austin, TX. I can't recall who it was now.  I think some other work in that era was done by a local pro.

Back to your golf selection, I am biased naturally to you playing my Champions Club design, which is a modern design, with lots of 80's style mounding, but with good holes and good contrast to any of the older courses you play.  I think you would prefer HH to OFC, although OFC has some quirk you won't find anywhere else, like road crossings, heavily cross sloped fws, and when I consulted there several years ago, even crossing fairways!
Jeff Brauer, ASGCA Director of Outreach

Tony_Chapman

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #15 on: July 27, 2006, 11:18:51 PM »
Craig and nandoal -- Champions is a very good Jeff Brauer effort and hosts the Nationwide event beginning next Thursday (you can probably see some on TGC).

Craig, I'll be interested to your impressions of OFC. It hosted the 1941 US Amateur, but was blown up (for lack of a better phrase) when they built a Vet's Hospital. It's now a par 62 (I think) and you play across a fairly busy street a couple of times. NOTE: I've never played it.

I have played nearly every public course in town, but know little about OFC, OCC and Happy Hollow Club. If you can gain access, go for it.

Tony

Craig Sweet

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #16 on: July 27, 2006, 11:29:29 PM »
Tony...I was thinking of writing a letter of introduction to both Happy Hollow and OFC and ask if it would be possible to play a round...

I have never done such a thing and it might be a good idea to have our club pro or general manager write the letter???????

We shall see...
We are no longer a country of laws.

Josh_Mahar

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #17 on: July 28, 2006, 11:05:17 AM »
I believe Happy Hollow is or will be shortly going under a renovation.

Jay Carstens

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Re:Golf in Omaha/C Bluffs
« Reply #18 on: July 28, 2006, 11:33:41 AM »
Don't forget Beatrice CC (my old home) south of Lincoln, a fine course and a very good test.  If you can keep it in the 70's there, you've hit lots of good golf shots.  Good luck!  ;)
Play the course as you find it