Firethorn West 9 goes public.....

[Steve Strasheim]

This 9 hole routing is special to me as it is the only course I ever watched getting built from day one. It is also where my young son learned how to drive a cart and play a course. I was crushed when it closed a few years back. It never got much play from the general membership.

After reconfiguring the layout for additional housing, the course will re-open as a public facility and learning center. The new routing will likely be a little patched together, but I see this as a win-win-win. Good for the community golf scene, good for the Firethorn members and good for the owner/operators. Stopped by the new Pro Shop yesterday, they expect to be up and running by the end of May.

http://journalstar.com/sports/golf/9a7441ba-42bd-11df-ba38-001cc4c002e0.html

[Steve Strasheim]

The West 9 was added in 2001 and designed by Rod Whittman.

Here is a link to the course map showing the old West 9 layout.

http://www.firethorngolfclub.com/CourseOverview.php

[Jason Hines]

Hi Steve,

Interesting article that proves that I have lost touch with Nebraska golf over the last several years. 

What were the reasons the West 9 did not end up working out for Firethorn as a private 9?

How are Wilderness Ridge and Yankee Hill doing?

Jason

[Matthew Rose]

Interesting to see a lot of 9 hole courses popping up there. I noticed one up across 34 from the Highlands, where I lived once.

It also appears that North 40 is gone.

[Steve Strasheim]

Hi Jason,

I believe that the lack of play on the West 9 made it difficult to justify the maintenance. It required a cart ride from the clubhouse and the original 18 at Firethorn is so good that it was easy to pass by the West. Which made it perfect for me and my little boy.

Wilderness Ridge has a huge clubhouse and food operation. I think it's safe to say that they have been struggling. Why else would they terminate their entire golf staff. Yankee Hill doesn't get a lot of play and they run some killer golf specials for the public through the summer.

One interesting thing that they are going to do at the new learning center is employ nets to make a kind of awkward space and wetlands into a driving range. It will be interesting to see how that turns out as I don't think I've ever seen anything like it.

Matthew,

Yes, North Forty was torn up for a commercial real estate development that hasn't taken off yet. Kind of sad, if you ask me.

Hi Steve,

Interesting article that proves that I have lost touch with Nebraska golf over the last several years. 

What were the reasons the West 9 did not end up working out for Firethorn as a private 9?

How are Wilderness Ridge and Yankee Hill doing?

Jason