Only One in Omaha

[Dan Kettler]

I am making a quick business trip to Omaha in the middle of August and like a lot of you always am looking to squeeze in a round at a course that I normally wouldn't play. 

So the question, for locals and those familiar with the golf in that area, what course would you try to play if you had time for one round?

[PThomas]

probably Omaha CC if you can

[Phil McDade]

probably Omaha CC if you can

A Langford that the club had Perry Maxwell redo in the 1950s. Site of next year's U.S. Senior Men's Open.

[Scott Tricker]

Dan,

OCC is a great layout.

If you have the chance, I would recommend ArborLinks in Nebraska City. From downtown, its only a 40 minute drive. Easily the best on this side of the state. It is well worth the journey.

Would be happy to join you!

Scott Tricker

[John Kavanaugh]

Scott,

Are you saying that you consider Arbor Links to be the equal of OCC?  AL would be a nice stay and play for my next visit to the Dismal River region.  Are you affiliated with the club?

[Jason Thurman]

I played ArborLinks a few weeks ago on a business trip. I agree that it's a very good track. Bring extra balls, as the long native areas are very severe, but I really enjoyed the layout.

On the public side, Quarry Oaks is a solid course on a fantastic property southwest of Omaha. It's a very tough course with some excellent views, but could have been a lot better given the property.

[Will Lozier]

Until this thread, I was totally unaware of OCC.  Looking at the website, it looks like great fun!  I have never seen such a wild mix of uphill and downhill approaches!  Or, holes that travail from high point to high point over and through natural valleys - tremendous.  Those of you who are familiar with it, are the elevation changes more severe in person?  Like ANGC?

Cheers

[Scott Tricker]

I am affiliated with ArborLinks....our company built and owns it. With that said, I have played every facility in the area (live in Omaha) and it is easily one of the best. Regardless of my own personal connection, the local recognition by golfers of AL speaks for itself. Its by far one of hte best Palmer designs I've seen....totally different than his normal layouts. We have a new superintendent who has done a great job of firming up th turf conditions.

OCC is another favorite of mine-- great setting, re-design, and overall atmosphere.

I am playing at OCC tomorrow-- it is always a treat and will be a great venue for the Senior Open next year.

Quarry Oaks is a wonderfully-scenic course but once you take a critical look at the design, its lacking. No doubt that the 17-18th holes are 2 of the prettiest in the areas, but other holes throughout the layout are real head-scratchers. AGNC it is NOT. Course conditioning has at times suffered due to high humidity trends and lack of air-flow during July-August timeframe.

In Omaha for a day and looking for a quality round, I would recommend the following:

1. Omaha Country Club
2. ArborLinks
3. Happy Hollow Club

[Scott Tricker]

Scott,

Are you saying that you consider Arbor Links to be the equal of OCC?  AL would be a nice stay and play for my next visit to the Dismal River region.  Are you affiliated with the club?

John-- happy to sponsor you at Arbor when you travel through to DR. Just PM me and will get you set up...would love to join you!

Scott

[Phil McDade]

In Omaha for a day and looking for a quality round, I would recommend the following:

1. Omaha Country Club
2. ArborLinks
3. Happy Hollow Club

Scott: Any Langford left at Happy Hollow?

[Tony_Chapman]

Scott -- Welcome to GCA! I live in Grand Island and played Arbor Links when it first opened. Sounds like I need to get back.

Phil -- I don't think there is much Langford left at Happy Hollow, unfortunately. Still a wonderful track.

Dan -- Is access an issue for you? If no, OCC is the place to go. Never played there, but have driven around. The recent work done there is top-notch. Arbor Links a very nice second. I'm also a Jeff Brauer homer and love Woodland Hills just east of Lincoln (which is completely public). Also, his Champions Run hosts the web.com Omaha Classic and is a decent effort as well. There is no shortage of fun golf in the Omaha area, in my opinion. One of my favorite public's to play in the area is Dodge Riverside, right on the river in Council Bluffs. A city owned public that was always in great shape 10 years ago when I played there.

[John Kavanaugh]

Tony,

Have you been to Awarii this year?  How is it holding up?

[Jason Thurman]

Scott, I agree with you on Quarry Oaks. It's not bad, per se, but just not very interesting. A stern test in a wonderful setting but not an overwhelming design.

It's too bad because I do think the property was truly something special.

Tony, I also enjoyed Woodland Hills but wouldn't drive past ArborLinks or even Quarry Oaks to play it if coming from Omaha. It's a good course and an excellent routing through the subdivision but a notch below those two and twice as far. Between Quarry Oaks and ArborLinks, I'd probably split ten rounds 8:2 in favor of ArborLinks.

If I lived in Grand Island I'd probably weigh 30 lbs more, as I'd have a hard time resisting heading up to Dannebrog every Thursday for pizza and sand green golf.

[Tony_Chapman]

John -- I have not been over there this summer. I do know they lost the super and I have heard memberships have been hard to come by.

[Tony_Chapman]

If I lived in Grand Island I'd probably weigh 30 lbs more, as I'd have a hard time resisting heading up to Dannebrog every Thursday for pizza and sand green golf.

  It should be a GCA outing for sure.

[Mike Hendren]

The 4th at OCC  is among the best parkland par fours in America.  Grovel.

[Matt Ingraham]

Dan,

In my opinion, you cannot go wrong with ArborLinks.  I know several guys that regularly play there.  That being said, I love OCC.  It is a great golf course.  I actually have a hard time comparing Arbor Links and OCC since they are so different. 

If you need access to OCC, ping me and I can get it setup for you.  Depending on when you are looking to play, I might be able to join you.

Matt

[Mark Smolens]

Mr. Feinberg and I played Woodland Hills on Monday after the 5th Major, before continuing to Omaha to fly home. Really fun track, and the kid behind the counter was nice enough to get us out in front of a group of guys preparing to go out -- we played through one group on about the 6th hole, and finished our round in less than three hours.

It was much more humid in Lincoln than Mullen, however, and Woodland obviously paled in comparison to Dismal River. . .

[Jeff_Brauer]

Mark,

How did it look?  I haven't been back in a few years, but they lost their water permit.  Surprisingly, the bent fw always looked pretty good despite being watered only a few times a year.  But, in a really hot year like this one, I have to wonder.

[Mark Smolens]

Jeff, they must have done something about a water permit, because the course was very green. Tons of big trees to frame your tee shots -- if you are capable of hitting the friggin ball where you want. There were quite a few grounds crew members out with hoses syringing the greens because it was very, very warm, but the greens and fairways played hard and fast.

I obviously wouldn't make a golf trip to Lincoln to play there, but if I can make the NU vs. Neb. rematch in a year (those husker fans are really gonna be pissed when my Wildcats paste them gain, this time in Evanston), I'd definitely try to get back out there again.

[John_Conley]

Luke Guthrie just shot 125 at Champions Run.  62-63 for 17 under par.  He has a three-shot lead going into the weekend.

Scoring oddity?  He double-bogeyed #1 both days.

Luke is LAST in the field in pars.

[Tiger_Bernhardt]

Omaha CC is the course to play. I did enjoy Quarey Oaks but would only play it if Omaha CC is not a go.