As most of you are well aware, the second (Red) course at Dismal River Golf Club is a Tom Doak gem. I have long enjoyed the photo tours of Ran, Mark Saltzman, Joe Bausch, and others. I feel they add tremendously to this site and are a primary reason why I return time and time again.
This is my first effort, and I am confident I cannot do the course justice. But I hope to convey, in a modest way, the spirit of this wonderful course with those that haven’t had the opportunity to make the journey themselves. This process only makes me appreciate those who share their photo tours on this site. It is a ton of work, and I am thankful for all those who put forth the time and effort.
A few general observations before I begin: I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what it was about this course that makes it feel so very different from the other courses of the region such as Sand Hills, Ballyneal, and Dismal River White. To me, it is because the Red possesses a sense of refinement that is different than the other courses. The first pioneers of the region are all bold and dramatic, befitting the rugged landscape in which they sit. The awe-inspiring nature of those courses is the primary reason that so many of us were first inspired to travel hundreds of miles into the Nebraska countryside in search of amazing golf and solitude.
By contrast, the Red lies on subtler ground with softer landforms. Together, the interconnected nature of many the holes and the judicious use of bunkering create a more finessed presentation. Additionally, the river environment of the final three holes is unique amongst the sandhill designs to date.
The interconnected fairways of the 14th (in the foreground in front of the bunker), the 15th (in the middle of the photo on the other side of the bunker) and the 17th (in the background):
I want to be clear that my characterization of the Red as a more refined presentation is neither a criticism of the other sandhills destinations, nor an attempt to assert the Red’s superiority. Rather, it is simply an effort to articulate what makes the Red unmistakably different than the other courses. As I explained to a group of my guests on a recent trip to Dismal, I am not concerned so much with which of the courses is better. Instead, I am simply ecstatic as a member of Dismal to have two amazingly different courses to play that are absolutely wonderful, challenging, and stunning in their own right.
On to the course . . .
The Upper 8: (Note that the course was being top-dressed as I was taking these. The turf conditions are better than they may appear in some photos.)
Hole 1 ⎯ 535/520
The first hole, a handshake par 5, plays across a shallow valley then back up to the green. It shares a teeing ground with the ninth hole, which plays perpendicular to the first across the entrance road. The defining characteristic of the first is the centerline bunker right where one would want to layup on their second shot.
From the tee:
If I had one nit-picky critique of the hole, it would be the left grass line. To my eye, it is glaringly straight, and straight lines are not very common in the sandhills. I'll note that the original routing diagram given out as a temporary scorecard shows a fairway bunker left. I think it would break up the line nicely, but it may not be an option given that Tom mentioned the main waterline to the club running parallel to the road on the left side of the hole.
From short of the central hazard:
A well designed two-tiered green as seen from the mound left of the green:
Hole 2 ⎯ 472/430
The second begins with a partially blind tee shot away from the large bunker complex on the left to a massive, undulating fairway.
From the tee:
From the start of the fairway:
The second shot plays between a bunker short left and a green-side bunker right.
From just over the left “greenside” bunker:
From the fairway, the left bunker appears to be set hard against the front of the green, but it is an illusion. In reality, there are some 35-40 yards of short grass between the bunker and the front of the green to accommodate the running second shot, which is often required given the hole’s length and propensity to play into the wind. The member learns over time there is plenty of room to chase one up using the left to right slope to the relatively benign green.
Hole 3 ⎯ 195/163
Playing from down and right of the second green, the third is a gem of a par three. Like JK, fear of the right hand bunker complex and added distance from being at elevation all conspire to lure me into playing long to the back fringe. Although difficult to discern from the photos, the green has plenty of humps and bumps making any lengthy effort a difficult to two putt.
From the tee:
A view of the green from the left (the central hazard of the 4th in the background):
Hole 4 ⎯ 388/354
Much has already been written about this world-class par four. With a fairway bisected by not one but two central hazards, there are plenty of options off the tee. The green is full of undulations, making proper second shot placement extremely important.
My preferred line is left of the centerline hazards leaving a clear view to the green:
A flared tee shot or one played intentionally to the lower right fairway leaves a totally blind second:
An aggressive tee shot up to the top of the right fairway leaves the best view of the green from slightly above.
Hole 5 ⎯ 261/239
A beast of a par three. I have had to hit driver the majority of then times I have played it from the back tees.
From the tee:
Greenside:
Note the grassed backside of the bunker. The green funnels all shots towards the center. I have found the easiest up and down is from short left of the green using the funnel to aid in getting chips close. The pin seems to be cut near the center most times I have played it.
One of the neat things about the fifth tee box is that seven of the upper eight flagsticks are visible, with the 1st being the lone exception. (Admittedly, you have to look hard for the 6th over a sea of native, but it is there.) It is a nice distraction from the task at hand.
View from the tee out over the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th:
Hole 6 ⎯ 326/290
Another great short par four. Many may be tempted to drive the green under the right conditions. I find that such an effort is more often than not a fool’s errand. There is not enough turf beyond the front bunkers for me to land a ball and hold the green. Best case scenario I am long with an easy chip. More often I am in a bunker or worse. Laying up too close to the green is also a mistake if the pin is cut where pictured. The firm nature of the greens make getting a shot close to the tucked pin nearly impossible. I score best when laying well back with a full wedge approach. But be wary of the hard right to left fairway slope. I have seen several careless layups propelled by the slope end up in the native left.
From the tee:
Pin tucked tight behind the greenside bunker.
Hole 7 ⎯ 442/388
Often turning back into the wind, the seventh is a stout par four with the majority of the fairway hidden beyond the bunker right. Although a hefty carry, challenging that bunker is rewarded with a turbo boost down the fairway. The green is perch atop a knoll and slopes sharply away, leaving difficult recovery options.
The backside of the bunker is turfed to propel shots forward and back to the center of the fairway.
The challenging green is full of undulations:
Hole 8 ⎯ 554/512
A downhill par 5, the eighth seems to be missing something to me. The fairway tumbles down towards the green with a pair of easily avoidable fairway bunkers on the right. To me, a great par five provides interest and challenge for both the Tiger that attempts to reach the green in two, as well as the tactician who makes birdies with his wedge. Here, the Tiger has an interesting option to attempt a fade into the green, avoiding the trouble short right. There is plenty of short grass left of the green, providing a convenient bailout. But the tactician has acres and acres in which to lay up left, with no real interest or challenge. Again, the provided course routing shows a fairway bunker left in the layup zone, which would be a welcomed addition in my book. The green has a ridge running back to front, which makes being on the proper side critical to the success of your birdie effort.
The tumbling eighth, taken from the 1st tee beyond the green:
A pair of bunkers await along the right-hand side, with plenty of room to bail out left of the green:
Lower 10 Tomorrow . . .