Tatanka Golf Club at Heather Hill in Niobrara NE - Photo Tour

[Derek Holland]

Tatanka Golf Club at Feather Hill
New here (based out of Minneapolis) and this is my first time doing a photo tour so any feedback is welcome. I visited Tatanka Golf Club in Niobrara Nebraska while returning from the 5^th Major at Dismal River.
Tatanka Golf Club is located at the Ohiya Casino in North East Nebraska. Designed by Paul Albanese and opened in 2015 the course is set up over the rolling hills off the Niobrara river. A few of the ranking publications had mentioned it among their best new courses for 2015 so I figured I would stop by and check it out.
Layout
The course is laid out over some hill terrain with sparse trees populating the property. The only rough found on the course is the native grass (per the scorecard played as a lateral hazard in the case of a lost ball).

Tees
Black 7,450 yards 75.7/134
Blue 7,077 yards 73.8/130
White 6,703 yards 72.3/126
Green 6,223 yards 70.2/115
Yellow 5,651 yards 68.8/114
Red 4,784 yards 68.4/111

First Hole ”Peace Pipe” Par 4
 
Black 470; Blue 448; White 423; Green 393; Yellow 361; Red 331

First Hole plays downhill leading to a bit of a blind tee shot which can make for a bit of a nervy first tee shot (especially after being in the car for 5 hours). Aiming point just to the right of the bunker. Fairway starts tight but opens up around 200 yards out and slopes a bit left to right.

Second shot is also downhill with space to the left of the green and a bit of space over. Depending on the pin placement, the bunker right of the green can be trouble.

A relatively flat putting surface with a slight valley in the middle running front right to back left. The lack of extreme slope allows one get acquainted with the greens.
Second Hole “The Man and The Oak” Par 5
 
Black 561; Blue 533; White 505; Green 435; Yellow 391; Red 366

The second hole plays as a somewhat short Par 5 but the second/third shots play significantly uphill. Keeping the drive to the right keeps the hole a bit shorter but brings the natural grass into play. The shared fairway with the third hole (left) gives plenty of room. Favoring the left too much can cause slight tree issues but only if you are trying to get to the green in two.

This is the look from 225 yards out. Bunker straight ahead protects the left side of the green and the right has a false front. There is a bit of bailout over the green and a bit of space left and right.

The Approach from 100 yards out.

The false front is visible here.
Third Hole “The Hunter” Par 3
 
Black 472; Blue 448; White 425; Green 400; Yellow 359; Red 302

A long par 4 that is aided by playing down the same hill that was just played up on hole 2. A huge fairway that slopes right to left allows the player to be aggressive as 3 shares its fairway with #2 and #16. The bunker a bit to the right is the only trouble off the tee.

The above is shot from 200 out. Keeping the drive straight is rewarded by not having to worry about the trees on the left or right. However, drives that stray to the left or right are still playable.

Three’s green is shared with 16 hence the large tier on the right. A bunker (just off frame) protects the front right. Otherwise plenty of room for what is likely to be a longer iron approach on this hole. The back left of the green does fall away in to a bit of a collection area.

[Derek Holland]

Fourth Hole “Orphan Boy” Par 4
Black 412; Blue 391; White 371; Green 347; Yellow 317; Red 299

A hard dogleg left par 4 (excuse my poor picture) has a somewhat intimidating tee shot with a 150 yard carry and a bunker in the middle of the fairway. Longer hitters can attempt to carry the tree on the left (243 yards from the tips). Driving it beyond the bunker will get the golfer to a plateau and a downhill shot into the green. Not much space to the right as the tree line covers up native grass immediately behind it.

The view from 135 in. The whole hole slopes right to left so there is no reason to flirt with the bunker to the left of the green.

The green has a bit of a fall away to the right but overall slopes right to left and is relatively flat.
Fifth Hole Par 3
 
Black 211; Blue 197; White 184; Green 170; Yellow 125; Red 78

The first of four long par 3s. This one plays flat with trouble long and right. A bunker protects the green right and long falls off quickly into the native grass. Plenty of space short and left so the golfer can play as conservatively as is desired.

The green slopes back to front and left to right. As mentioned above (but not pictured) over the back is dead as the green falls away hard towards the native grass and chips back up would be tough to stop.
Sixth Hole  “The Fox” Par 4
 
Black 362; Blue 344; White 326; Green 313; Yellow 302; Red 289

A shorter par four with a green that is protected by two large bunkers. Only that longest hitters could think about being aggressive with the green here, otherwise a large opening fairway for most golfers.

View from 150 in. Green slopes back to front and falls off to the left.

There is some space beyond the bunkers and green has a pretty good slope from back right to front left with a fall off on the front left of the green.

[Derek Holland]

Seventh Hole ”Porcupine Butte” Par 4
Black 452; Blue 430; White 407; Green 384; Yellow 350; Red 253

A downhill tee shot on a somewhat long dogleg par 4 hole. A bunker on the right that takes 230ish to carry on the right edge of the fairway adds a bit of danger to cutting the fairway.

The view from the left of the fairway of an uphill second. Keeping a drive too far right will lead to an approach over the bunker protecting front right. If the pin is back right any shot at it will be over the protecting bunker front right.

Not really seen here but the green  has a hump running down the middle that will funnel shorts right or left which makes for a difficult approach. There is a bit of bailout short left and long if needed.
Eighth Hole “The Beaver” Par 3
 
Black 237; Blue 226; White 215; Green 204; Yellow 193; Red 182

A long down hole par 3 that falls away pretty hard off the front. Combine that with a hard fall off over the back of the green and despite the downhill tee shot, the green can be quite difficult to hold. Add to that a bunker protecting short right and you have a monster of a hole.

The view of the green from 50 yards out showcases the difficulty to hit the green.

The green goes front to back and left to right with a decent amount of contour.
Ninth Hole “Pact of Fire” Par 5
 
Black 547; Blue 520; White 447; Green 433; Yellow 403; Red 333

The tee shot on the 9th presents the golfer with two options. Play left and cut a bit off the uphill par 5 in a tight landing area (but have an approach over a bunker) or play right to a large landing area and have a better angle to the green albeit a bit longer. At the end of the day, I would be surprised to see anyone take the left option with the risks not outweighing the rewards.

The play to the right leaves the player with a pretty wide open second shot. The uphill shot makes it tough to get to the green but anything over the bunker leaves a short wedge into the green.

The green has a false front and slopes back to front and the back left has a tier from the 18^th green that forces balls back to the right.

[Derek Holland]

Tenth Hole “A Dogs Revenge” Par 4
Black 432; Blue 411; White 395; Green 379; Yellow 330; Red 308

The tenth hole parallels the first and plays similarly. A downhill par 4 that has a fairway that expands around the 200 yard mark. The fair pushes ball to the left and becomes more severe the further out you drive it.

From 175 out it is a pretty open shot to the green. Bunker protects front left and there is a bit of space to bail out to the right.

Not too much to the green here as it is one of the flatter on the course.
Eleventh Hole “Little Brave and Medicine Woman” Par 4             
 
Black 425; Blue 404; White 383; Green 362; Yellow 318; Red 226

This par 4 has a decent length carry off the tee (160-200 from the back 3 tees). Longer drivers can be more aggressive as the wetlands on the left end and the fairway really opens. Shorter hitters have a smaller landing area where the left falls off into wetlands and the right into native grass. Bunker is nearly 300 yards out.

From around 150 out the second shot plays uphill to an undulating green. A false front on the left will funnel balls off the green.

The false front is seen from this view but overall the greens high point is back left with a semi tier in the back of the green.
Twelfth Hole “Forgotten Ear Corn” Par 3
 
Black 215; Blue 204; White 193; Green 182; Yellow 167; Red 94

The view from the Black and Blue tees makes this a slightly uphill par 3 with a backboard that helps to keep the long iron/woods on the green. Plenty of bailout to the right.

The view from the White and Green tees. Not sure what the thought was here as the hole plays significantly uphill with a tree blocking 90% of the green. Due to the distance this makes it difficult to clear the tree and anything other than a hard draw means the player can only aim for the right 10% of the green which works away from the hole and towards the bailout area. I am not sure what this hole is trying to accomplish as it is a par 3 that essentially forces the golfer to lay up. Furthermore, the hole plays significantly more easily from the Black and Blue tees which seems counterproductive to me. The below looks back from the middle of the green and you can see that the right tee box (White/Green) is completely obscured by the tree.


The green itself has a nice backboard to hold the long shots and works back to front for the most part and falls off front left and front right.

[Derek Holland]

Thirteenth Hole “Spider and The Ducks” Par 5
Black 604; Blue 574; White 563; Green 514; Yellow 453; Red 427

A long Par 5 with a slightly downhill tee shot in to a large landing area. Aiming point  is over the left edge of the bunker as the first shot doglegs slightly right.

The view from about 300 yards out. From here the whole doglegs back slightly left and there is a bunker on the left of the fair way about 90 yards out from the green that makes cutting the corner a risky proposition.

The look into the green from about 130 yards out with a bunker off the right of the green and some bailout space to the left if needed. Forgot to take a picture of the green but it works front to back and falls off a bit to the left.
Fourteenth Hole “The Artichoke and Muskrat” Par 5
 
Black 481; Blue 453; White 444; Green 409; Yellow 365; Red 298

A long Par 4 with a significant carry off the tee. The hole doglegs pretty hard left so the longer hitters can try and cut it by carrying the bunker on the left which is a carry of 230-270 yards. Carry that bunker and the fairway works towards the green so a friendly kick will help the ball in that direction. Staying right of the bunker will leave the golfer a 200 yard plus approach.

The look in from about 200 yards. Water on the left with a Biarritz green that works back right to front left. Plenty of room to the right and the slope will funnel the ball to the green and takes the water out of play.

A severe Biarritz green means the long par 4 finishes with likely a difficult put.
Fifteenth Hole “The Rabbit” Par 4
 
Black 359; Blue 344; White 323; Green 305; Yellow 280; Red 214

A short par 4 with a large open fairway. Bunkers start at about 240-260 yards out so a layup seems to be the play. Fairway has a strong slope left to right. The right side of the fairway can give a slightly better angle in.

The look in from 100 out. Due to the slope the shot will often be blind and there are bunkers front left and right protecting the green.

Not too much to the green but it does fall away back left to a small collection area.

[Derek Holland]

Sixteenth Hole “The Wonderful Turtle” Par 4
 Black 451; Blue 429; White 406; Green 384; Yellow 374; Red 295

A long downhill par 4 shares its fairway with the 3^rd. The fairway is protected right by native grass and left by bunkers and two trees that will make the approach more difficult. The left side of the fairway falls off on to the third as well which can increase the difficulty of the approach.

The view from the right side of the fairway. A small tree protects the right side of the green and a bunker is off the front left. A large backboard on the back left of the green gives golfers who stay right a look at the green.

A look at the green that slopes pretty severely front to back and connects to the 3^rd green and falls off that way if one misses to the left.
Seventeenth Hole “The Little Mice” Par 3
 
Black 201; Blue 191; White 181; Green 171; Yellow 151; Red 125

A long, slightly downhill par 3 that slopes a bit left of right and has a bunker off to the right.

Green slopes back right to the front left. A slight backboard on the back as well.
Eighteenth Hole “White Buffalo” Par 5
 
Black 558; Blue 530; White 512; Green 438; Yellow 411; Red 364

An uphill par 5 serves as the finishing hole. A bunker on the left is the main hazard off the tee. Playing just to the right of that will put the longer hitters with a chance of reaching in two.

The look from 200 out shows the severe uphill slope the player will face reaching the green. Add into the fact that the green has a false front and that there are bunkers to the left makes for a difficult approach. Leaving the drive or layup too far right will bring the sole tree into place. There is plenty of space to the left if a layup is necessary.

The green slopes back right to front left and falls off pretty hard to the left if one misses there.

[Jason Thurman]

Derek, there's some cool looking stuff there. I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this course. A few questions:

• The native cut looks pretty impenetrable. I know you said it's treated as a hazard. Can you expect to find a ball in there?
• The holes with wide corridors look pretty wide. How narrow are the ones that look narrower in photos?
• How firm does it play?
• What did you think of it?

[Thomas Dai]

Derek,


Well done for your first photo-tour. They taken a lot of time and effort to put together and are one of the most interesting aspects of this site.


How many months of the year would the course be open?


There looks to be quite a lot of interesting aspects to the course and it appears that water is used sparingly. Is the running game possible?


Rather curious as to some of the course features/bunkers in relation to some of the names for each hole. An aerial photo might contain some amusement in this regard.


Atb

[RJ_Daley]

It seems Paul Albanese has a good relationship with Native American tribes for building casino resort courses.  He did a very nice job on the first one at Sweetgrass and I need to get up to see how the second one is coming in. 

Tatanka has in deed slipped under our radar.  I had forgotten about it after it was brought up on GCA.com a year or so ago.  It may be a good layover stop next year on the way to NE. 

But Jason has a point I think about how impenetrable the rough is.  If they are playing it as a lateral hazard, that can't be optimal.  I am a bit perplexed about the management and maintenance variance of native grasses at these sand hill and other prairie courses where some are doing well with keeping it wispy enough to play most balls fairly out, and some that leave you stone dead.  I know Wild Horse burns theirs each year.  I doubt SHGC does, yet I am somewhat perplexed that although DR's white course is newer by far than SHGC, the rough has become more lush and each year seems more so.   I wish a super managing the wooga to a draw could post an industry article in one of the forums or mags for us to review any special techniques that are most successful.

My other big question is, how walkable is Tatanka resort?

PS. also my compliments for a fine photo tour, thanks.

[Mike Sweeney]

The green slopes back right to front left and falls off pretty hard to the left if one misses there.

This does not look like a future clubhouse or lodge, so what is this behind 18?


I am into low key golf these days, and this photo tour was really interesting in a complex way. There are pieces that look great, pieces that look like a "missed opportunity", and pieces that look like it needs some pruning (especially the rough in a few places).

Thanks for posting.

[RJ_Daley]

Mike, the Native Am casino buildings on many reservations are not architectural design marvels... 

[Phil McDade]

Derek:


Very good tour first time out. Like others, I like a lot of what I see here, but also a few odd elements here and there. You've done a nice job of pointing out the course's primary features, occasional warts and all. It looks playable but hard in many ways.

[Derek Holland]

Derek, there's some cool looking stuff there. I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this course. A few questions:

• The native cut looks pretty impenetrable. I know you said it's treated as a hazard. Can you expect to find a ball in there?
• The holes with wide corridors look pretty wide. How narrow are the ones that look narrower in photos?
• How firm does it play?
• What did you think of it?

Jason - The native cut was pretty impenetrable. I went in 3 times and found my ball once. The one time I was able to find my ball I was only able to advance it about 40-50 yards.


The fairways were at minimum 40 yards and I do not remember any corridors that I though were overly narrow.


Greens were firm and played like it but the fairways didn't play as firm as the grass itself was on the longer side.


Overall I enjoyed the course. The only hole I really didn't enjoy was the 12th. Otherwise the course had pretty good variety and used the land pretty well. A number of holes made you think about how to play it and where to place your ball. I wouldn't go out of my way to play it but when I find myself in South Dakota again I will venture down.

[Derek Holland]

Derek,


Well done for your first photo-tour. They taken a lot of time and effort to put together and are one of the most interesting aspects of this site.


How many months of the year would the course be open?


There looks to be quite a lot of interesting aspects to the course and it appears that water is used sparingly. Is the running game possible?


Rather curious as to some of the course features/bunkers in relation to some of the names for each hole. An aerial photo might contain some amusement in this regard.


Atb

Thomas - I don't know for sure on the plan for having the course open but I would assume it is similar to Minnesota courses which would mean an early April open and a late October close.


The running game is definitely possible and sometimes necessary due to the firmness of the greens.


I didn't notice any relationship between the hole names and their architecture but I also didn't pay much attention to it.

[Derek Holland]

The green slopes back right to front left and falls off pretty hard to the left if one misses there.

This does not look like a future clubhouse or lodge, so what is this behind 18?


I am into low key golf these days, and this photo tour was really interesting in a complex way. There are pieces that look great, pieces that look like a "missed opportunity", and pieces that look like it needs some pruning (especially the rough in a few places).

Thanks for posting.

Mike - That is the Ohiya Casino (with which the course is affiliated) in the background

[Derek Holland]

It seems Paul Albanese has a good relationship with Native American tribes for building casino resort courses.  He did a very nice job on the first one at Sweetgrass and I need to get up to see how the second one is coming in. 

Tatanka has in deed slipped under our radar.  I had forgotten about it after it was brought up on GCA.com a year or so ago.  It may be a good layover stop next year on the way to NE. 

But Jason has a point I think about how impenetrable the rough is.  If they are playing it as a lateral hazard, that can't be optimal.  I am a bit perplexed about the management and maintenance variance of native grasses at these sand hill and other prairie courses where some are doing well with keeping it wispy enough to play most balls fairly out, and some that leave you stone dead.  I know Wild Horse burns theirs each year.  I doubt SHGC does, yet I am somewhat perplexed that although DR's white course is newer by far than SHGC, the rough has become more lush and each year seems more so.   I wish a super managing the wooga to a draw could post an industry article in one of the forums or mags for us to review any special techniques that are most successful.

My other big question is, how walkable is Tatanka resort?

PS. also my compliments for a fine photo tour, thanks.

RJ - The native grass was the thickest I have ever seen and very lively. Having played at Dismal River before this it was night and day. Dismal River was pretty thick but balls could be found pretty easily (I think I only lost 3-4 balls over 6 rounds while I lost 2 in just one round at Tatanka). The grass its self seemed much happier and perhaps the soil and precipitation of the are made it ideal for its growth. I would have enjoyed it more if the native grass was thinner.


I will start by saying that a cart is included in all green fees. That being said the layout of the course is quite walkable with no large gaps between holes and only some minor detours due to hazards/carries. Also, there weren't any walking paths through the native grass. The grass had little leaves or something on top that would get in to your shoes and stick to your socks. I had to empty my shoes twice due to this and think it would be an issue when walking. If paths were mowed for walkers, I see no reason why the course couldn't be walked with relative ease.

[Adam Clayman]

Heading North and west, out of So. Sioux City Ne. even the most well travelled will marvel at not only the topography, but also how verdant and fertile this valley along the Lewis and Clark trail really is. The rhythm to the hills and dales, of this region, is fractal randomness at it's finest.  Traveling farther west on route 12, it isn't until about 20 miles from the course does the flora start to show a different, slightly more arid hue, and, the canvas starts to stretch out.  While still rolling, the hills take on a more repeatable pattern.  Paul Albanese and partner did a nice job of giving Tatanka an ebb and flow that builds in both challenge and beauty as the round progresses. The course does require the golfer's complete attention, even from the forward teeing grounds. With better than average firmness, centerline hazards, frequent elevation changes, and varied stance and lies, all levels of player will have an enjoyable challenge if not ridiculously errant. Should one be fortunate to catch it with a nice breeze, the ample width provided will be much appreciated. The greens are a nice mix of looks, many with enough macro movement to have serious strategic merit. As already noted, the box store look of the Casino building is the biggest negative to the visual feast, but it's only an eye sore on arriving and coming up 9 and 18. Easily forgotten as you leave the parking lot. All in all worth the trip and a fine addition to Nebraska's ever growing golf mecca.