Wild Horse advice?

[Andy Hughes]

All
Am considering a brief trip to Nebraska to experience Wild Horse, and would appreciate any and all words of wisdom.
Is the course worth the long trip from DC and the devoting of a long weekend, as it seems it is?
Where would I fly to (Lincoln? Denver?) and how long is the drive after that?
Are there reasonable places to stay/eat nearby?  Is October a good time to be there, or is the weather too cold?
It is a public course, isn't it?  
Any other advice?

Thanks,
Andy

[THuckaby2]

Andy:

I can answer the basics.  Wild Horse is in Gothenberg, and it is a public course, with just about the best damn bang for one's buck one is going to get in this country.  It's a long drive from either Omaha or Lincoln or Denver, although North Platte is close and does have a decent sized airport.  Where to fly into and how far to drive depends on how much time you have and money you want to spend.

There are plenty of fine places to stay and eat nearby, although North Platte will have more of both than will Gothenberg, which is a smaller town.

As for the weather, and to whether it is "worth it" to make the trek out to play it, well you need simply wait for Dick Daley to chime in here.  He is the expert on this course - heed his words carefully.  All I can say is that I REALLY REALLY REALLY liked the course, and was very happy I devoted a day to playing it.  But I was out there for another purpose... not just to play Wild Horse... and given it's so relatively remote, and the journey to get to it is so long and expensive, well... I just can't say whether it is worth it to go out to play alone, with no other courses added on.  That's a decision Dick can much better advise on, and you'll have to make yourself anyway.

TH

[Buck Wolter]

The worst blizzard I've ever been in hit Nebraska as I was driving through on Halloween in 1990? -- shut down I-80 for a full day. My guess is the earlier in October the better.

[A_Clay_Man]

Sage advice on sooner rather than later. But who knows? This could be a long fall season.

Bring your own single malt.

And ask Dick about the Prairie Oysters.

[rjsimper]

Sage advice on sooner rather than later. But who knows? This could be a long fall season.

Bring your own single malt.

And ask Dick about the Prairie Oysters.

I drove all the way from Vermont to play there and it was well worth it...


Well...okay, so i stopped along the way of a cross country trip I was taking anyway....but still, it's a hell of a course, and the money that you save on what they COULD charge certainly covers the airfare - just take it all in when youre out there, because there aint much else like it, and even Wild Horse might be a shadow of itself in a few years if they keep putting up houses....

[Jason Hines]

Andy,

The Super 8 in G-burg is the best place near by, but customer service is not high on their list (IMO).  N-Platte has a better variety.  Lincoln is no more than 2.5 hours from G-burg, might get a cheaper flight into Denver or Omaha, but longer drive.

As far as the course, you won't forget.

Adam,

You can get single malt at the liquor store down by the RR tracks across from the elevator.  (ELEVATOR = grain storage)

Jason

[Andy Hughes]

OK, it sounds like if we do this we better shoot for the first weekend in October to be on the safe side.  
And it sounds like North Platte is the better choice for where to stay.  How far is that from the course?
Lincoln would be the preferred airport for me, followed by the 2.5 hour drive (yes, funds are an issue )

Is Wild Horse a course I should expect to be able to walk at least 36 a day on, or is it a very hard course to walk?

And ask Dick about the Prairie Oysters.

Why does that sound like it'll elicit a 'ewww' when it gets defined??

[THuckaby2]

Andy - as I recall it's something like 45 minutes from N. Platte to Wild Horse.  And it's a VERY doable walk - in fact those who take carts there better have a darn good reason.  

BTW, if money is the main issue, well.. Denver is a United hub and has a hell of a lot more flights than Lincoln.  Might be worth looking into... what's a few more hours in the car?  

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

Andy- The drive from Denver is not bad at all. 4-4.5 tops(75mph limit). G-Burg is about 30 minutes from N. Platte. And Yes that eewww, is what you think. Not to be confused with ewe, which if she had them, she'd be...king? But, g-d bless the adventuerer in Dick.

[ed_getka]

Andy,
   I would fly into Denver. Its a nice drive down, and you could add Riverdale Dunes in Denver to your itinerary. I assume you are talking a 3 day weekend. I wouldn't fly all the way to Nebraska just to play Wild Horse, unless I was meeting up with some GCA guys. It is a very good course, and a great bargain, but it is not a course to make a special trip to, unless you have some other reasons for going out there.
Have a great trip.

[Kevin_Reilly]

Adam, thanks...I thought that Tom's 45 minute estimate seemed a little long.  He must drive slooooooow.  

I played WH at the end of Sept last year and it was great.  Lots of spiders on the greens!  You might call the course and check to see if they have any scheduled maintenance on the greens/course for the time you are going...it would be awful to go that distance and play on punched greens.

You should be able to walk 36 a day there easily.

Hopefully the homebuilding hasn't progressed too far.

[THuckaby2]

Adam, thanks...I thought that Tom's 45 minute estimate seemed a little long.  He must drive slooooooow.  

Hey, it was three years ago.  I'm glad I got as close as I did.  Remember also I said from N. Platte to the golf course, not just to Gothenberg.  It does take a few minutes to get out through the town, down the lonely road to the course. Especially when one is really not sure where one is going.  

[Andy Hughes]

I wouldn't fly all the way to Nebraska just to play Wild Horse, unless I was meeting up with some GCA guys

Ed, this is the crux of the matter for me.  I am looking for a couple of days of golf with a few friends. Wild Horse looks and sounds remarkable. But I am not sure this is the right way to spend it....Perhaps I should rethink this, and try and make a longer trip to Nebraska in the future.  Maybe a different trip would be a better idea.

[Brad Swanson]

Homebuilding has progressed to a point, but there wasn't much construction in progress as of last week.  Several of us treehousers did play in a 2 man scramble at Wild Horse a few years back on the first Saturday in October, and this tournament might be an annual occurrence, so it might be wise to call  to look into their play schedule as well as their maintenance schedule.

Mr. Huckaby's estimate of 45 minutes from North Platte to the clubhouse is pretty darn accurate for those that only slightly break the speed limit (80 on the interstate, 5 over in town).  Just don't get lost trying to find the "Home of All-Pro #84 Jay Novacek" sign, I think its been taken down.

I concur with Ed, Riverdale Dunes (one of my former "home" courses in Denver) would be worth the time if you could fit it in.  Its a great poster child for a solid course that would be alot more fun if they toned down the irrigation.  

[THuckaby2]

Brad - thanks for the backup.  Oh, I am wrong from time to time.  Just not today.  

Andy, you are right to question all of this.  Most of the posters here, if not all, played Wild Horse on the way to or from Sand Hills.  So our perspective might not be the best.  God, it is such a great course though, and plays SO much like real links golf in terms of firm and fast, well... it just does need to be seen and experienced... But it is tough to get to, so whether it's worth it or not remains your call.  You just really do need the input of Dick Daley - he is the Wild Horse king and he can give the best perspective on this by far... He's been there many times, drives from Wisconsin to get there often...

I guess I'd just add this:  if it's a weekend with the guys, you might want maximum golf and minimum flight/drive time, and obviously closer to home facilitates that.  There must be other places you can go that are way more doable.

TH

[A_Clay_Man]

Maybe today, on something? i.e. it is 37.4 miles from NP to Gothem city. @ 75mph for most of that, my dead granny can make it in 45.

 1:  Start out going East on WILLIAM ST toward US-83 S/S JEFFERS ST. <0.1 miles Map  
 
 2:  Turn RIGHT onto US-83 S/S JEFFERS ST. Continue to follow US-83 S. 1.0 miles Map  
 
 3:  Merge onto I-80 E via the ramp- on the left. 34.3 miles Map  
 
 4:  Take the NE-47 exit- exit number 211- toward GOTHENBURG. 0.3 miles Map  
 
 5:  Turn LEFT onto NE-47. 1.2 miles Map  
 
 6:  Turn RIGHT onto 11TH ST. <0.1 miles Map  
 
 7:  End at Gothenburg NE  Map  
 
 Total Est. Time:  37 minutes Total Est. Distance: 37.04 miles
 

[Kevin_Reilly]

Tom probably missed the turnoff, had to stop at a gas station and double back to the turnoff for the course.

Then he probably went the wrong way on the dirt road...made a left at the fork in the road instead of a right.

THat would explain it.  

[Josh_Mahar]

I am in awe that someone would travel from DC to Wild HOrse just for a weekend of golf.  Surely you could find something between here and there that could compare!?  Find anybody and beg (really beg) to go play Maidstone!!! - Just a personal favorite.
But if you so desire, flying to North Platte on United through Denver is usually about $120 more round trip than just to Denver.  I think it is well worth it.
Late September/ early October is as good as Wild Horse gets--but maintenance and weather starts to slide by middle of OCtober.

[Jason Hines]

Andy,

If you fly into Denver, it would be easier to play Bayside in Ogallala, cruise by the Ballyneal property in Holyoke and play several of the even more affordable country courses.  Shores in Brady would be an experience in rural cuisine, its the town steakhouse, bar, family restaurant, coffee shop and keno bar all in one.

I am a frequent flyer, for the first weeked in OCT no price difference right now from DC to OMA, LNK and DIA.  Its double to N. Platte.

There are also several no name hotels that I am sure that would be fine.  I will be out there the weekend of SEP 24 and OCT 16 if you want to join up with us.

Jason

[Matt_Ward]

Andy:

Wild Horse is certainly a fine layout but I concur that simply going to the heart of Nebraska and only playing there is just not worth the time and $$.

If you can couple that with a round at Sand Hills in nearby Mullen then you are really talking about a must deal.

I also believe a round at nearby Bayside in Brole is also a good addition.

I also agree with some of the others about flying into Denver -- you will likely get a better price and the round isn't that bad. Denver also provides other golf options for you to check out. Murphy's Creek right next to Denver Int'l Airport in Aurora is also worth a play if time permits.

Hope this helps ...

[Kevin_Reilly]

Andy,

If you fly into Denver, it would be easier to play Bayside in Ogallala, cruise by the Ballyneal property in Holyoke and play several of the even more affordable country courses.  

The Ballyneal suggestion is a good one if you have time.  Contact one of the O'Neals in advance for a lookaround.
Ballyneal website

[RJ_Daley]

Well, the real king of Wild Horse (Josh the first) has spoken.  I can just see him sitting in his office grinning ear to ear and shaking his head, saying these guys must be half crazy going half way across the country just to come see us...

So, here is my less than princely advice...

If you like an adventure, have the cash to spend for the air and motels and such, well then you sure can afford the green fee.  All you're going to do anyway is sleep, eat, play golf, and repeat for two or three days.  So Super 8 ought to be fine.  Morning breakfast a block from the motel at the Farmers Wife (geodesic dome)  Have a dog at the course, and play 36.  If I can walk my aging overweight carcus around for 36, and have enough energy to go watch the tornaders come in and blow away the town (as I did last trip this spring) then you sure can walk 36 with no sweat.  BTW, twisters coming to town is about the only extraneous entertainment you can find in G-burg, short of starting a brawl at the BarW saloon.  

Walker's Restaurant is fair.  They still have the prairie oysters, but I wasn't impressed with their steak the last two times.  The little non-alcoholic El Rancherito cafe is pretty good, right across from the motel.  Brady is a far better place to go, and is about 10 miles west on hwy30 from G-town.  The Depot in North Platte is best in the area, great corn fed Nebraska beef.  

Look for some air deals in the fall into Lincoln.  I don't know if they somehow coincide with football season or what, but I have taken the $99 RT from GReen Bay to Lincoln, and rented a car to go the 2.5 more hours west.  I'd rather do that at the efficient and easy Lincoln airport than screw around in Denver.  And, Ogallala is about 1.25 hours from G-city.  So, you can still get in Bayside if you have a extra half day.  

Finally, I don't think there is a finer course than Wild Horse first week in October.  With the caveat that it would be dry, cool weather, and a few freezing nights have started to work its magic on the grasses in the rough.  And someone tell Whitten they are Bluegrass fairways cut to about 1/2" and fescue surrounds, and the knobs in the pre-greens are not artificial!

Call about the annual one-man scramble.  It is a fun way to meet the town folks and play multiple shots, thus getting two shots for your money = 2 rounds for the price of one so to speak.

I need to find someone to make the trip with me around that time, or I'll just have to go it alone...  

Jason, I'll IM you about your Oct 14 date...

[Andy Hughes]

Many thanks to all for the guidance. It sounds like this is a bit of a pipe-dream, and I would be better served perhaps putting this trip off until it can be combined with other courses.

Josh, if I knew who to 'really beg' to, I might!  

I guess I'd just add this:  if it's a weekend with the guys, you might want maximum golf and minimum flight/drive time, and obviously closer to home facilitates that.  There must be other places you can go that are way more doable.

Tom, this is certainly true. But I have gotten kinda bored with most courses, if that makes sense? I haven't played much the last few years but when I have there has been a certain sameness or blandness to most of the courses.  Major, glaring exception: Tobacco Road this past Spring. Whew!! (and Dye's Cardinal in Greensboro as well to a lesser extent).
And that is the allure of a Wild Horse. From all the pictures I have seen and the commentary on here from people I suspect truly 'get it', it sounds like a very different place and experience.  But I suppose it would be best to wait until the trip can be properly done.

[THuckaby2]

Andy:

Very cool.  It is a hell of a place and needs to be seen and played and is very different, so may well be worth all the effort.  But effort is certainly required, so... well you know how this goes.

Adam/Kevin:  Yes, it is 37 miles from N. Platte to Gothenburg.  But then the golf course itself is on the far side of the town from the interstate.. It certainly takes a few minutes to get through and out to the course - even for dead grannies.

So I'm sticking to my 45 minute estimate, as confirmed by Brad who just did it, for getting to the course.   Sure it could be done quicker, but 30 minutes is VERY dubious.

So neener neener.  

TH

[Larry_Keltto]

I'm going to re-emphasize what Jason and Kevin said: if you're at Wild Horse and you're a person who's on this site, you owe it to yourself to make a visit to Ballyneal. You will enjoy it.