Awarii Dunes Golf Club
Awarii Dunes is Jim Engh's links inspired course in the Nebraska sandhills south of Kearney, opened in 2011 and built on the land's natural rolls with little reshaping. A par 72 of about 7,014 yards drawn from the great links of Ireland, it offers firm, ground game golf at a public price in the heart of the state.
Photo: Awarii Dunes Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Awarii Dunes brings a taste of Nebraska's famous sandhills golf to the center of the state at a price anyone can play. It was designed by Jim Engh and opened in 2011 in Axtell, just south of Kearney, on naturally rolling ground that the architect used with minimal earthmoving, drawing his inspiration from the great links courses of Ireland. The result is firm, open, links inspired golf far from any coast.
It plays as a par 72 of about 7,014 yards, with wide fairways, native grasses and the kind of bouncing, ground game character that the sand based soil makes possible. It is not a true seaside links, but it captures much of the spirit, and as an affordable public course it makes a fine companion to Nebraska's celebrated, harder to access destination courses. The course has also operated under the name Nebraska Dunes.
Awarii Dunes Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2011
- Designer
- Jim Engh
- Type
- Links inspired, sandhills
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,014 yds
- Green fee
- From about $40
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Awarii Dunes and leading course databases. The course was designed by Jim Engh and opened in 2011, a par 72 of about 7,014 yards built on the natural sandhills terrain and inspired by the links of Ireland. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $40 to $65 depending on season and day, among the best value golf of its kind in the region. Fees move with season and demand, so always confirm current rates and availability directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The ground is the architecture. Jim Engh routed Awarii Dunes over the existing sandhills with little reshaping, so the fairways tumble and roll the way links land does, and the firm, sandy base lets the ball run. Playing the bounce and the slopes is part of the fun, and a low, controlled flight is often more useful here than a high, soft one.
Width invites the bold line but rewards the smart one. The generous corridors mean you can swing freely off the tee, yet the native grasses on the margins and the angles into the greens ask you to think about which side of the fairway leaves the better shot. Miss too far and the rough and the wind, which is rarely absent on the Nebraska plains, turn par into a battle.
The greens carry Engh's bold contouring, so judging the ground game approach and the putt that follows is the heart of the test. At about 7,014 yards the course has length when you want it and plenty of fun when you do not, a links inspired round that plays differently every day with the wind. For the price, it is some of the most characterful public golf in the state.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public course open to all; walk up and advance bookings both welcome. Has also operated as Nebraska Dunes |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 range about $40 to $65 depending on season and day; excellent value for the style; confirm at booking |
| Booking | Reserve online or by phone; weekend mornings are busiest, but tee times are generally easy to come by |
| On the day | Walking or cart; the firm, rolling sandhills reward playing the ground, and the wind is part of the challenge |
| Getting there | Axtell, just south of Kearney in central Nebraska, close to Interstate 80 about midway across the state |
| Best months | Late spring to early fall, with summer warm and breezy and the shoulder months the most comfortable |
Access and fee details verified June 2026. Pricing moves with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. See our United States green fees guide for the wider picture.
Where to stay nearby
Kearney, about 20 minutes north, is the natural base, with a good range of hotels along the Interstate 80 corridor and an easy run back to the first tee. It makes Awarii Dunes a simple, affordable stop on a cross state golf trip or a break from the highway.
For golfers chasing the sandhills, Awarii Dunes pairs well with Nebraska's wider links style scene, from the value of Wild Horse to the celebrated names farther into the dunes. It suits a buddies trip built around honest, ground game golf without resort prices.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Awarii Dunes.
Build a Nebraska sandhills golf trip
We book the Awarii Dunes tee times, pair them with the best of Nebraska's links and sandhills golf and arrange the lodging around them. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Awarii Dunes Golf Club questions
Who designed Awarii Dunes and when did it open?
Awarii Dunes was designed by architect Jim Engh and opened in 2011 in Axtell, Nebraska, just south of Kearney.
What is the par and length of Awarii Dunes?
It plays as a par 72 of about 7,014 yards from the back tees, built on the natural sandhills terrain in a links inspired style.
Is Awarii Dunes a true links course?
It is a links inspired course rather than a true seaside links. Jim Engh used the existing rolling sandhills with minimal earthmoving and drew on the great links of Ireland for its firm, open, ground game character.
Can visitors play Awarii Dunes Golf Club?
Yes. Awarii Dunes is a public course open to all, and it has also operated under the name Nebraska Dunes. Indicative 2026 green fees run roughly $40 to $65 depending on season and day; always confirm directly before booking.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.