The Prairie Club Dunes Course
Tom Lehman's bold Sand Hills design above the Snake River canyon, the Dunes Course pairs some of the widest fairways in American golf with enormous, imaginative greens. Set on a true destination resort, it is one of the most playable big courses in the country.
Photo: The Prairie Club via Google.
The verdict
The Prairie Club is a destination golf resort in the Nebraska Sand Hills, set on high ground above the Snake River near Valentine, and it has grown into one of the best public golf experiences in the region. It carries two full championship courses, a Graham Marsh designed Pines Course and this one, the Dunes Course, the work of former Open champion and Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman with architect Chris Brands. There is also a wild short course, the Horse Course, that has become a destination in itself.
The Dunes is the more expansive of the two. Carved from the rolling sand hills, it offers sweeping vistas, huge generous fairways and the kind of width that lets every golfer find the short grass off the tee. The defense comes at the greens: vast, contoured, imaginative complexes that demand the right approach angle and a deft touch around the edges. The card can stretch beyond 8,000 yards at its full extent, but it plays from six sets of tees, so it is a course built to be enjoyed by everyone while still testing the very best from the back.
The Prairie Club Dunes at a glance
- Opened
- 2010
- Designer
- Lehman & Brands
- Type
- Sandhills
- Par
- 73
- Yardage
- Up to about 8,073 yds
- Access
- Resort and public
Designer, par and length verified June 2026 from The Prairie Club and leading course databases. The Dunes Course is a Tom Lehman and Chris Brands design, a par 73 that plays from about 5,842 up to roughly 8,073 yards near Valentine, Nebraska. It is a resort and public course; indicative 2026 green fees run into the hundreds of dollars depending on season and stay, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The first thing that strikes you on the Dunes is the scale. The fairways are vast, some of the widest you will play anywhere, and the land rolls away in every direction under an enormous prairie sky. It is a course that invites you to swing freely off the tee, but the generosity is a setup: the angle into the green is everything, and the wrong side of a wide fairway leaves an awkward, exposed approach.
Lehman and Brands saved the difficulty for the greens, which are large, bold and full of movement, often tucked behind dramatic falloffs into sandy native ground. A timid approach can be punished as harshly as an aggressive miss, so the round becomes a constant exercise in judgment, picking the line and trusting the firm turf to carry the ball forward.
The setting along the Snake River canyon gives several holes real drama, with tee shots played toward the rim and views that stretch for miles. Played in the prairie wind it is a serious, satisfying test, but the width and the variety of tees mean it never stops being fun, which is exactly what a great resort course should be.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A destination resort open to public and resort guests; both the Dunes and Pines courses are playable, with priority and best value for those staying on site |
| Green fee | Indicative 2026 high season rates run into the hundreds of dollars per round, with hosted guest and stay and play options lower per round; always confirm the current rate directly before booking |
| Booking | Through the resort, ideally as part of a stay and play package given the remote location and the value it adds |
| On the day | Resort dress and etiquette; walking is encouraged with caddies available, and the prairie wind can be strong, so pack layers |
| Getting there | Near Valentine in north central Nebraska; most visitors fly into a regional airport or drive in, as the resort is genuinely out in the Sand Hills |
| Best months | Roughly May to October; summer brings the warmest weather and firmest turf |
Access and indicative fees verified June 2026 for the 2026 season; rates change, so always confirm directly before booking. Ask us about Prairie Club tee times.
Where to stay nearby
The Prairie Club is built as a stay and play destination, with on site lodging that puts you steps from both courses and the Horse Course. Given how remote the Sand Hills are, staying at the resort is far and away the most rewarding way to experience it, letting you play multiple rounds without long drives.
For a wider trip, the resort pairs naturally with the region's other acclaimed Sand Hills courses, so a golf tour through this corner of Nebraska can string several together. Valentine is the nearest town for supplies and a glimpse of prairie life, with regional airports and long, scenic drives connecting the area.
Looking for a base? See our recommended lodges and stays across the Nebraska Sand Hills.
Build a Nebraska Sand Hills golf trip
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The Prairie Club Dunes questions
Who designed the Dunes Course at The Prairie Club?
The Dunes Course at The Prairie Club was designed by Tom Lehman, the former Open champion and Ryder Cup captain, with architect Chris Brands. It is one of two championship courses at the resort near Valentine, Nebraska, the other being the Graham Marsh designed Pines Course.
What is the par and length of the Prairie Club Dunes Course?
The Dunes Course plays to a par of 73 and stretches from about 5,842 yards up to roughly 8,073 yards across its full set of tees. It features some of the widest fairways in American golf, offset by large, imaginative green complexes.
Can visitors play the Prairie Club Dunes Course and what are the fees?
Yes. The Prairie Club is a destination resort that welcomes public and resort guests, with the Dunes and Pines courses both open to play. Indicative 2026 green fees run into the hundreds of dollars depending on season and whether you stay on site, so always confirm the current rate directly before booking.
When is the best time to play The Prairie Club?
The Prairie Club is a Sand Hills course best played from late spring through fall, roughly May to October. Summer brings the warmest weather and firmest turf, though the prairie wind is a constant companion at any time of year.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026; access and indicative fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.