The Prairie Club Dunes
Tom Lehman, with Chris Brands, opened the Dunes Course at The Prairie Club in 2010, a sweeping links style layout running through the Sandhills of north central Nebraska. A par 73 of about 7,562 yards on firm, fast turf, it is one of the best value stay and play destinations in American golf.
Photo: The Prairie Club via Google.
The verdict
Tom Lehman, working with Chris Brands, opened the Dunes Course at The Prairie Club in 2010, routed across the rumpled Sandhills near Valentine in north central Nebraska. It plays as a par 73 of roughly 7,562 yards on sandy, fast running turf, and together with the cliff top Pines Course it has turned a remote corner of the prairie into a genuine golf pilgrimage.
The Dunes is big, bold and walkable, with wide fairways tumbling between native grasses, huge greens and the kind of firm ground game that rewards imagination. The remoteness is the point, with little around but sky, sand and golf, and the stay and play packages on site make a long weekend here one of the best value trips in the country. It is open to public and resort play, so plan a multi day visit and confirm rates before booking.
The Prairie Club Dunes Course at a glance
- Opened
- 2010
- Designer
- Tom Lehman, Chris Brands
- Type
- Sandhills links
- Par
- 73
- Yardage
- About 7,562 yds
- Green fee
- Stay and play
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from The Prairie Club and leading course databases. The Dunes Course was designed by Tom Lehman with Chris Brands and opened in 2010, a par 73 of about 7,562 yards from the back tees. The Prairie Club sells stay and play packages that include unlimited golf and lodging rather than a single posted green fee, and rates vary by season, 2026, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The Dunes Course plays as a true ground game test, the firm Sandhills turf letting the ball run and the wide fairways inviting the player to use the slopes. Big greens accept the running approach but demand careful pace, and the wind is a constant partner out on the open prairie.
Lehman and Brands routed the holes to follow the natural movement of the land, so the dunes, blowouts and native grasses frame each shot without feeling forced. There is width off the tee but the smart line into each green is rarely the obvious one, which keeps the round interesting for every level of player.
With the cliff top Pines Course alongside it, the Dunes anchors a property built for golf and little else. It is a place to walk, to play several rounds in a day and to enjoy the kind of remote, big sky golf that has made the Sandhills famous.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Public and resort play; the property is built around stay and play packages with unlimited golf |
| Green fee | Sold mainly as stay and play packages including lodging and unlimited golf rather than a single posted fee (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Book directly with The Prairie Club; the season runs roughly spring to autumn, so plan ahead for peak months |
| On the day | The Dunes is eminently walkable; carts are available; bring layers as the prairie wind can turn quickly |
| Getting there | Near Valentine in north central Nebraska, remote by design; most visitors drive or fly into regional airports |
| Best months | Late May to September for the warmest, driest Sandhills conditions |
Access and package context verified June 2026; The Prairie Club sells stay and play packages that change by season, so always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where to stay nearby
The Prairie Club is built for the stay and play golfer, with on site lodging that ranges from lodge rooms and a guesthouse to cabins and a bunkhouse, plus dining and unlimited golf across the property. Staying on site is the natural way to play here given how remote the setting is.
Valentine itself, the nearest town, offers a handful of additional rooms and the gateway to the Niobrara River country, so a trip here pairs prairie golf with genuine wide open American landscape on a multi day itinerary.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near The Prairie Club Dunes Course.
Build a Nebraska Sandhills golf trip
We build Sandhills golf trips around properties like The Prairie Club, secure the stay and play package, plan the route in and book the lodging around your rounds. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
The Prairie Club Dunes questions
Who designed The Prairie Club Dunes Course and when did it open?
The Dunes Course at The Prairie Club was designed by Tom Lehman with Chris Brands and opened in 2010, routed through the Sandhills near Valentine, Nebraska.
What is the par and length of The Prairie Club Dunes Course?
The Dunes Course plays as a par 73 of about 7,562 yards from the back tees, a wide, firm, links style test on sandy prairie turf.
How do green fees work at The Prairie Club?
The Prairie Club sells stay and play packages that include lodging and unlimited golf rather than a single posted green fee, and rates vary by season in 2026. Always confirm directly before booking.
Can visitors play The Prairie Club Dunes Course?
Yes. The Dunes Course is open to public and resort play, and most visitors book a stay and play package given the remote Sandhills location.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; package context verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.