The Prairie Club Pines Course

The verdict

The Pines Course is the more intimate and dramatic of The Prairie Club's two championship layouts, the work of Australian golfer and architect Graham Marsh. Where the Tom Lehman designed Dunes Course spreads wide across the open sand hills, the Pines threads through groves of ponderosa pine and runs out to the edge of the Snake River canyon, trading some of the Dunes' breadth for a more sculpted, hole by hole sense of place.

It is the canyon holes that golfers remember. Several stretches of the Pines play right along the rim, with the land falling away hundreds of feet to the river below and tee shots that demand both nerve and a steady swing in the prairie wind. At par 73 and about 7,400 yards it is a substantial test from the back, but like everything at The Prairie Club it offers a generous spread of tees, so it rewards the brave without overwhelming the visiting golfer there to enjoy one of the great settings in American resort golf.

The holes worth the trip

The Pines opens through more sheltered, tree framed ground than its sibling, the ponderosa pines giving the early holes definition and a different rhythm from the wide open Dunes. Marsh used the natural contours of the land, with fairways that tumble and turn and greens set thoughtfully into the terrain, so the course asks for shot shaping and position rather than just length.

Then it reaches the canyon, and the round changes entirely. The holes that run along the rim of the Snake River are the signature of the whole resort, the ground dropping away dramatically to the river far below, the views enormous and the exposure to the wind total. These are the holes you travel for, demanding committed swings and a cool head, with the reward of a setting few courses anywhere can match.

Played from a sensible tee the Pines is a thrilling, scenic round that complements the broader Dunes perfectly. Played from the back, with the canyon in play and the wind up, it becomes a genuine examination of nerve and ball control, the kind of course that makes a long trip to the Sand Hills feel entirely worthwhile.

Where to stay nearby

The Prairie Club is built as a stay and play destination, with on site lodging steps from both courses and the celebrated Horse Course. Given how remote the Sand Hills are, staying at the resort is by far the most rewarding way to experience the Pines, letting you play it alongside the Dunes over a couple of days.

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 link several together. Valentine is the nearest town for supplies and a taste 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.