The best golf courses in Nebraska, USA

Sand Hills Golf Club, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, is a world-renowned private course amid Nebraska’s remote sandhills. Known for minimalist, links-inspired routing that uses the natural dunes, it features sweeping fairways, strategic bunkering, fescue grass, and an unparalleled purity of setting. Opened in 1995, it is frequently ranked among the world’s top courses and prized for its natural beauty and challenge.

CapRock Ranch is a private 18-hole masterpiece by Gil Hanse, opening in 2021 and set amidst Nebraska’s rolling sandhills south of Valentine. Routed over sandy prairie and dramatic canyons near the Snake River, its layout is celebrated for its striking scenery, strong collection of par threes, and thoughtfully crafted playing corridors. Nationally ranked, it stands out among modern American courses.

The Prairie Club (Dunes) is a 2010 Tom Lehman and Chris Brands design, set in Nebraska’s vast Sandhills south of Valentine. Frequently ranked among America's top modern public courses, it offers immense fairways, sandy blowouts, and dramatic prairie vistas. The wind and rolling elevation changes challenge strategy and shot-making, evoking a genuine links feel in the heartland.

Omaha Country Club, established in 1899 and relocated in 1926, is the preeminent private club in Nebraska. Designed by Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek, with a noted Perry Maxwell renovation in 1951, the course traverses rolling, wooded terrain with challenging green complexes and a true championship feel. Renowned for top-tier conditioning and old world elegance, it's a frequent host of major tournaments.

Dismal River Club (White) is a private, Jack Nicklaus-designed course carved out of the Nebraska Sandhills. Opened in 2006, it sprawls across 400 secluded acres with sweeping prairie and dunes, providing uninterrupted golf and striking vistas. The signature Nicklaus design is known for its challenging layout, conditioning, and peaceful isolation, offering a special experience for those who make the journey.

Dismal River Club’s Red Course is a private, 18-hole layout sculpted by renowned architect Tom Doak. Opened in 2013, it lies amid the Nebraska Sandhills, showcasing a blend of rugged natural terrain, strategic routing, and dramatic elevation changes. The course is known for its challenging par 4s, windswept native grasses, and a minimalist approach, delivering an exclusive and memorable golfing experience.

Wild Horse Golf Club, designed by Dan Proctor and Dan Axland in 1999, is a celebrated minimalist course in Gothenburg, Nebraska. Set at the southern edge of the Sandhills, this public layout is renowned for its firm, sandy turf, linksy bunkering, fun playability, and affordability. Wild Horse is regularly ranked among the top value golf courses in the United States.

Firethorn Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska is a premier private club established in 1986 and designed by Pete Dye, Perry Dye, and Alice Dye. Known for its challenging layout and immaculate conditions, this tree-lined, parkland-style course stretches over 7,100 yards. Firethorn is recognized for its demanding four-hole stretch on the back nine and is a favorite among Nebraska’s top private clubs.

Lost Rail Golf Club is a private, pure-golf club west of Omaha, Nebraska, designed by Scott Hoffman and developed by Landscapes Unlimited. Opened in 2022, it was crafted on 155 acres of rolling land with wide fairways, dramatic bunkering, and impressive views of the Platte River Valley. The club has a small membership and offers a challenging yet accessible layout with no homes or non-golf amenities.

Shadow Ridge Country Club is a private, family-oriented golf club in West Omaha, Nebraska, originally designed by Tom Sieckmann and later renovated by Jackson Kahn Design. The 18-hole, par-72 course winds through a premier residential community and features well-maintained bentgrass greens and fairways, offering a challenging yet enjoyable experience for all levels. The club offers extensive amenities and year-round activities.

Bayside Golf Club is a links-style 18-hole public course located on Lake McConaughy near Brule, Nebraska. Designed by Dan Axland and Dave Proctor, the course is known for its challenging layout, scenic views, and wide open fairways. The course offers a fun yet strategic test and is open to all golfers from April through October.

Set on the rim of the Snake River Canyon near Valentine, Nebraska, The Prairie Club (Pines) is an 18-hole layout designed by Graham Marsh. The course weaves through ponderosa pines and sand hills, blending parkland and natural prairie golf. Known for its superb vistas and tranquil terrain, the Pines offers a parkland experience with championship length and top-tier practice facilities.

Tatanka Golf Club, designed by Paul Albanese in 2015, offers 18 holes stretching across rolling hills in northeast Nebraska. Known for its beautiful vistas, lush fairways, and excellent greens, each hole draws from the stories of the Santee Sioux culture. Located near the Ohiya Casino Resort, the course welcomes visiting golfers seeking a memorable Midwest golf experience.

The Prairie Club Horse Course in Nebraska’s sandhills is a unique 10-hole short course designed by Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford. With no fixed tees, total yardage can range from 485 to 1,125 yards. Players select their own teeing areas, encouraging creativity and short game skills. The rolling fescue and bentgrass greens are paired with sweeping sandhill views.

Awarii Dunes Golf Club is a public, 18-hole links-style course designed by Jim Engh, inspired by the great links courses of Ireland. Opened in 2011, it is built on Nebraska sand hills with wide fairways, massive undulating greens, and a natural, wind-swept look. The layout blends strategic shotmaking with a rugged, fescue-lined landscape.