The Prairie Club, Valentine, NE Review
Discover Pure Sandhills Golf At Its Finest
Nebraska doesn’t always make the bingo card for top golf destinations in the US. Much of the press is given to the big name in golf like Bandon, Pinehurst, Pebble, and Whistling Straits. But I’d wager that Nebraska offers golf that is just as good as, if not better than, some of those popular destinations. The sandhills region of Nebraska offers the most amazing terrain and has some of the greatest golf courses in the country.
The Prairie Club is celebrating their 15th year of pure sandhills golf. Their 3 courses are worth the journey to the middle of Nebraska. You will discover 2 distinct 18 hole courses, a 10 hole short course, fine dining and top notch lodging. It is all accessible at this semi-private golf destination. The beautiful setting along the Snake River Canyon offers variety and beauty. So grab some buddies and plan your next golf trip to discover pure sandhills golf at The Prairie Club.
This is my official The Prairie Club Review.
1. The Prairie Club, Valentine, NE
The Prairie Club is nestled among the rolling sandhills of Nebraska that hug the Snake River canyon. It offers a blend of pure inland links golf along with some rustic holes cut through the pines that hug the Snake River canyon. It is 20 miles from the nearest town of Valentine, NE and feels like worlds apart from the rest of civilization. It is a perfect setting to grab some friends, play great golf and relax. I’ve seen this property mature over the last 15 years and I’m impressed by their continued investment in the course and amenities to make this a pure golf destination.
2. Dunes Course
The Dunes Course at The Prairie Club might be my favorite expression of sandhillls golf from hole 1 to 18. It is big, bold, beautiful, challenging, and fair. This Tom Lehman design starts off strong, and then shows golfers all the different ways that holes are found in this region of Nebraska. The rise and fall, the twists and turns, the big vistas and intimate pockets all creates variety in every hole. The collection of par 3s are spectacular with an elevated green, a downhill green, an hourglass green and a bowl shaped green. It is a “driver” friendly course with wide fairways, but requires good approach shots in order to score well on the large greens.
The Dunes Saloon greets golfers after 9 holes and can be accessed again after hole 14. It serves as a rest stop to refill with food and beverage. While playing 18 holes you may also see some pronghorns gracing the fairways or some steer grazing on the hills along the back 9. The course starts and ends near the driving range leaving only a moderate drive to and from the pro shop. I suppose the course could be walkable as most holes aren’t too far apart, but with path and carts designed to navigate all 18 holes it just allows you to stay fresh for each shot.
3. Pines Course
This Graham Marsh course offers a blend of prairie and wooded golf as it hugs the Snake River Canyon. You ease into the round with a few wide open holes that aren’t overly challenging until you slowly find yourself into thicker and thicker pines. Once you reach the midway part of your front 9 you are fully immersed in pines trees. As you make the turn you get a couple prairie holes until you return to the pines for the back 9. The 9th hole is one of the best short par 4s on the property. It plays downhill to a well guarded green, but is reachable with even less than driver.
The 18the hole is a risk/reward par 5 that skirts that pines and canyon on the left and prairie on the right. Because of the dogleg shape, you can get home in 2 with well struck shots. You can show off your last birdie in front of the lodge patio. The Pines course is receptive to scoring, especially if you keep the ball in play. Every holes feels different on the course with a well routed zig-zag from prairie to pines, to canyon and back. These 18 holes feel like they offer a little bit of everything so that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy it.
4. HORSE Course
The HORSE Course is a short course unlike anything else out there. The 10 holes are right out in front of the lodge. You can play with a single club or a small bag depending on how you and your buddies want to take on these par 3s. The variety, terrain, and fun makes that a “must play” while at The Prairie Club. We tackled it with a single wedge and picked the next tee area based on yardages we could hit and who won the hole. We even putted with our wedge so that we could enjoy the hangout. It is everything that makes a short course great: easy access, manageable distances, perfect conditions and hole variety.
Grab a drink, a ball (or two), a wedge, have a great time and see who spells HORSE first.
5. Dining Options
The Prairie Club offers fine dining in the main lodge. The food is excellent and offered nice variety. As you can see I love a good desert. They have the Caprock Lounge for a relaxed bar setting for food before and after the round. We ate at the Canyon Room which overlooks the Snake River Canyon and the group enjoyed steaks, seafood and dessert. While on the courses there are 2 stops that you can enjoy drinks and snacks while golfing. The Dune Saloon and Pines Canteen have you covered on the course. They can even set you up with a picnic at some of the canyon overview spots called Points of Solitude.
6. Lodging Options
The Prairie Club offers a wide variety of lodging on site from single rooms to houses. However with their popularity this August, they were completely sold out. However, what makes The Prairie Club more accessible than other sandhills golf courses is their proximity to Valentine, NE. The town is about 20 minutes away and has maybe a half dozen additional hotels. While the lodging in town doesn’t compare to what is on site; if you don’t plan your trip soon enough the Prairie Club lodging could be sold out, but still have tee-times. I highly recommend staying on-site with a stay and play package to enjoy all that the Prairie Club offers.
7. Accessible Sandhills Golf
The Prairie Club is a semi-private golf club meaning that it is open to the public, but only one of the 18s per day. So unless you are a member, don’t plan on 36 different holes in one day. They rotate the member and public course each day. I think this is a nice way of allowing us “common folk” to enjoy the wonderful golf at The Prairie Club, but still accommodate the members who support the course year round. They offer everyone top notch treatment from the time you arrive until the time you leave. This is THE main reason to pick The Prairie Club because you can actually play it without being a member.
8. Location, Location, Location
Valentine NE, isn’t too far off the beaten path, but just far enough to feel remote and isolated from the hectic pace of life. It might not have a Walmart or any ” real shopping”, but if you need something like gas or McDonalds, it is only 20 minutes down the road. It is also about about an hour off the freeway so getting there isn’t too difficult. We traveled the 7 hour drive from the Twin Cities, MN. You really feel like you are away from the hustle and bustle of life so you can unwind and relax.
9. Buddies Trip.
The iGR teams of north and south spent 14 hours in a car so that we could enjoy 46 holes of pure sandhills golf. We would do it again in a heartbeat. Our crew fell in love with The Prairie Club’s perfect conditions, beautiful setting, and hospitality. From the moment we drove up to the lodge until the time we left, we felt like honored guests. I’d highly recommend getting your trip planned sooner than later so you can stay on property and soak it all in.
Summary
If you have never played golf in the sandhills region of Nebraska, book your trip to The Prairie Club NOW to discover some of the finest golf in the US. The variety of golf between the Dunes and the Pines Courses will have you dreaming about every shot. The HORSE course will offer you fun, laughs and relaxation. The entire property feels remote and removed from the busyness of the world. The lodging and dining will keep you well rested and fed. They keep this place in tip top shape and you feel like their honored guest from the moment you arrive until you leave.
Discover pure sandhills golf at The Prairie Club. You might still find some openings for a fall 2025 trip or make reservations now for 2026.
For more information: The Prairie Club Website
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