The Best Golf Courses in Nebraska: A Complete Guide
Nebraska is not where most golfers think to plan a trip. That is beginning to change, and the change is almost entirely attributable to Landmand Golf Club and Sand Hills Golf Club — two courses so different in character and so remarkable in quality that they have established Nebraska as one of the legitimate bucket-list golf destinations in the United States.
Landmand Golf Club — Homer, NE
Landmand is the most-discussed new golf course in America since its 2020 opening. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed it on farmland near the Missouri River — land whose agricultural history gave the course its name (Danish for "farmer") and its aesthetic. The result is a links-influenced layout that uses the natural terrain of northeast Nebraska with minimal earthmoving, producing holes that feel inevitable rather than constructed.
The search interest in Landmand has grown every year since opening. Golfers who make the trip consistently describe it as one of the most meaningful rounds they've played. The 17th hole — a par 3 with the Missouri River bluffs as backdrop — has become one of the most recognizable holes in American golf.
Sand Hills Golf Club — Mullen, NE
Sand Hills Golf Club is one of the most celebrated private clubs in the world — consistently ranked in the top five courses in the United States, sometimes higher. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (the same designers as Landmand, two decades earlier) built it in 1995 on the Nebraska Sandhills, a landscape of grass-covered dunes that is geographically unique to this region of the country. The course is private and access requires a member invitation, but it belongs in any discussion of Nebraska golf because it is why serious golf architects and connoisseurs began paying attention to this state in the first place.
Dismal River Club — Mullen, NE
Adjacent to the Sand Hills landscape and also in the Mullen area, Dismal River Club is a semi-private resort offering two Tom Doak-designed courses and a Tom Lehman-designed layout. The combination of top-tier architecture and actual public accessibility makes Dismal River an important destination for golfers who want the Sand Hills experience without a private club membership.
Prairie Club — Valentine, NE
The Prairie Club in Valentine offers three courses on a destination resort property — two 18-hole tracks and a nine-hole short course, all designed by prominent architects on the Nebraska prairie landscape. Like Landmand and Sand Hills, it takes advantage of the state's natural terrain rather than fighting it. The resort property makes it genuinely accessible for multi-day golf trips.
Planning a Nebraska Golf Trip
The logical itinerary combines Landmand in the northeast (near Sioux City, Iowa) with Sand Hills or Dismal River in the central Sandhills region. The two areas are about 4-5 hours apart by car, which makes them natural anchors for a 4-5 day trip. Omaha serves as the logical fly-in point for Landmand; there's no ideal major airport for the Sandhills region, so most visitors fly into Denver, Omaha, or Sioux Falls and drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Landmand Golf Club the best course in Nebraska?
Landmand Golf Club is widely considered the most exciting recent addition to Nebraska golf, but Sand Hills Golf Club — a private course — is generally ranked higher on national and global lists when access is not a factor. For public-access golf in Nebraska, Landmand is the standard.
Is Sand Hills Golf Club public?
No. Sand Hills Golf Club is a private members club with extremely limited public access. It is one of the most exclusive private clubs in the world. Dismal River Club nearby offers comparable terrain in a semi-private resort setting.
Where is Landmand Golf Club?
Landmand Golf Club is located in Homer, Nebraska, approximately 90 miles north of Omaha near the Missouri River.