Page 10 - The Golf Guide, Fall 2017

Golf Destination

Golf Along the Oregon Trail
in Western Nebraska

Wes Bolyard

The plains begin their upward march to the foothills of the Rockies from the great
Midwest. As you move westward from central Nebraska, following parts of the
Oregon Trail, pleasant towns welcome visitors with an array of golfer friendly
courses along with stirring scenery.

Take a road trip to Ogallala, Nebraska,
from the Denver International Airport
along I-76 and I-80 to find the 18-hole
West Wind Golf Club, the first stop
of this exciting golf journey. The front
nine, built in 1936, has very mature
cottonwood trees, while the back nine,
opened in 1997, has more of a links feel
with the fairways being lined with wispy
grasses. Both nines have very nice wide
West Wind

fairways, but trees on the front create
some doglegs to negotiate. The greens have interesting undulations and play pretty
fast, making for stimulating putting. Bunkers on both sides of the green protect the
green on the par 3 third hole. The fairway on the sixteenth hole looks SO wide that
you want to try to hit your Monster Mash Drive. By the way, the hotdog at West
Wind was voted the best in Nebraska.

After playing golf, stay overnight at the Stagecoach Inn in Ogallala and enjoy a
juicy steak at the Golden Spur Steakhouse and Saloon right next door.

Just about 10 miles west of Brule
near Lake McConaughy discover the
Bayside Golf Club with two very
different nines. While the front does
not play particularly long, accuracy is
rewarded with short irons to the greens.
The short seventh hole is a drivable
par 4, but watch out for the bunker
guarding the opening to the green.
The back nine’s challenges include
Bayside

considerable elevation change and lots
of doglegs to surmount. Golfweek ranks this links style course as the number five
Nebraska Best Public Access course, and great meals are served in the evening at
the clubhouse.

So far this trip has been about parts of the Oregon Trail, but signs make this more
evident from this point forward. Heading northwest on State Route 26, Chimney
Rock looms prominently. As you approach Gering and Scottsbluff, Scotts Bluff
National Monument can be seen with stunning landmarks on display!

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