Page 11 - The Golf Guide, Fall 2017

Golf Destination

As I drove into Gering, I felt I had been transported back to my youth growing up
in Independence, Missouri, where the Oregon Trail started. It was a peaceful feeling
driving along the nice, quiet tree-lined streets. A comfortable overnight stay is right
off M Street (on the old Oregon Trail) at Monument Inn and Suites. This quiet
and convenient location offers very comfortable rooms, complimentary breakfast,
other fine amenities, and an extremely friendly staff.

The Monument Shadows Golf Monument Shadows
Course in Gering lies in the shadow of
Scotts Bluff National Monument. This
fun layout presents great greens, very
forgiving fairways, and some water with
enough trees defining the doglegs to
make you think. A 3,600-foot elevation
will help the ball travel a little further,
and did I mention great scenery? On
the sixth hole you encounter a unique
feature, the viewing tower, that allows
you to check for fairway clearance of the
group ahead. You will want to play this
course several times.

In Scottsbluff, Riverview Golf &
Country Club is spread out over 160
acres and the seventh tee sits only about
20 yards from the North Platte River.
This course is defined by moderately
wide forgiving fairways that are
mainly lined with tall mature pine and
cottonwood trees and some water. Being
relatively level doesn’t mean it is easy.
Smallish greens require accurate irons.
Riverview

Riverview has the distinction of being
Nebraska's only floating driving range. The two courses, Monument Shadows and
Riverview, lie only about 10 minutes apart.

A couple of dining options are offered in Scottsbluff you will want to visit.
Emporium offers affordable, authentic dining and Great Nebraska beef! Rosita’s
on East Overland serves Mexican cuisine, with a full menu and seating at the bar.

Most of these courses are relatively inexpensive, but when you hear about the next
two, you won’t believe it. By no means mediocre, you’ll enjoy good quality courses
that are fun and challenging to play. The very scenic drive from Gering to Kimball,
about 45 minutes, passes through the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area with
sandstone bluffs and numerous pine trees blending into a wide
open prairie. A preserve was created here for bison and elk.

In Kimball, almost adjacent to I-80, resides the Four Winds Golf
Course. This course has the highest set of tees in the state at
approximately 5,000 feet in elevation with 5,000 trees to work
around. The course is defined by tree lined fairways, rolling terrain,

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