Prairie Club

Sited near the town of Valentine, it’s easy to love Prairie Club. It enjoys the same dramatic landscape as other sandhills courses, but there’s a fun factor here that dispelled some of the existential contemplations to which we’d been prone at nearby properties. That’s not to say the golf here isn’t serious—it is pure and absolutely incredible—but there’s a playfulness to the layouts and to the property’s general ethos that we found welcoming. Evidence of this ethos is found in the famous Horse Course, designed by Gil Hanse and Geoff Shackelford. Ten holes, no tee boxes, no set order, just grab a couple of clubs, a friend or two, a cigar or drink, and hit where you like as you enjoy one of the best and most relaxed games of H.O.R.S.E. you’ve ever played. No mere toy, though, the Horse Course is well-designed, with undulating greens and plenty of fun challenges on offer. The proper tests are on the Dunes and Pines Courses, the former a Tom Lehman and Chris Brands beauty that demands links-style strategies in the prairie winds, and the latter a semi-protected parkland design from Graham Marsh that plays within a canyon amidst towering ponderosa trees. Both are the stuff of classic oil paintings, lush and rich with color and curves connecting the sky and the landscape in breathtaking fashion. Add to this a great clubhouse, upscale dining, and a saloon on property and you have everything you need for a great golf getaway. We relaxed here, we had a great time, and we can’t wait to get back. Theprairieclub.com