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COVER
FEATURE Mention Nebraska and
links style golf in the same sentence and
the average golfers' face crumbles into a
contorted mess like they just shanked
their approach shot into the green. That
was the vision I had in my head when I
pulled into the parking lot at Stone Creek
Golf Course in Northwest Omaha.
Nebraska + Links + Wind
= Long day. Much to my pleasure, my
experience was vastly different than my
expectation. "We wanted to build a
course that was player friendly," said
Greg Weimers, Director of Golf Services.
"What we built is a course that appeals to
the majority of the average golfers but
won't beat you up. There are some holes in
particular however that will keep them
coming back for a challenge." In the Tiger era where
golf course architects tend to see how
long and difficult they can make the
course, they often forget that the
majority of rounds are played by average
to less than average golfers. With their
tricked up greens and merciless bunker
placement, a round on many of the newer
courses can leave the average duffer
contemplating a trip to the local pawn
shop to unload their clubs. You won't have to worry
about that at Stone Creek. With wide-open
fairways and relatively true greens, the
27-hole course offers a challenge for all
handicaps. Built by Horton
Development, which also owns sister course
Eagle Run, the first 18 holes opened in
July of 2000 as a combination of the
Sandstone and Greystone courses. In May
2001, the more difficult Blackstone nine
was christened. "Some of our golfers
don't like going out on Blackstone,"
Weimers said. "Number four and six have
some water carries that make it more
difficult than the other
courses." All of the courses
measure less than 3200 yards from the back
tees and offer 5 sets of tees for all
skill levels. That is one of the reasons
Stone Creek has become a family favorite.
The number of rounds played on the course
has increased every year since its
inception and enjoyed an increase of 5,000
rounds in 2004. 56,000 total rounds were
sold in 2004. Stone Creek's
affordability has made it a favorite as
well. With green fees at less than $50
with a cart on the weekends, the course is
a considerable value compared to
neighboring courses in the community. The
GPS systems on the carts make walking off
yardage a thing of the past as you get a
detailed distance on each shot.
Adding to the value of
the course is the ample practice
facilities that are unique to Northwest
Omaha. A massive driving and practice
facility makes its home just off the
clubhouse for players to warm up before a
round or get in some much needed practice
time. The only thing missing is a state of
the art clubhouse. "We're working with an
architect on plans for a clubhouse,"
Weimers said. "The housing developments
are filling up and there are a lot of
people around here now. Once the clubhouse
is done, we'll be able to host some bigger
events and outside events." No timetable is set for
construction to begin. All in all, Stone Creek
offers an affordable opportunity for every
golfer to hone and test their skills, and
although the wind still does blow (It's
still in Nebraska folks) the course meets
it's purpose to be player friendly. Stone
Creek Golf Course is located at 6220 N
160Th Ave, just a few blocks north of Fort
Street. For tee times or information, call
965-9000. FEATURE • Entry forms are
now available for the following NGA
Championships and Events in 2005: Nebraska
Mid-Amateur, Nebraska Match Play, Nebraska
Four-Ball, Nebraska Senior Amateur and
Nebraska Open. Information on the
Centennial Nebraska Amateur will be
available later this month. For the first
time in the event's history non-exempt
players will be required to
qualify. • The Nebraska
Golf Association is pleased to announce
the selection of A.J. Elgert and Judd
Cornell as the 2004 Nebraska Amateur
Players of the Year. This marks the first
time that co-recipients have been
recognized since Mike Hughett and Larry
Sock, both originally of Lincoln, were
awarded the honor in 1977. • Susan Marchese,
who in 2003 was named the NWAGA's Amateur
Player of the Year for the fifth
consecutive season, will be inducted into
the Nebraska High School Sports Hall of
Fame at a ceremony September 26, 2004, at
the Lied Center in Lincoln. • The Cox Classic
has attracted thousands of golfers and
spectators over the last decade, bringing
money into the economy and national
attention to Greater Omaha. Much of the
revenue generated by the PGA golf
tournament has been invested into the
local community, including more than $1
million raised for charity. In 2004, The
Cox Classic brought together a record
68,000 spectators over four days and
distributed $120,000 to 12 selected
charities. • For Cox Classic
Volunteer information, please visit the
tournament's website at
www.coxclassic.com, or call the Cox
Classic Volunteer Hotline at (712)
329-4979. FEATURE "Golf is a good walk
spoiled"….Mark Twain By Bob Hall, I'm sure you have heard
that old quote many times. Mark Twain was
a clever fellow. So much so, that he even
used a made up name. I wonder if he ever
played the game. Well, I'm here to tell
you that golf is much more than that good
walk. In fact, for most players these
days, it's more of a good ride. What is
spoiled in some cases is golfers
themselves. Play it as it lies; leave it
as you find it; fix your ballmarks;
replace your divots; no carts here; rake
the bunkers; play faster; don't drive
there; keep carts on paths; put your trash
in the receptacle; etc, etc, etc. Yes, we
have all those rules we want you to
follow. What a pain, huh? Every once in a
while I run across a golfer who is having
a great time in spite of all those rules.
He or she will usually start by saying
"Hi, isn't it a great day, how are you.?"
This in spite of the fact that that this
golfer just had a triple bogey on the last
hole. (That score is not a requirement.)
He or she will usually say something nice
about the course condition and comment on
some wildlife spotted while playing, maybe
a meadowlark singing or a fox a couple
holes back. This is someone who knows that
a casual game of golf is about more than
the score or those extra twelve practice
swings. It's about enjoying your
surroundings while doing a lot of walking,
broken up by disappointment and bad
arithmetic. I hope YOU enjoy your next
round. It's what the game should be
about. |
