Representative image Photo: Phillip Capper from Wellington, New Zealand · CC BY 2.0
Sand Hills Golf Club
Mullen, Nebraska, United States
18 Holes · Par 71 · Private club — no published green fee; play is by member invitation · Links
— About
About Sand Hills Golf Club
Sand Hills Golf Club is a private 18-hole course in Mullen, Hooker County, Nebraska, and it opened in 1995. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed it as a par 71 of 7,089 yards, working over rolling, sandy ground in the middle of the Nebraska Sandhills. Developer Dick Youngscap began the search for land in 1990 and secured an option on thousands of acres. Coore and Crenshaw found more than 130 potential golf holes across the property, chose 18 and routed the course with very little earthmoving, so the fairways follow the existing dunes closely. The result is best known as a landmark of minimalist design, where the architects shaped the ground as little as they could. The setting is remote, and the club keeps a small membership of fewer than 200 people drawn from across the country. Play is seasonal, running from June through September, and guests stay in on-site cabins. Among the memorable holes are the short par 3 17th, with its small green ringed by deep bunkers, and the 18th, which climbs uphill to the finish. There is no public tee sheet, so access depends on being invited by a member.
- Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw found more than 130 potential golf holes on the property before choosing the 18 that became the course.
- The course was built with very little earthmoving, so the fairways and bunkers follow the existing sandhill terrain closely.
- The 17th is a short par 3 to a small green surrounded by deep bunkers, and the 18th is an uphill closer.
- Play runs June through September, and visitors stay in on-site cabins.
- The club has fewer than 200 members from across the country and no public tee sheet.
History of Sand Hills Golf Club
Developer Dick Youngscap went looking for exceptional golf ground in 1990 and settled on the sandhills of Hooker County, far from any city. He brought in Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, who made numerous visits to the property and mapped more than 130 potential golf holes, from which 18 were selected. Very little dirt was moved, and the course was built on a modest budget by the standards of a championship layout. Sand Hills opened in 1995 and came to be seen as a landmark of minimalist architecture, a course that follows the shape of the land rather than remaking it. The club is often held up as an example of how little a great course needs in the way of construction. Youngscap's bet that golfers would travel to a remote corner of Nebraska proved right, and Sand Hills has stayed private, with a small membership of fewer than 200 people from across the country and a season that runs from June through September.
Signature holes at Sand Hills Golf Club
The 17th is a short par 3 played to a small green surrounded by deep, shaggy bunkers, which makes it one of the most talked-about holes on the property. The 18th is the closer, an uphill hole where large bunkers and a sandy blowout come into play from the tee, so the decision is how much of that hazard to flirt with in exchange for a better angle into the green. Between them, the two holes show how the course uses the natural sandhill ground for both a delicate short hole and a demanding finish.
When to play Sand Hills Golf Club
The club is open only in summer, from about June through September, so the question of season is largely settled for you. Sand Hills is private, so timing matters only once you have secured an invitation from a member. Because the season is short and on-site lodging is limited to cabins, it is worth confirming dates with your host as early as you can. The course sits in a remote part of Nebraska, so plan the trip around a full stay rather than a quick visit.
Playing Sand Hills Golf Club: tips
Sand Hills is a private club, and it does not publish a green fee. Play is by invitation from a member, and there is no public tee sheet. The club is remote, so it is worth planning your travel to Mullen well ahead and checking the route in advance. Lodging is in cabins on the property, and the season runs from June through September, so book around those dates. Because the club is private and has no public booking process, your host is the best source for arrival times and anything else you need to know on the day.
— Weather at Sand Hills Golf Club
Approximate conditions · Observed · Open-Meteo
Visit Sand Hills Golf Club
36410 Sand Hills Road, Mullen, NE 69152
Mullen, Nebraska, United States
— FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions about Sand Hills Golf Club
Can you play Sand Hills Golf Club without a membership?
Not as a walk-up. It is private and has no public tee times or published green fee. Play comes through an invitation from a member.
Who designed Sand Hills Golf Club?
Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw designed it, and it opened in 1995. They identified more than 130 potential golf holes on the site, chose 18 and moved very little earth.
When is Sand Hills open?
The club runs a short summer season, from about June through September. Visitors stay in cabins on the property, and the course is in a remote part of Nebraska near the town of Mullen.
What is the par at Sand Hills?
The course is a par 71 measuring 7,089 yards from the back tees, according to Wikipedia, GolfPass and GOLF.com. The 17th is a short par 3 and the 18th an uphill closer.