Nebraska has more than 90 nine-hole golf courses, spread all across the state. Most are small town golf courses that provide the community a chance to gather for recreation, socialization and enjoyment of this great game.
Now, there is a championship for the best players at these courses. Plainview Country Club in northeast Nebraska has launched the Nebraska 9-Hole Club Championship, presented by Brunswick State Bank.
The inaugural championship will be staged at Plainview Country Club, one of the best nine-hole courses in the state, on July 13. The field will be limited to 100 players, with 27-holes of stroke play competition scheduled. The top 30 players after 18 holes will advance to play the final nine holes.
Based on a full field, the top 20 players will be awarded prizes (prepaid debit cards) with $750 going to the champion.
"A main reason for the tournament is to recognize the quality of golf that comes from our state's nine-hole golf courses," Tim Knaak, tournament director for Plainview Country Club said.
Knaak's own son, Tucker, is a product of the nine-hole host course. Tucker won the 2017 Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship and is now a freshman starting on the Creighton men's golf team.
The list of Nebraska Amateur Golfers of the Year is dotted with players who grew up in a small community with a nine-hole golf course, with the likes of David Clouse (Friend), John Hurley (O'Neill) and Rylee Reinertson (Gibbon) on that list. Jay Cottam of Hebron, who won the 2017 Nebraska Match Play Championship, can also be added to the group.
Kearney Country Club is the only nine-hole routing to host the Nebraska Amateur, which it did in 1950 when Omaha's Dick Knight won. The club was technically a 12-hole course at the time, but only the first nine holes were used in that championship.
There have been many great golfers produced from these small-town courses, and there are even more excellent nine-hole golf courses in the state. The goal of this championship is to showcase those golfers and recognize the courses they play.
"We would truly like to make this a statewide event, and we want the best nine-hole club golfers from each corner of Nebraska to play," Knaak said.
Knaak said he realizes it would make for a long trip from western Nebraska, but points out that they are very close to Tatanka Golf Club, which has a hotel and casino, and that the community has some camping pads that could be reserved for players.
The championship is open to amateur golfers who come from a nine-hole golf course, whether public, private or semi-private. The entry fee of $125 includes a practice round, at least 18 holes of tournament play and a steak dinner.
Plainview Country Club is a quality nine-hole golf course," Knaak said. "Our course is challenging. One where you can make birdies, and even some eagles on, but if you mess up, it can be tough just to par a hole."
Interested players should call the Plainview Country Club golf shop, (402) 582-3445 to enter by Friday, July 5 at 5 p.m. CDT.