Golf in Lincoln

Open since 1967, Putting Plus is a beloved Omaha leisure facility that brings out the inner child of adults, the inner teen of adults, and the inner golf-baller of any-aged folks. In all, there are three family-friendly miniature-golf courses ($5–$6 per course), featuring 18 holes of challenging curves, drops, water hazards, and mysterious holes that, when you reach in to retrieve your ball, cause your hand to pop out of another hole 20 yards away.

With six sets of tees per hole, the course at Ashland Golf Club caters equally to new players and polished veterans. Opportunities for scores below par arrive early in the round: holes one and three are relatively short par 5s at 439 yards and 528 yards respectively. Both holes force long hitters to make a choice between accepting a dare to reach the green in two strokes, and telling a truth about an embarrassing date. The difficulty level ramps up from there and tops out at number 16, a 375-yard par 4 and the hardest hole on the course.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole par 71 course
• Total length of 6,242 yards from the back tees
• Course rating of 70.3 from the back tees
• Course slope of 122 from the back tees
• Six sets of tees

Fox Run Golf Club prides itself as a course that challenges boundaries. From a design perspective, it represents the two different architectural models of golf courses, at points immersing golfers in a wooded, parkland setting and, elsewhere, challenging them to display deft control over an open, links-style layout. A semiprivate club, Fox Run also eliminates the barrier between public courses and members-only clubs, inviting daily fee players and members alike to enjoy manicured grounds worthy of an exclusive club or a course covered in Persian rugs. Measuring 6,200 yards from the back tees, the layout provides four tee options from which golfers can play. On the driving range, players can calibrate their swings while aiming at 11 targets equipped with Laser Link flagsticks, which ensure that distances are accurately measured and also to make sure pins don’t run away to pursue careers as javelins. Off the course, guests can relax in The Den at Fox Run, which serves up drinks and casual grill food.

A gauntlet of hazards and omnipresent water reveals a pernicious design sure to challenge any golfer who traverses the picturesque fairways of the Knolls Golf Course. Players enjoy favorable lies when they stay within the verdant framework of rolling bluegrass fairways, yet those who venture astray may find themselves deep inside one of the 46 bunkers or secret caddy caves carved into the course. Four lakes and a river further complicate matters on 11 of 18 holes, culminating in the challenge on holes seven and nine, where a pond intersects the two doglegged fairways at their bends. The back nine presents a more arboreal affair, as players must steer their shots around tree-lined fairways and hope a fellow golfer isn't practicing golf-cart aerials on one of the frequent hills.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole course
• Total length of 6,149 yards from the back tees
• Three sets of tees per hole

Perched atop hills that overlook the Platte and Missouri River valleys, Bay Hills Golf Club’s 18-hole course arches across 6,411 yards of undulating, tree-lined fairways. As carts crest the verdant banks, golfers can pause to take in views of the surrounding tree lines, which harbor wildlife such as deer, turkey, fox, and feral ball washers. An expansive driving range, putting green, and chipping area act as the diminutive sidekick to the par 72 course. The staff of PGA professionals roams the club's full-service pro shop, shoring up swings with individual and group lessons and mending clubs with repair services. To keep swing-weary muscles well nourished, Bay Hills Grill serves up a menu of savory, greenside fare.

Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Total length of 6,411 yards from the back tees
• Four sets of tees per hole

A par-3 municipal course owned and operated by Omaha Parks and Recreation, Steve Hogan Golf Course fosters short-game improvement over nine holes of stress-free golf. Jealous drivers will be best kept in the golf bag, for the course is relatively short at 2,674 yards and favors precise short-iron play and putting prowess. All revenue taken in by the course goes directly to The First Tee of Omaha, helping to impact the lives of young people by making the game of golf and its values more accessible.

Course at a Glance:

• Nine-hole, par-27 course
• Total length of 2,674 yards from the farthest tees
• Three sets of tees per hole:m]]