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Jay Mickle

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Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« on: October 09, 2022, 09:19:51 AM »

I wasn't sure what to expect when I scheduled a tour of Lost Rail on my way to the Midwest Mashie but with time on my hands and unlikely to return to the area I decided it was better than hanging in the hotel waiting for a ride to Landmand. As luck would have it I hooked up with Jake Marvin who was equally game to spend some time seeing a new course. I had never heard of the architect, Scott Hoffman, but a little research led me to believe that our time would not be wasted.
Due to the total sellout of memberships months before even opening, no outside play was available but GM Tim Halpine had offered to show us around. Jake and I arrived a bit late and Tim had left perhaps thinking that no sane people would come out to see the course on such a rainy morning. Wrong!! Unable to play the course Jake Marvin and I walked the course in a steady rain. Intrigued by each hole and wanting more we were in no way tempted to head for the clubhouse. Equipped with a yardage book Jake (3.5 hcp) and me (15.8 hcp) look at the course as playing from 7036 yds and 6052 yds. It is a rare course the asks a question on every shot and provides very few level lies. The routing, the shaping, the bunkering and green siting were all exceptional. I am a fan.

Jake Marvin on the 4th tee. Here as on most of the holes the drive requires consideration of both hazards and topography.

The backside of the course is crisscrossed by a series of deep washout ravines that architect Scott Hoffman masterfully incorporated into the design. This is the picturesque par 3 5th set behind the collapsed railroad bridge.The downhill par 4 7th features 2 greens that make drive placement critical depending on green of the day and pin position.




Here the back of the 8th green uses the old railroad bed.


Here we leave the ravines behind with this’ll short 313yd par 4.



The 199yd par 3 14th.


The 15th features this infinity green supported by the flag post outside the clubhouse.



The short 16th with a great table top green with distant views out over the Platte River valley.



The long 496yd downhill 17th.



The 526yd 18th adds a diagonal cross bunker to give you one more hazard to negotiate before you end..


The End
« Last Edit: October 10, 2022, 07:30:33 AM by Jay Mickle »
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Joe Andriole

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #1 on: October 09, 2022, 11:42:10 AM »
I had the privilege of playing Lost Rail with Scott Hoffman last week and strongly concur with Jay. Scott is a member and resident of the area and I suspect will be regularly tweaking the course for the better. It's a superb routing that goes in and out of a small ravine where a few varied holes are accommodated to great success. Overall, the landforms are superb and not unlike Omaha CC. Scott told me that a course that inspired him when he saw the land was Eastward Ho! The green complexes are superb and imho better for their moderate and different  sizes. This course will shine even brighter when the fescue emerges and grasses matures etc. Overall, it's a fabulous addition to the growing collection of Nebraska venues.

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #2 on: October 09, 2022, 01:52:46 PM »
The young assistant pro drove me around the course when I was there in late August. It looks exceptional, and like others have said thought the routing was very good. There are some thrilling shots. I look forward to playing it next year. It is a golfer's club.


I loved this par three as well.






When Tim, the GM, heard I was a Lutheran pastor, he informed me that when Scott was a kid attending his Lutheran church, he would draw golf holes. I told him I did the same.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Tim Martin

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #3 on: October 09, 2022, 02:37:57 PM »
The young assistant pro drove me around the course when I was there in late August. It looks exceptional, and like others have said thought the routing was very good. There are some thrilling shots. I look forward to playing it next year. It is a golfer's club.


I loved this par three as well.







Tom-Your a sucker for a forced carry! :)

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2022, 03:38:00 PM »
The young assistant pro drove me around the course when I was there in late August. It looks exceptional, and like others have said thought the routing was very good. There are some thrilling shots. I look forward to playing it next year. It is a golfer's club.


I loved this par three as well.







Tom-Your a sucker for a forced carry! :)


I admit, I am. This forced carry has a lot of room for failure, so it isn't very penal. Gotta admit it is sure pretty and seems like a good green design.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Ronald Montesano

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2022, 04:03:26 PM »
Anyone who emulates Eastward Ho| is wise.

This land reminds me of the rolling land outside Toronto.

Nice to know where the lost rail figures into the course.
Coming in 2024
~Elmira Country Club
~Soaring Eagles
~Bonavista
~Indian Hills
~Maybe some more!!

Ally Mcintosh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2022, 05:57:05 PM »
Looks like a really interesting new course from the photos. Also good to hear of a new name in Scott Hoffmann. Do you know who built the course?

Joe Andriole

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2022, 06:18:00 PM »
Landscapes Unlimited

Tommy Williamsen

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2022, 07:05:20 PM »
Landscapes Unlimited


Bill Kubly is part owner as well.
Where there is no love, put love; there you will find love.
St. John of the Cross

"Deep within your soul-space is a magnificent cathedral where you are sweet beyond telling." Rumi

Joel_Stewart

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Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #9 on: October 10, 2022, 03:15:41 PM »
Also good to hear of a new name in Scott Hoffmann. Do you know who built the course?


Scott will be charmed to hear this.  He worked for years as a senior design associate for Tom Fazio and was lead at Martis Camp and The Quarry.  Over the last several years he's been working with Jackson Kahn.

Kalen Braley

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #10 on: October 10, 2022, 03:36:50 PM »
More Pasatiempo-like inspiration to be found in Nebraska.

Love it!






Ally Mcintosh

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Lost Rail walkabout (front)
« Reply #11 on: October 10, 2022, 05:02:14 PM »
Also good to hear of a new name in Scott Hoffmann. Do you know who built the course?


Scott will be charmed to hear this.  He worked for years as a senior design associate for Tom Fazio and was lead at Martis Camp and The Quarry.  Over the last several years he's been working with Jackson Kahn.


Good for him. He is a new name to me and I suspect many others.

Tim Gallant

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #12 on: August 14, 2023, 03:38:47 PM »
A post on Twitter sparked a search on GCA, where I found this thread. Has anyone managed to play it since it opened?

Jim Franklin

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #13 on: August 14, 2023, 07:12:35 PM »
I played it in July. Fantastic. Scott did a wonderful job. My favorite hole was the short par 4 7th with two greens. Fairways were much better than in the picture. We had heard they had some winter kill last year so waited a year to play. Wise choice.
Mr Hurricane

Paul Rudovsky

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #14 on: August 14, 2023, 11:31:58 PM »
Played Lost Rail in early June and loved about everything about it...both the course and the "sense"/"feel" of the club.Could not agree more with any set of comments. 

Interesting to have two "new" courses (one not so new) draw virtually universal praise on GCA...this and The Lido

Joel_Stewart

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #15 on: May 25, 2024, 07:19:51 PM »




The 15th features this infinity green supported by the flag post outside the clubhouse.
The End


I left Prairie Dunes last week to play Lost Rail.  Its super solid especially in the wind. 


The only thing I suggested to Scott is to remove the trees behind the 15th green so it doesn't kill the skyline view.

Matthew Lloyd

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #16 on: July 16, 2024, 08:05:27 PM »
Had a chance to play Lost Rail in late May and enjoyed it as much as everyone else who's posted here. During my 4-5 days in Nebraska other golfers were all curious about the stretch from the 7th green thru the 10th hole - as there seems to be a lot of chatter about this portion of the course being jammed into a small corner of the property. I loved the dual green 7th - it makes for a very challenging approach. I hit my two worst shots of the day on the 8th and 9th tees so I don't feel qualified to comment on those holes as I failed to play them properly. They certainly looked nice. But I can see how the 9th in particular could be polarizing.
 
Still, a big and brawny course that was entertaining throughout. My favorite holes would be #2, #5 (the Pasatiempo style par 3 referenced above or in a different thread), #13 (which reminded me of #17 at Dismal Red), #16 and #17.
 
I'm a complete shill for prairie golf and Nebraska golf in general, so I was an easy mark at Lost Rail.
 
Of particular interest to me from a design perspective was just how many of the holes were broken up by gulches or chasms of some other kind. These gaps didn't impact club selection too much (#9 is the only time driver was not an option) - but based on my memory the following holes were all broken up by a ravine of some kind that dictated strategy to at least some degree: #2, #4, #6, #7, #9, #13, #17, #18.
 
I enjoyed these features and to me it never felt like "target" golf - there was usually plenty of width and options for moving the ball around.
 
Anyway - I echo the endorsements of others on this site - if you get a chance to play definitely go visit. A fun time.

Ryan Hillenbrand

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Re: Lost Rail, Gretna, Nebraska walkabout
« Reply #17 on: October 01, 2024, 09:46:32 PM »
Played it last week and really enjoyed it. Kept getting vibes of French Lick DR and Blackwolf Run for some reason. Greens were fast as lightning.


While it might be strange starting on the superb par 3 16th, I thought the current 15th would make a superior finishing hole than 18 now. Thoughts?

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