OMAHA — A third golf course is coming to Dismal River Club from its new partnership with KemperSports.
Joel Jacobs, the club’s chief executive officer, said the club is interviewing five of the top golf course architecture firms in the world, some of which have staked holes in the Sand Hills southwest of Mullen.
The Dismal River Club has a new partner and could expand to 54 holes in future years.
Dismal River Golf Club Facebook page
By May, the list should be down to three.
The third course likely will be on Big Horseshoe Hill, which looms over the finishing holes of the second course. An option would be placing it in the southeast portion of the 2,900-acre property that is 17 miles off Nebraska 97.
Jacobs, from Mullen, is one of the seven original investors in the fourth group to own Dismal River. The club opened in 2006 with a Jack Nicklaus-designed course and added a course in 2013 designed by Tom Doak.
Since Jacobs’ group took ownership six years ago, he said membership has grown from 150 to 475. The increased demand is taxing resources of the club’s facilities and the ability to obtain staffing from a lightly populated area.
KemperSports last week took over day-to-day operations at what will be the state’s first 54-hole private golf club. The club will be doubling the number of beds in its lodging cabins to 160.​
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The Chicago-based company manages more than 140 golf courses and other sports venues internationally. KemperSports will provide the seasonal workers Dismal River needs from its southern properties when those are in their offseason.
“The issue we have today is quality control and consistency, from golf course maintenance to housekeeping to the front of the clubhouse,’’ Jacobs said. “We're just looking to make everything much more efficient. Kemper can come in and provide us resources of a size that can offset a lot of costs and essentially help us retain what we have so we can grow in the direction that we want to go.â€
Dismal River attracted interest in recent years from other management companies. Jacobs said KemperSports was the one that would be best to maintain the club’s identity and culture while enabling growth. Its properties include Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln and Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coast.
“If I was just going to sit back and not build any more cabins and really just focus on what we have, this probably wouldn't have made a lot of sense,’’ Jacobs said. “As we look into expansion, we have a lot of lots that have been sold and need to be built on. As we add 20 more million-dollar cabins, we need to have management that can handle the additional demand on the golf courses.
“Kemper brings a lot of resources to help just make that easy for us. Make it something that's plausible so we can focus on what we want to be in the future and that's adding another golf course.â€â€‹
Check out these shots showcasing the immense beauty of Omaha Country Club, home to the 2021 U.S. Senior Open!
US golf destinations with the most courses per capita
US golf destinations with the most courses per capita
Despite much of the world being shut down in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, some industries managed to not just survive but thrive. One of those that benefited the most was golf, as 2020 gave the sport a much-needed jolt to life.
Though universal shutdowns initially cratered business' bottom lines (March 2021 showed golf rounds up a staggering 45% from March 2020), golfers across the U.S. logged 14%—or 60 million—more rounds in 2020 than 2019, according to a study tracking the effects of the coronavirus on the industry. Weekday play in particular, and late-afternoon course use specifically, saw a massive jump in 2020, due in part to schedule flexibility as more people worked remotely, avoided daily commutes, and sought outdoor activities close to home. Nine-hole games also saw a marked increase, as casual golf saw a swell in popularity.
used data from the to compile a list of 10 golf destinations with the most courses per capita. The metros are ranked by how many golf courses and country club establishments are located in the metro per 100,000 people. To be included in this list, an establishment must primarily be in the business of running a golf course (except for miniature golf) or running a golf course in addition to dining and recreational facilities (country clubs).Ìý
Keep reading to discover where you can find the best access in the country for your pick of courses, the unique terrain that lends itself to world-class golf, and what makes select clubs noteworthy.
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#10. St. Cloud, MN
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 7.9
- Establishments located in metro: 16
- Metro population: 201,964
There are 16 golf courses within 20 miles of St. Cloud, and all but one are open to the public, making it an incredibly golf-friendly area. The major downside is the weather: Warm temperatures are in short supply and extreme winters plentiful, rendering nearly half the year off-limits. During peak season, however, it’s some of the best golf in the region. Territory Golf Club (formerly The Fairways) right in St. Cloud offers a unique layout of forest-lined and links-style holes, with challenging pin placements and elevation changes to keep things interesting. The exclusive St. Cloud Country Club's private championship course has limited membership that translates to pristine course conditions and a faster pace of play. The club, founded in 1920, was built alongside the Mississippi River and also features forested land and rolling hills. In addition to golf, members can enjoy top-of-the-line tennis and swimming facilities.
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#9. Syracuse, NY
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 8.2
- Establishments located in metro: 53
- Metro population: 648,593
Another top destination with a short season is Syracuse, New York, where you'll find diverse terrain and challenging courses for the most seasoned golfers. You can play one of the oldest courses in the United States at Onondaga Golf and Country Club, which was designed in 1898. A more contemporary choice is the Timber Banks Golf Club, which features a Jack Nicklaus design and opened in 2009. That course plays 7,300 yards from the tips and is famous for its undulating, quick greens and cavernous bunkers.
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#8. Duluth, MN-WI (Twin Ports)
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 8.3
- Establishments located in metro: 24
- Metro population: 288,732
Twin Ports offers some idyllicÌýgolf courses—but make sure to hit them straight,Ìýas you’ll likely get wind off the lakes and unforgiving weather conditions. Northland Country Club is one of the most iconic courses in Minnesota; founded in 1899, it features a Donald Ross course design and in 2020 was ranked among theÌý Ìýby Golfweek. It's tough to beat the views at Enger Park Golf Course, with 27 holes overlooking Duluth Harbor . Three layout styles range from 3,169 to 3,350 yards and routing that will take you through picturesque ponds and tightly packed trees.
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#7. Port St. Lucie, FL
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 9.6
- Establishments located in metro: 47
- Metro population: 489,297
Port St. Lucie is located in Central Florida, a state that features more golf courses than anywhere else in the country. PGA Golf Club is hands-down one of the best places to work on your game—known by many as the ultimate golf destination, featuring 54 holes of championship golf holes designed by legends Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Short Course offers holes 35-60 yards in length and is the ideal place to practiceÌýyour wedges and chip shots. The Saints at Port St. Lucie Golf Course, developed in 1961 and run by the city of Port St. Lucie, hosts the popular City Golf Championship every November and features a forgivingÌý18-hole championship course.
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#6. Utica-Rome, NY
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 10.7
- Establishments located in metro: 31
- Metro population: 289,990
Most courses in the Utica-Rome metro in the foothills of the Adirondacks in upstate New York are public and steeped in history. Rome Country Club offers a playable, public course with a four-star rating from Golf Digest and a parkland style layout with tree-lined fairways. If it's amenities you're after, the Teugega Country Club is a private club that offers a championship course designed by Donald Ross along with a pool, tennis facilities, and waterfront access to the gorgeous Delta Lake.
Alena Mozhjer // Shutterstock
#5. Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 10.8
- Establishments located in metro: 83
- Metro population: 770,577
The Fort Myers metro area, located along the ÌýCaloosahatchee River on Florida's southwest Gulf Coast, offers year-round course options to match any skill level.Ìý Among the most popular golf courses in the area is the Cape Royal Golf Club, a Troon-managed property with 27 holes of championship golf and casual dining at the Caloosa Club. The Fort Myers Country Club (or "The Fort") was designed in 1916 by Donald Ross and ranks among the most historic golf facilities in western Florida. That course, along with Eastwood Golf Course, are owned and operated by the City of Fort Myers.
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#4. Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC (The Grand Strand)
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 13.9
- Establishments located in metro: 69
- Metro population: 496,901
Myrtle Beach offers a diverse array of courses, including the iconic Dunes Club that opened in 1949 and is widely considered to be the best of all famed architectÌý Robert Trent Jones' designs. The routing takes players along Singleton Swash, with Waterloo, a dogleg-right par 5, standing as the signature hole on the course.Ìý The courseÌýhas hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events and is constantly ranked in the top 100 courses by major golf publications. Another challenging, publicÌýcourseÌýis TPC Myrtle Beach, designed by Tom Fazio, featuring water hazards on nearly every hole, including the 18th par 5 that plays the No. 2 most difficult hole on the course.Ìý
Andrew F. Kazmierski // Shutterstock
#3. Barnstable, MA (Cape Cod)
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 14.1
- Establishments located in metro: 30
- Metro population: 212,990
Cape CodÌýboasts myriad courses of varying difficulty, including the beloved Olde Barnstable Golf Course. The 18-hole course in Marstons Mills features a gorgeous, walking-friendly layout that stretches for 6,479 yards for a par of 71. Come early to warm up at theÌý55-station practice range and two putting greens. Highland Links boasts a rare links layout situated along bluffs on the Atlantic Ocean. The coastalÌýterrain includes dunes, rocks, and grasses, while the unpredictable winds are sure to provide challenging conditionsÌýfor even scratchÌýgolfers.
Kyle Tannler // Shutterstock
#2. Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort, SC
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 15.3
- Establishments located in metro: 34
- Metro population: 222,195
Hilton Head Island in South Carolina is home to the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event at the Harbour Town Golf Links course. The course, designed by Pete Dye, has a tight layout and requires precise play from tee to green.ÌýThe area is a golf resort paradise, featuring eight courses on Golf Digest'sÌýlist of 35 for the 2020–21 year and three in the top 10, including Harbour Town, Long Cove Club, and Secession.Ìý
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#1. Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL
- Golf courses and country club establishments per 100,000 people: 17.9
- Establishments located in metro: 69
- Metro population: 384,902
With perfect weather year-round, you can’t go wrong with the golf paradise that is the Naples regionÌýin Florida. Tiburon is a stand-out golf course here, with 36 holes designed by Greg Norman and playsÌýhostÌýto an LPGA and PGA Tour event each year. The Tiburon coursesÌýfeatureÌýno rough and play fast, making it aÌýtop-20 rankedÌýFlorida golf facilityÌýby Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. Another stand out is TPC Treviso Bay, a private club that startedÌýwelcomingÌýpublic play in 2011. The Arthur Hills-designedÌýcourse completed a $3 millionÌýrenovationÌýinÌý2020 and offers a fun, demanding layout that willÌýchallenge every handicap.Ìý
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