Quarry Oaks Golf Club, Ashland, Nebraska - Named the #1 Golf Course and the Most Scenic Golf Course in Nebraska

Quarry Oaks Golf Club is set amid a very hilly area in Nebraska's Platte River Valley, which is also a very heavily forested area, with an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers. Elevation changes are frequent on this course and can reach up to 75 feet, and every hole features mature trees on all sides. The course also winds through the remnants of an old rock quarry on select holes, which adds to the scenery and the challenge.

The course is a John Lafoy design, which he called his "Masterpiece in the Midwest.'' The course, which opened for play in 1997, features some very generous fairways, a fair number of bunkers and water hazards that come into play on several holes. The greens tend to be large, but undulating, making putting one of the top challenges on the course.

The 18-hole, par-72 course plays to 7,010 yards from the back tees, with a USGA rating of 75.1 and a slope rating of 143 on Bent grass. Some reviewers have described the course as both the most fun course they've played, but also one where you can expect to lose a lot of golf balls.

Some of the most noteworthy holes include Hole No. 11. This par-3 plays to 202 yards from the Black tees, but only 156 yards from the Whites. It's also one of the most picturesque holes on the course, as well as one that can be a bit intimidating as it plays over a pond to a green that sits like a bowl amid trees and bunkers.

Another noteworthy hole is No. 17, which has been said to be simply breathtaking. This par-4 is the signature hole on the course and plays to only 394 yards from the back tees, but features the largest water hazard on the course. The water comes into play at about the midpoint of the fairway, making for a challenge off the tee. The approach shot that follows can be even more daunting, as the hole and the green curve left to create a semi-island green that plays long and narrow.

The finishing hole that follows is cut from the same mold. This is a long par-5 that plays to 522 yards from the back tees. The challenge is finding safety in a narrow, curving fairway with trees on the left and a long water hazard and more trees on the right. Approach shots and lay ups then play to a green with six bunkers - two short right and four surrounding the green.

Since its opening, Quarry Oaks has received some high praise. Golf Digest ranked it the #1 course in Nebraska in 1999. That same publication rated the course one of America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses from 2003-2009. It was also named Most Scenic Golf Course in Nebraska by Nebraska Golfer Magazine in 2004.

Practice facilities at Quarry Oaks include a driving range and short-game practice area. There's also a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse with a pro shop and both casual and more elegant dining available.