Strategy at Knolls involves
working around trees, traps

Flat lands with purposefully located trees signify your round at The Knolls in Omaha.

The hardest shots come when working around trees and managing approach shot around the well-placed bunker.

On a few holes, the only easy window to the green is nothing but center fairway. These create situations where management is more important than distance. And at 6,149 from the back tees (i.e., club down), you can manage your tee shots, and still create birdie opportunities for yourself.

The bunkers are well placed, with an assortment of placings guarding the front sides of the greens. The create a need for playing angles off the tee, or for higher approach shots to hit and stick the green. From the fairways and rough, the latter is doable.

There are a few spots in the rough that are very dry, creating hard surfaces and dead grass, but those areas are confined to the rough, and are typical of Nebraska golf courses during the summers. The greens were lush (slow to very slow on the particular day we played) and simple to read, and the fairways were filled in nicely.

A closer look
The presence of water near No. 1 at The Knolls might scare first-timers, but the pond doesn’t come into play. It does set the scene rather well, however.

No. 3 is the first great golf hole. The 350-yard par 4 has a slight bend to the right, and anything left of the fairway forces you to go over or under one of the biggest trees on the course. It’s a true testament to the strategy necessary for The Knolls.

No. 5 is a scenic par 3, and at 137, and easily the shortest hole on the course.

No. 6, the first of four par 5s at The Knolls, is an interesting challenge. The same water that greets you near No. 1 comes into play on the right side of the fairway. The hole also bends to the right with a bunker guarding the front right half of the green.

No. 9 is another thinker. This par 5 is short enough at 472 to make a good golfer try to reach home in two, but there is no chance for a roll-up. A small waterway and encompassing foliage force you to reach the green on the fly on any approach shot.

No. 13, another par 5, bends to the right and back up the hill, one of the few holes featuring land elevation changes. No. 14 is back down the hill, and at 374 yards, is a good hole to zone in on for a good score.

Reader Feedback

Our favorite golf course is by far the Knolls Golf Course. The golf course offers eighteen different looking golf holes with numerous hazards. It's challenging for all level of golfers but most important a fair test of golf. Fairly priced with a clean and comfortable clubhouse. A great golf course with
great service. Unknown <Sept. 27/7:06 p.m.>