Youthful Exuberance

When you get to Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, it’s time to step up to the plate, over and over and over again.

When you play the right shot with the right club, a feeling of accomplishment really sets in: Wilderness Ridge is a very difficult golf course.

The 5-year-old golf stop features beautiful scenery.

It’s still maturing, but it’s aged with challenges.  Take No. 3, for example, where the water hides behind the green, just steps from the edge. You might not even notice it until after your approach shot, which may be better for you mentally. The same pond must be carried on No. 4, where pin placement is a large factor when deciding if you can go at the pin from the tee.

There are no excuses to be made, but there aren’t any tricks to Wilderness Ridge, either. These pressure shots are as honest as they are challenging, but little mistakes could spell trouble, and big mistakes cost you big strokes.

The approach shot to 14’s island green is visible starting with the second shot down the hill: the bunkers on the front right and back left, the fairway escape to the front left and, of course, the water surrounding all sides.

The sand traps, 72 in all, are well thought out and well placed. If you can drive the ball 220, 245 or 280 yards off the tee, there’s likely a bunker waiting for you just off the fairway.

The bunkers guard the greens as well, which are as true as you can find. The breaks, of which there are plenty, are incredibly fast yet subtle. Play for two putts and you’ll be better off.

When the sun sets each day, and when you are finishing 17 and 18 as the golden glow hits the clubhouse, the majestic feeling can set in. Just watch out for the stimulating course itself.

A closer look
With most of the fairways open at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, it’s a treat to work the

ll off the tee to the safe areas while still leaving room to get the best angle for the next shot.

No. 6 is a long par 5 running uphill with water running along the side the entire way.

It takes some monster shots to challenge the hill. After a breather back down the hill in No. 7, No. 8 is back up hill with water near the landing area, and a stream winding its way toward the green.

The back nine is a lot of fun. No. 10 features overhanging trees on the right side of the landing area.

No. 11 is one of my favorites. A pond poses a threat to anyone trying to stretch their tee shot. If you come close to the water but not in it, you’ll probably sit behind trees guarding the approach shot to the green. More water sits left of the green.

No. 14 is a rarity: it’s not exactly an island green like we’ve seen on television, but it has the same challenging element. The key is to set yourself up for a simple third shot. You tee shot is challenging enough, with a large tree and several bunkers waiting at the top of the hill. If you can clear that trouble, you can send your ball down the hill to leave yourself with a short iron to carry the water.

No. 17 and 18 have a distinct advantage in beauty: lots of water, lots of rocks and an overly striking clubhouse overlooking the end stretch.

The water comes into play for anyone with a slice, and bunkers wait for anyone with a draw. It’s a tough finish, but become much easier once you master the tee shot.

There is one design flaw, but it doesn’t set the course back any in value. The par 5s run south-to-north, and the par 3s run north-to-south, which isn’t typically a concern except on windy days.

With a southerly wind, it’s next to impossible to reach a green on a par 5 in two. Not all bad, for
most of us, but the intentions of the par 5s are to create risk/reward situations. Sometimes, there is no real chance for the reward.

But the reward in playing Wilderness Ridge is terrific. It combines some beauty, youthfulness, challenge and inspiration, which is an awful lot packed into a round of golf.