In 2012 the good people of Valentine found themselves without a public golf course. The only existing facility was closed by the owner, who chose not to sell or lease it, and left the community with no place to play golf.

The Prairie Club had been built, but there were a couple of problems. The club was a 30 minute drive, but that wasn’t really an issue. The biggest problem was cost. The Prairie Club is a high-end facility and the green fees are close to $200. That’s a big bite for an average golfer to pay on a regular basis.

After spending almost a whole year complaining about the lack of a golf course, the good people of Valentine decided to do something about it. Thus, the creation of Frederick Peak Golf Course.

Frederick Peak is a result of the community coming together to creating something good. The unique 10-hole course has filled a need and is now providing the citizens a quality environment to play golf.

The project got a boost early in the game when organizers were able to get Tom Lehman on board as a designer. The former Ryder Cup captain and World No. 1 player had designed the Dunes Course at the Prairie Club and had come to appreciate the people of Valentine. He agreed to design the Frederick Peak course at a fraction of his usual rate.

The Prairie Club helped out, too. Officials there recognized the importance of having another local option for golf for visitors. They also appreciated the collegial nature of those in the community who had been helpful. The Prairie Club offered assistance with equipment and intelligence.

The community pitched in, too. A convenience store donated windows for the club house. A local restaurant gave the doors when it renovated. The high school shop class built the footings for the clubhouse and then retrofitted a cooler that was donated by another area business.

The course got a bonus hole because of requirements for effluent water, which will be used to irrigate the facility. There was enough room available, so a 120-yard par 3 was added and plays as the eighth hole. Overall the course plays to par 39 and plays 3,556 yards from the back tees.

The signature hole is No. 5, a scenic par 3 that features an elevated tee. Golfers hit into a ravine, with the green cut in the side of the hill. It plays 150 yards from the white tees and can be stretched out and complicated depending on the tee placement. The hole stands up with any of the best you’ll find in Nebraska.

Read Part 1, Heritage Hills GC, McCook: http://thegeorgiagolfer.com/nebraska-golf-tr…-hills-gc-mccook/

Read Par 2: Wild Horse GC, Gothenburg: http://thegeorgiagolfer.com/nebraska-golf-trip-wild-horse-gc-gothenburg/