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left to right: Gene Van Ackeren, Jim Ecklund, Joe Hunt, Bill Hunt, Ambassador Don Landwer, Ambassador George Larson, Dan Nortman US National Exchange for Golfers to Lincoln
I picked up George from the Omaha airport assuring him that the rain would not continue into the next day. He fortunately did not see my crossed fingers behind my back. The doom and gloom weekly forecast of Weather Channel did not look good for golfing. The informal Welcome Party at Jim & Cay's house featured a traditional Nebraska steak dinner with all the trimmings. At dinner the topic of rain came up. I promised the rain would hold off until we were done golfing. The entire week Don reminded me when the topic came up that it would not rain because I promised it wouldn't. Amazingly I was able to keep my promise (as if I had a say in it). Monday morning we met at the State capitol for a brief tour of the historic building. After lunch we met Gene Van Ackeren, Joe and Bill Hunt at the Highlands Golf course in north Lincoln. It turned out to be a beautiful day for the opening round. Some of the biggest jack rabbits I've ever seen where watching us play this links-style course. Tuesday we toured the State Historical Museum before the round of golf. Woodland Hills Golf Course outside of Eagle provided our guests with a scenic wooded course complete with a wooden covered bridge. Despite a very iffy forecast we seemed to evade the storms that were all around. Don reminded me that I promised no rain. I was able to keep my promise until the 15th hole. It started to sprinkle. Being very close to the clubhouse we chose to go in for a bit to see if it would pass. Wise Decision! No sooner did we go inside than the sky opened and a downpour occurred. Seemed like a perfect opportunity for a beer and a toast. George Larson, a retired history teacher, always had a perfect toast for the occasion. His rendition of the Ode to a Golf Ball was my favorite. After 15 minutes the clouds passed and we were able to complete the last three holes. Following golf we were treated to a wonderful meal at the home of Stan & Jan Ecklund. Wednesday we were off to Ashland and the Strategic Air Command Museum. Just a mile or two down the road was Quarry Oaks Golf Course with it's awesome bluff top views of the Platte River. The four of us weren't the only turkeys on the course. Proud Tom turkeys strutted their stuff, I on the other hand was humbled by the challenging fairways. Thursday we traveled to Nebraska City to play the Arnold Palmer designed Arbor Links Golf Course. Run by the National Arbor foundation, the course is a benchmark for conservation-oriented course maintenance. Featuring a different tree on every hole, the course guidebook is educational as well as a valuable course resource for the golfer. The beautiful links style course offers the best . . . and worst of prairie links play. It's easy to lose your ball in the tall prairie grasses (trust me, I speak from experience). The 18th hole features the original corn crib from the original farmstead. Thursday evening we had our farewell dinner at a local steakhouse. A farewell gift to each of the ambassadors was a wooden-faced putter made of Mexican cocobolo. Friday came and once again the weatherman predicted thunderstorms, once again Don reminded me of my promise. Once again the weather was perfect for golf at Pioneers Golf Course in Lincoln. The rolling hills of the course was the perfect end to a wonderful week of golf. While Nebraska may not be one of the first places you would think as a golfer's paradise, it is! I only hope the ambassadors had as much fun as Dan and I did. For a photo gallery of the week's activities, click here. For Laws of Golf, click here. |
©2008 Friendship Force of Lincoln. All Rights Reserved. |
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fter months of preparation the Memorial Day Week of Golf was upon us. Don Landwer drive in through rain storms across Nebraska from his home in Colorado. He said, "people thought I was nuts to drive 500 miles to play golf in the rain."
